What to Look For - Week 9
For years, the National Football League has worked to create league-wide parity.
“Worst to first” not only is more possible in the NFL than any other sports league, but it also occurs almost every season in at least one division — thanks to the draft, salary cap rules, free agency and scheduling all playing roles in helping narrow the gap between the strong and the weak from year to year.
So, it’s unusual for as many teams to reach Week 9 of the season with two or fewer losses as we see in 2020 (11, with a record of 12 in 1996). And only a handful of times in the 50 years since the AFL-NFL merger has there been three games on the same weekend this late in the season featuring a pair of teams with no more than two losses.
For a look at these marquee matchups and other things to watch for starting tonight, read on ...
MEETINGS OF LEAGUE ELITES: The 2020 NFL season continues to be the highest scoring in league history, as the marks for total points (5,996) and touchdowns (692) are the most ever through eight weeks. The 50.4 points per game (both teams combined) is the highest total through Week 8 since 1970 while five teams are averaging at least 30 points per game, also the most at this point of a season since 1970.
Additionally, half of the league (16 teams) has a record above .500 entering Week 9. A total of 11 teams have two-or-fewer losses, tied for the second-most such teams through eight weeks in NFL history.
The seasons with the most teams with two-or-fewer losses after eight weeks in NFL history:
|
SEASON |
TEAMS |
|
1996 |
12 |
|
2020 |
11 |
|
1993 |
11 |
Three games in Week 9 will feature teams with two-or-fewer losses: the 6-1 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS traveling to face the 6-2 BUFFALO BILLS (1:00 PM ET, FOX), the 5-2 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS hosting the 5-2 BALTIMORE RAVENS (1:00 PM ET, CBS) and an NFC South showdown on Sunday Night Football featuring the 5-2 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS and 6-2 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS in Tampa (8:20 PM ET, NBC).
This will mark the fifth week since 1970 in which there are at least three games between teams with two-or-fewer losses in Week 9 or later.
The weeks featuring at least three games between teams with two-or-fewer losses in Week 9 or later since 1970:
|
WEEK |
GAMES |
|
Week 9, 2020 |
Seattle (6-1) at Buffalo (6-2) Baltimore (5-2) at Indianapolis (5-2) New Orleans (5-2) at Tampa Bay (6-2) |
|
Week 9, 1999 |
St. Louis Rams (6-1) at Detroit (5-2) Kansas City (5-2) at Indianapolis (5-2) Tennessee (6-1) at Miami (6-1) |
|
Week 9, 1997 |
Green Bay (5-2) at New England (5-2) Jacksonville (5-2) at Pittsburgh (5-2) Minnesota (5-2) at Tampa Bay (5-2) |
|
Week 9, 1996 |
Kansas City (5-2) at Denver (6-1) San Francisco (5-2) at Houston Oilers (5-2) Carolina (5-2) at Philadelphia (5-2) Indianapolis (5-2) at Washington (6-1) |
|
Week 9, 1993 |
Kansas City (5-1) at Miami (5-1) Detroit (5-2) at Minnesota (4-2) Dallas (4-2) at Philadelphia (4-2) |
The teams to score at least 25 points in the most consecutive games to begin a season in NFL history:
|
TEAM |
SEASON |
GAMES |
|
Kansas City Chiefs |
2018 |
16 |
|
Denver Broncos |
2013 |
13 |
|
New England Patriots |
2015 |
9 |
|
New England Patriots |
2007 |
8 |
|
St. Louis Rams |
2000 |
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
Pittsburgh Steelers |
2020 |
7* |
|
Seattle Seahawks |
2020 |
7* |
|
*Active streak |
|
|
With at least 231 passing yards on Sunday against Baltimore (1:00 PM ET, FOX), Rivers will surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (61,361) for the fifth-most passing yards all-time.
The players with the most passing yards in NFL history:
|
PLAYER |
TEAM(S) |
PASSING YARDS |
|
Drew Brees |
San Diego Chargers, New Orleans |
79,314 |
|
Tom Brady |
New England, Tampa Bay |
76,760 |
|
Peyton Manning |
Indianapolis, Denver |
71,940 |
|
Brett FavreHOF |
Green Bay, New York Jets, Minnesota |
71,838 |
|
Dan MarinoHOF |
Miami |
61,361 |
|
Philip Rivers |
San Diego/L.A. Chargers, Indianapolis |
61,131* |
|
*Entering Week 9 |
||
|
PLAYER |
TEAM |
GAMES |
|
Dan MarinoHOF |
Miami |
44 |
|
Kurt WarnerHOF |
St. Louis Rams |
50 |
|
Johnny UnitasHOF |
Baltimore Colts |
53 |
|
|
|
|
|
Patrick Mahomes |
Kansas City |
39* |
|
*Has 97 touchdown passes |
||
Last week marked Mahomes’ 18th career game with at least three touchdown passes. With three touchdown passes against Carolina, Mahomes would also surpass Marino (18 games) for the most games with at least three touchdown passes in a player’s first 40 career games in NFL history.
AMONG THE GREATS: Seattle quarterback RUSSELL WILSON leads the league with 26 touchdown passes this season, trailing only TOM BRADY (27 touchdown passes in 2007) for the most by a player through his team’s first seven games of a season in NFL history. Wilson, currently in his ninth season, has 253 career touchdown passes and has had at least 30 touchdown passes in each of the past three seasons.
With at least four touchdown passes on Sunday at Buffalo (1:00 PM, CBS), Wilson would join DREW BREES (nine consecutive seasons) and Pro Football Hall of Famer BRETT FAVRE (five consecutive seasons) as the only players with 30-or-more touchdown passes in at least four consecutive seasons in NFL history.
The players with the most consecutive seasons with at least 30 touchdown passes in NFL history:
|
PLAYER |
TEAM |
SEASONS |
||
|
Drew Brees |
New Orleans |
9 (2008-16) |
||
|
Brett FavreHOF |
Green Bay |
5 (1994-98) |
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
Russell Wilson |
Seattle |
3* (2017-19) |
||
|
*Has 26 touchdown passes in 2020 |
||||
PAIR OF PLAYMAKERS: Arizona quarterback KYLER MURRAY leads all quarterbacks with 437 rushing yards this season, while Baltimore quarterback LAMAR JACKSON ranks second (411). This marks the first time in league history that two quarterbacks each have at least 400 rushing yards entering Week 9.
Last season, Murray joined CAM NEWTON (2011) as the only rookie quarterbacks to record at least 3,500 passing yards (3,722) and 500 rushing yards (544) in NFL history. With at least 63 rushing yards on Sunday against Miami (4:25 PM ET, CBS), Murray will become the fourth quarterback to rush for at least 500 yards in each of his first two seasons in NFL history, joining JOSH ALLEN (2018-19), Jackson (2018-19) and Newton (2011-12).
With at least 89 rushing yards on Sunday at Indianapolis (1:00 PM, CBS), Jackson will join Newton (first five seasons) as the only quarterbacks to rush for at least 500 yards in each of their first three seasons.
DOUBLE TROUBLE: Entering Week 9, New Orleans running back ALVIN KAMARA leads the NFL with 987 scrimmage yards (556 receiving, 431 rushing). He also leads all running backs in receiving yards and receptions (55).
With at least 69 rushing yards at Tampa Bay on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC), Kamara can become the first player with at least 500 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in each of his first four seasons in NFL history.
He will also become the sixth running back with four-or-more consecutive seasons with at least 500 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in the Super Bowl era.
The running backs with the most consecutive seasons with at least 500 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in the Super Bowl era:
|
PLAYER |
TEAM(S) |
SEASONS |
|
|
Marshall FaulkHOF |
Indianapolis, St. Louis Rams |
5 (1998-2002) |
|
|
Lydell Mitchell |
Baltimore Colts, San Diego Chargers |
5 (1974-78) |
|
|
Charlie Garner |
San Francisco, Oakland Raiders |
4 (1999-2002) |
|
|
Thurman ThomasHOF |
Buffalo |
4 (1989-92) |
|
|
Brian Westbrook |
Philadelphia |
4 (2004-07) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alvin Kamara |
New Orleans |
3 (2017-19)* |
|
|
*Has 556 receiving yards and 431 rushing yards in 2020 |
|||
HOPKINS CATCHING HISTORY: Arizona wide receiver DEANDRE HOPKINS leads the NFL with 57 receptions and 704 receiving yards this season. Hopkins, who will be 28 years and 155 days old on Sunday, has 689 receptions for 9,306 yards in his eight-year career.
With at least 11 receptions against Miami (4:25 PM ET, CBS), Hopkins will surpass current teammate LARRY FITZGERALD (29 years, 23 days) as the youngest player to reach 700 career receptions in NFL history. Hopkins will also become the fifth player to reach 700 receptions in his first eight seasons in league annals.
The youngest players to reach 700 career receptions in NFL history:
|
PLAYER |
TEAM(S) |
AGE |
||
|
Larry Fitzgerald |
Arizona |
29 years, 23 days |
||
|
Antonio Brown |
Pittsburgh |
29 years, 129 days |
||
|
Brandon Marshall |
Denver, Miami, Chicago |
29 years, 267 days |
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
DeAndre Hopkins |
Houston, Arizona |
28 years, 155 days* |
||
|
*On Sunday |
||||
The players with at least 700 receptions in their first eight seasons in NFL history:
|
PLAYER |
TEAM(S) |
RECEPTIONS |
|
Marvin HarrisonHOF |
Indianapolis |
759 |
|
Antonio Brown |
Pittsburgh |
733 |
|
Torry Holt |
St. Louis Rams |
712 |
|
Brandon Marshall |
Denver, Miami, Chicago |
712 |
|
|
|
|
|
DeAndre Hopkins |
Houston, Arizona |
689* |
|
*In eighth season |
|
|
With at least 96 receiving yards, Hopkins can join GARY CLARK (1985-92) as the only players with at least 50 receptions and 800 receiving yards in each of their first eight seasons in NFL history.
Kevin Greene, Jim Kelly Part of Ford's Proud to Honor Program
Automaker, Hall team up to Recognize 'Hall of Heroes'
HOF New Artifact Spotlight: Cleveland Browns
The Browns' uniform is now on display in the Pro Football Today Gallery.