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STAYIN' ALIVE: With three weeks to play in the regular season, 24 teams remain in contention for a trip to Super Bowl XLVII. That ties for the fifth-most teams remaining in contention with three weeks to play since the NFL instituted the 16-game schedule in 1978.
The most teams remaining in contention for a trip to the Super Bowl with three weeks to play since 1978:
YEAR
TEAMS REMAINING IN PLAYOFF CONTENTION
WITH THREE WEEKS TO PLAY
2004
27
1995
27
1982
27
2006
25
1994
25
2012
24
2009
24
1983
24
-- NFL --
ROOKIE RECORDS:Three rookie quarterbacks – Seattle's RUSSELL WILSON, Washington's ROBERT GRIFFIN IIIand Indianapolis' ANDREW LUCK – can move up the NFL's all-time rookie touchdown pass list in Week 15.
Wilson has thrown 20 touchdown passes this season. With three touchdown passes this Sunday against Buffalo, Wilson can surpass CAM NEWTON(21 in 2011) and CHARLIE CONERLY(22 in 1948) for the second-most TD passes by a rookie in NFL history.
Griffin (18) and Luck (18) can each move into the top five with at least two touchdown passes Sunday at Cleveland and at Houston, respectively.
The rookie quarterbacks with the most touchdown passes in NFL history:
MOST PASSING TDs BY ROOKIE QB
PLAYER
TEAM
YEAR
TDs
Peyton Manning
Indianapolis
1998
26
Charlie Conerly
N.Y. Giants
1948
22
Cam Newton
Carolina
2011
21
Russell Wilson
Seattle
2012
*20
Andy Dalton
Cincinnati
2011
20
Dan Marino
Miami
1983
20
Robert Griffin III
Washington
2012
*18
Andrew Luck
Indianapolis
2012
*18
*Through 13 games
-- NFL --
LUCKY ROOKIE:Indianapolis quarterback ANDREW LUCKhas passed for 3,792 yards this season and surpassed PEYTON MANNING(3,739 in 1998)* *last week for the second-most by a rookie in NFL history.
Luck needs 260 passing yards this Sunday against Houston to surpass CAM NEWTON(4,051 in 2011) for the rookie record for passing yards in a season.
The rookie quarterbacks with the most passing yards in NFL history:
* *
MOST PASSING YARDS BY ROOKIE QB
PLAYER
TEAM
YEAR
PASSING YARDS
Cam Newton
Carolina
2011
4,051
Andrew Luck
Indianapolis
2012
*3,792
Peyton Manning
Indianapolis
1998
3,739
Sam Bradford
St. Louis
2010
3,512
Matt Ryan
Atlanta
2008
3,440
Andy Dalton
Cincinnati
2011
3,398
*Through 13 games
-- NFL --
YARD WORK:Three quarterbacks – Dallas' TONY ROMO (3,928), New England's TOM BRADY (3,833) and Denver's PEYTON MANNING (3,812) – can reach the 4,000-yard mark in Week 15.
Manning has passed for 4,000 yards in an NFL-record 11 seasons. With 188 passing yards against Baltimore, he can extend his record to 12 4,000-yard passing seasons.
Brady has four seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards. With 167 passing yards against San Francisco, Brady will become the fifth quarterback with at least five such seasons. Brady can also join Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO, DREW BREES and MATTHEW STAFFORDas the only players to pass for at least 4,000 yards following a 5,000 yard season.
Romo (three) can reach the 4,000-yard mark with 72 passing yards this Sunday against Pittsburgh.
The quarterbacks with the most 4,000-yard passing seasons:
MOST 4,000-YARD PASSING SEASONS
PLAYER
SEASONS
*Peyton Manning
11
Drew Brees*
7^
Dan Marino
6
Brett Favre
6
*Tom Brady
4
Warren Moon
4
Philip Rivers*
4
*Tony Romo
3
*Active
^Includes 2012
-- NFL --
COLTSTRONG:The Indianapolis Colts (9-4) can clinch a playoff spot this weekend and still have a chance to win the AFC South division. They face division rival Houston in two of their last three games.
With a win against Houston this weekend, the Colts can reach 10 wins following last season's 2-14 record and become the fourth team in NFL history to win 10 or more games following a season with two or fewer victories.
The teams to win 10 games following a season in which they won two games or fewer:
TEAM
SEASON
RECORD
SEASON
RECORD
Miami Dolphins
2007
1-15
2008
11-5
Baltimore Colts
1974
2-12
1975
10-4
Oakland Raiders
1962
1-13
1963
10-4
Indianapolis Colts
2011
2-14
2012
*9-4
*Through 13 games
-- NFL --
DECEMBER TO REMEMBER:The New England Patriots* *have won 13 consecutive regular-season games in December, tied for the second-longest streak in NFL history (Dallas Cowboys, 13 from 1968-1972).
With a win on Sunday Night Football over the San Francisco 49ers, the Patriots can surpass the Cowboys for the second-most consecutive wins in the month.
New England has won 20 consecutive home games in December, the longest streak in NFL history.
The teams to win at least 12 consecutive regular-season games in December:
TEAM
YEARS
CONSECUTIVE DECEMBER WINS
San Diego Chargers
2006-2009
18
New England Patriots
2009-present
*13
Dallas Cowboys
1968-1972
13
New England Patriots
2006-2008
12
*Current streak
-- NFL --
GOLD RUSH:San Francisco linebacker ALDON SMITH leads the league with 19.5 sacks and has 33.5 career sacks, the most by a player in his first two NFL seasons since the sack became an official statistic in 1982.
With two sacks, he can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famers LAWRENCE TAYLOR(20.5), CHARLES DOLEMAN (21) and REGGIE WHITE(21) for the fourth-most sacks in a season since 1982.
The players with the most sacks in a single season since the sack became an official statistic in 1982:
PLAYER
TEAM
YEAR
SACKS
Michael Strahan
NY Giants
2001
22.5
Jared Allen
Minnesota
2011
22
Mark Gastineau
NY Jets
1984
22
Chris Doleman
Minnesota
1989
21
Reggie White
Philadelphia
1987
21
Lawrence Taylor
NY Giants
1986
20.5
Aldon Smith
San Francisco
2012
*19.5
*Through 13 games
