2021 What To Look For - Week 3
Passing numbers are at an all-time high entering Week 3. Completion percentages and passer ratings are the highest they have ever been through the first two weeks of a season.
Quarterbacks are producing at a record-pace and that trend looks to continue. Some of the League’s best offenses and offensive weapons will go head to head this weekend. Here is a look at what to watch for in the pending Week 3 matchups:
PASSING HISTORY: Entering Week 3 of the 2021 NFL season, passing numbers are at an all-time high. The league has a combined 96.5 passer rating and 67.2 completion percentage, both the highest through the first two weeks of a season in NFL history.
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HIGHEST PASSER RATING IN FIRST TWO WEEKS, NFL HISTORY |
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HIGHEST COMPLETION PERCERTAGE IN FIRST TWO WEEKS, NFL HISTORY |
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SEASON |
PASSER RATING |
|
SEASON |
COMPLETION PERCENTAGE |
|
2021 |
96.5 |
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2021 |
67.2 |
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2020 |
96.2 |
|
2020 |
66.4 |
|
2019 |
94.0 |
|
2018 |
65.3 |
A total of 14 quarterbacks have a season passer rating of 100-or-higher (among qualified passers), the most since 1970 through Week 2. Last season, 12 quarterbacks had a season passer rating of 100-or-higher through the first three weeks, the most in league annals. This year has a chance to surpass that mark.
The seasons with the most quarterbacks with a passer rating of 100-or-higher through the first three weeks in NFL history:
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SEASON |
QUARTERBACKS |
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2020 |
12 |
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2019 |
11 |
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2018 |
10 |
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2015 |
10 |
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2007 |
10 |
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|
|
|
|
2021 |
14* |
|
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*Through two weeks |
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Seattle quarterback RUSSELL WILSON leads all quarterbacks with a 146.9 rating this season. If he continues at that pace on Sunday at Minnesota (4:25 PM ET, FOX), he can surpass TOM BRADY (141.8 rating in 2007) for the highest passer rating by a player through his team’s first three games of a season in NFL history, among qualified passers.
The players with the highest passer rating through their team’s first three games of a season in NFL history, among qualified passers:
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PLAYER |
TEAM |
SEASON |
PASSER RATING |
|
|
Tom Brady |
New England |
2007 |
141.8 |
|
|
Randall Cunningham |
Philadelphia |
1992 |
141.2 |
|
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Russell Wilson |
Seattle |
2020 |
139.0 |
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|
|
|
|
|
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Russell Wilson |
Seattle |
2021 |
146.9* |
|
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*Through first two games |
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Cleveland quarterback BAKER MAYFIELD leads the league with an 81.6 completion percentage (40 of 49), while Denver quarterback TEDDY BRIDGEWATER ranks second, completing 77.1 percent of his passes (54 of 70). Both players have a chance to have one of the highest completion percentages ever by a player through his team’s first three games of a season.
The players with the highest completion percentage through their team’s first three games of a season in NFL history, among qualified passers:
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PLAYER |
TEAM |
SEASON |
COMPLETION PERCENTAGE |
|
|
Drew Brees |
New Orleans |
2018 |
80.6 |
|
|
Tom Brady |
New England |
2007 |
79.5 |
|
|
Philip Rivers |
Indianapolis |
2020 |
78.3 |
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|
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|
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Baker Mayfield |
Cleveland |
2021 |
81.6* |
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Teddy Bridgewater |
Denver |
2021 |
77.1* |
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*Through first two games |
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Las Vegas quarterback DERAK CARR leads the league with 817 passing yards entering Week 3. With 383 passing yards against Miami on Sunday (4:05 PM ET, CBS), he will become the fourth player with at least 1,200 passing yards through his team’s first three games of a season in NFL history.
The quarterbacks with the most passing yards through their team’s first three games of a season in NFL history:
|
PLAYER |
TEAM |
SEASON |
PASSING YARDS |
|
Tom Brady |
New England |
2011 |
1,327 |
|
Ryan Fitzpatrick |
Tampa Bay |
2018 |
1,230 |
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Kurt WarnerHOF |
St. Louis Rams |
2000 |
1,221 |
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|
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Derek Carr |
Las Vegas |
2021 |
817* |
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*Through first two games |
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Dating back to Week 16 of the 2020 season, Carr has recorded at least 325 passing yards in four consecutive games. If he reaches the mark this week, he will become the fourth player to record 325 passing yards in at least five consecutive games in NFL history.
The players with the most consecutive games with at least 325 passing yards in NFL history:
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PLAYER |
TEAM |
SEASON(S) |
GAMES |
|
Rich Gannon |
Oakland Raiders |
2002 |
6 |
|
Drew Brees |
New Orleans |
2011 |
5 |
|
Kurt WarnerHOF |
Arizona |
2008 |
5 |
|
Kurt WarnerHOF |
St. Louis Rams |
2000 |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Derek Carr |
Las Vegas |
2020-21 |
4* |
|
*Active streak |
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Tampa Bay quarterback TOM BRADY leads the league with nine touchdown passes, becoming the fifth quarterback in the Super Bowl era with at least nine touchdown passes in his team's first two games of a season.
With four touchdown passes on Sunday at the Los Angeles Rams (4:25 PM ET, FOX), he would join RUSSELL WILSON (14 touchdown passes in 2020) and PATRICK MAHOMES (13 in 2018) as the only players with at least 13 touchdowns passes through their team’s first three games of a season in NFL history.
The quarterbacks with the most touchdown passes through their team’s first three games of a season in NFL history:
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PLAYER |
TEAM |
SEASON |
TOUCHDOWN PASSES |
|
Russell Wilson |
Seattle |
2020 |
14 |
|
Patrick Mahomes |
Kansas City |
2018 |
13 |
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Peyton ManningHOF |
Denver |
2013 |
12 |
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|
|
|
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Tom Brady |
Tampa Bay |
2021 |
9* |
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*Through first two games |
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LAMAR’S 40TH START: In Baltimore’s Sunday Night Football victory over Kansas City last week, quarterback LAMAR JACKSON passed for 239 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 107 yards and two touchdowns. It marked his 10th-career game with both a passing and rushing touchdown.
In 39 career starts, Jackson has totaled 89 touchdowns (69 passing, 20 rushing). With three touchdowns at Detroit on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Jackson will surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer KURT WARNER (91 touchdowns) for the third-most combined passing and rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in his first 40 career starts in NFL history. Only PATRICK MAHOMES (107 touchdowns) and Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (95) have more.
The quarterbacks with the most combined passing and rushing touchdowns in their first 40 career starts in NFL history:
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PLAYER |
TEAM |
PASSING TOUCHDOWNS |
RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS |
TOTAL TOUCHDOWNS |
|
|
Patrick Mahomes |
Kansas City |
101 |
6 |
107 |
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Dan MarinoHOF |
Miami |
93 |
2 |
95 |
|
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Kurt WarnerHOF |
St. Louis Rams |
90 |
1 |
91 |
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Lamar Jackson |
Baltimore |
69 |
20 |
89* |
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*In 39 career starts |
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PACK IN PRIMETIME: Green Bay wide receiver DAVANTE ADAMS had eight catches for 121 yards in last week’s Monday Night Football victory over Detroit. Adams and the Packers return to primetime in Week 3, as they travel to San Francisco to meet the unbeaten 49ers on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC).
Adams has recorded a touchdown reception in nine consecutive games on Sunday Night Football, the longest such streak in NFL history.
Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS completed 22 of 27 passes (81.5 pct.) for 255 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions for a 145.6 rating in last week’s win. He enters Week 3 with 416 career touchdown passes and with four more in San Francisco can tie Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (420 touchdown passes) for the sixth-most in NFL history.
WIDEOUTS OUT WEST: Entering Week 3, Seattle wide receiver TYLER LOCKETT ranks second in the league with 278 receiving yards, while Los Angeles Rams wide receiver COOPER KUPP ranks third with 271. Each player also has three receiving touchdowns this season and they are the only two players in the league with at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in each of the first two weeks.
If Lockett records at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown reception on Sunday at Minnesota (4:25 PM ET, FOX), or Kupp does so against Tampa Bay (4:25 PM ET, FOX), either would join Pro Football Hall of Famers MARVIN HARRISON (1999), RANDY MOSS (2007) and JERRY RICE (1989), as well as DWIGHT CLARK (1982) as the only players with at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in each of his team’s first three games of a season in NFL history.
The players with at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in each of their team’s first three games of a season in NFL history:
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PLAYER |
TEAM |
SEASON |
|
Randy MossHOF |
New England |
2007 |
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Marvin HarrisonHOF |
Indianapolis |
1999 |
|
Jerry RiceHOF |
San Francisco |
1989 |
|
Dwight Clark |
San Francisco |
1982 |
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Cooper Kupp |
L.A. Rams |
2021* |
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Tyler Lockett |
Seattle |
2021* |
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*Through first two games |
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TERRIFIC TIGHT ENDS: Kansas City tight end TRAVIS KELCE leads all tight ends with 185 receiving yards this season and ranks second with three touchdown receptions. Dating back to Week 13 of the 2020 season, Kelce has recorded a receiving touchdown in six consecutive regular-season games.
With a touchdown reception on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Kelce will become the second tight end to record a receiving touchdown in seven consecutive games in NFL history, joining ANTONIO GATES (nine consecutive games from 2009-10).
The tight ends with a receiving touchdown in the most consecutive games in NFL history:
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PLAYER |
TEAM |
SEASON(S) |
CONSECUTIVE GAMES |
|
Antonio Gates |
San Diego Chargers |
2009-10 |
9 |
|
Tony GonzalezHOF |
Atlanta |
2008-09 |
6 |
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Jimmy Graham |
New Orleans |
2011-12 |
6 |
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Rob Gronkowski |
New England |
2011 |
6 |
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Travis Kelce |
Kansas City |
2020-21 |
6* |
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*Active streak |
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Tampa Bay tight end ROB GRONKOWSKI leads all players with four touchdown receptions this season and joined BEN COATES (1994) and DEE MACKEY (1962) as the only tight ends in league annals with at least two touchdown receptions in each of their team's first two games of a season.
If Gronkowski records two touchdown receptions on Sunday against the Rams (4:25 PM ET, FOX), he will join Pro Football Hall of Famer CALVIN JOHNSON (2011) as the only players in NFL history with at least two receiving touchdowns in each of their team’s first three games of a season. He can also become the first tight ever with six receiving touchdowns through his team’s first three games of a season.
The tight ends with the most receiving touchdowns in their team’s first three games of a season in NFL history:
|
PLAYER |
TEAM |
SEASON |
RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS |
|
Julius Thomas |
Denver |
2014 |
5 |
|
Rob Gronkowski |
New England |
2011 |
5 |
|
Pat Richter |
Washington |
1968 |
5 |
|
Willie Frazier |
Houston Oilers |
1965 |
5 |
|
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|
|
|
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Rob Gronkowski |
Tampa Bay |
2021 |
4* |
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*Through first two games |
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Detroit tight end T.J. HOCKENSON ties for the league lead with 16 receptions this season, after recording eight receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown in Week 1 and eight receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown in Week 2.
Against Baltimore on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Hockenson can become the first tight end in NFL history with at least eight receptions and a touchdown reception in each of his team’s first three games of a season.
RUNNING THROUGH THE SOUTH: Tennessee running back DERRICK HENRY enters Week 3 leading the league with 240 rushing yards. This Sunday in Indianapolis (1:00 PM ET, CBS) will mark his first game of the season against an AFC South division rival.
In each of his past five games against the AFC South, Henry has rushed for at least 100 yards. In each his past three games against the division, he has totaled at least 175 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, the longest such streak against a division rival since 1970.
Derrick Henry’s past five games against the AFC South in 2020:
|
WEEK |
OPPONENT |
RUSHING YARDS |
RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS |
|
Week 17 |
at Houston |
250 |
2 |
|
Week 14 |
at Jacksonville |
215 |
2 |
|
Week 12 |
at Indianapolis |
178 |
3 |
|
Week 10 |
vs. Indianapolis |
103 |
0 |
|
Week 6 |
vs. Houston |
212 |
2 |
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