What to Look For - Week 10

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WHAT TO LOOK FOR – WEEK 10

IT'S HOW YOU FINISH:In every season since 1987, at least one team with a .500 or worse record through eight games has advanced to the postseason. Last year, three such teams – Cincinnati (3-5), Washington (3-5) and Seattle (4-4) – accomplished the feat.

Over the past five seasons, 12 teams started 4-4 or worse and rebounded to qualify for the playoffs. Six of those teams, including the 2012 Seattle Seahawks, won at least one playoff game.

The teams in the past five seasons (2008-2012) that started the season at .500 or below through eight games and earned a playoff berth:

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TURNAROUND TEAMS I: At the midway point of the 2013 season, seven of eight divisions currently have at least one team in first place or tied for first place that did not win the division in 2012.

Three of the teams who currently own at least a share of first place in their respective divisions finished in last place or tied for last in 2012 – Detroit (5-3, NFC North), Kansas City (9-0, AFC West) and New Orleans (6-2, NFC South).

At least one team has finished in first place in its division the season after finishing in last place for 10 consecutive years, the longest streak in NFL history.

Here is a look at the 2013 division leaders through Week 9:

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TURNAROUND TEAMS II: Three teams – Detroit (5-3; 4-12 in 2012), Kansas City (9-0; 2-14 in 2012) and Philadelphia (4-5; 4-12 in 2012) – have already matched or surpassed their win totals from last season.

In Week 10, two more teams – Arizona (4-4; 5-11 in 2012) and New Orleans (6-2; 7-9 in 2012) – can also match their 2012 win totals.

Looking ahead to Week 11, the Cleveland Browns (4-5; 5-11 in 2012) and New York Jets (5-4; 6-10 in 2012), who both have byes this week, can also join the list.

The teams that have matched or exceeded their 2012 win totals:

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PASSING FANCY:NFL passers have been historically prolific and proficient in 2013. At the season's midpoint, games are averaging 485.1 passing yards per game, on pace to be the most of any season in NFL history (462.6 in 2012).

The leaguewide passer rating (86.5) is also on pace for an all-time high (85.6 in 2012), and the average number of touchdown passes per game (3.12) is on pace to be the highest since 1963 (3.21).

A look at how the 2013 season is on pace to rank historically in three key passing categories – rating, yards per game and touchdowns per game:

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MEGATRON:Detroit Lions wide receiver CALVIN JOHNSON has 8,657 yards in 99 career NFL games.

On Sunday at Chicago, Johnson needs 24 receiving yards to surpass RANDY MOSS for the second-most receiving yards in the first 100 games of a career in NFL history.

The players with the most receiving yards through their first 100 career games:

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TONY TERRIFIC:Atlanta tight end TONY GONZALEZ leads the Falcons with 44 catches in 2013.

With six catches on Sunday against Seattle, Gonzalez would join Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE (17) as the only players in NFL history with at least 16 career 50-catch seasons.

Gonzalez is the only player in NFL history with 15 consecutive 50-reception seasons.

The players with the most 50-catch seasons: