Another Sunday, another bunch of notes provided by the NFL’s department of information (making the games interesting and attending and/or watching on television). Oh, yes, and another excuse to run photos of Jaime Edmondson in NFL-themed attire (as if any excuse is needed regarding the Playboy Playmate around here).
You can follow Jaime on Twitter at @jaimeedmondson.
Although she is not providing her NFL picks for Week 8 (or if so, they’re coming late), the editorial department at elliottharris.com figured we might as well run some selections and some pics of Jaime, who always has been a good sport about this — as well as being good at choosing winners.
So let’s make some selections: Chicago over Carolina, Cleveland over San Diego, Detroit over Seattle, Green Bay over Jacksonville, Indianapolis over Tennessee, New England, Miami (remember, Jaime was a Dolphins cheerleader and always picks them to win) over New York Jets and Atlanta over Philadelphia in the early games. Kansas City over Oakland and New York Giants over Dallas in the late-afternoon games and Denver over New Orleans in the night game.
From our Department of Oops: We forgot the Washington-Pittsburgh game. And just realized that oversight with the game in the fourth quarter. I would take Pittsburgh but won’t count that in calculating winners and losers (other than the loser who can’t read a schedule and initially omitted the Skins-Steelers).
And now on to some facts to go with pics of Jaime’s figure.
Quarterbacks this season have compiled a league-wide passer rating of 86.4 and a completion percentage of 61.9. Both are on pace to be the highest of any season in NFL history. THe previous bests are 84.3 passer rating in 2011 and 61.2 completion percentage in 2007.
Three active quarterbacks rank among the top five all-time in career passing yards per game by averaging more than 250. The top two – New Orleans’ Drew Brees (267.7 yards per game) and Peyton Manning (264.7 yards per game) – will compete on Sunday Night Football. The quarterbacks with the most career passing yards per game (minimum 100 games):
267.7: Drew Brees, San Diego, New Orleans
264.7: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis, Denver
260.8: Kurt Warner: St. Louis, New York Giants, Arizona
253.6: Dan Marino, Miami
250.5 Tom Brady, New England (still active)
New Orleans QB Drew Brees has 299 career touchdown passes in 160 career games and has passed for at least one touchdown in 49 consecutive games, the longest such streak all-time. With at least one touchdown Sunday, Brees will tie New England’s Tom Brady for the third-fewest games to reach the mark in league annals. The players to reach 300 passing touchdowns in the fewest games in NFL history:
157: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis (1998-2007); Dan Marino, Miami (1983-1994)
161: Tom Brady, New England (2000-2011)
167: Brett Favre, Green Bay (1991-2002)
217: Fran Tarkenton, Minnesota, New York Giants (1961-1976)
234: John Elway, Denver (1983-1998)
If Brees passes for at least 300 yards Sunday at Denver, he will tie Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino for the second-most 300-yard passing games in league history. The players with the most 300-yard passing games in NFL history:
67: Peyton Manning (active)
63: Dan Marino
62: Drew Brees (active), Brett Favre
52: Kurt Warner
The NFL’s “Mr. October” is who? Among QBs, the New York Giants’ Eli Manning (26-5, .839), New England’s Tom Brady (33-11, .750) and Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger (24-8, .750) have compiled some of the best records in October winning percentages among starting quarterbacks (minimum 20 starts) in the Super Bowl era (since 1966). The starting quarterbacks (minimum 20 starts) with the best October winning percentages in the Super Bowl era:
.839: Eli Manning (active), New York Giants (26-5-0)
.800: Kordell Stewart, Pittsburgh, Chicago (16-4-0)
.771: Daryle Lamonica, Buffalo, Oakland (18-5-3)
.750: Tom Brady (active), New England (33-11-0); Ben Roethlisberger (active), Pittsburgh (24-8-0), Sonny Jurgensen, Philadelphia, Washington (21-7-3)
(Note: Before 1972, tie games were not included in winning percentage)
If Atlanta tight end Tony Gonzalez (1,192 receptions) records eight receptions in Week 8, he will join Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice (1,549) as the only players with 1,200 career receptions. He needs one touchdown reception to become the first tight end with 100.
With at least 110 rushing yards against Indianapolis, Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans will tie Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown for the second-most 110+ yard rushing games in a player’s first five years. The players with the most 110+ yard rushing games in their first five seasons (all in the Pro Football Hall of Fame — except for Johnson):
35: Eric Dickerson, L.A. Rams, Indianapolis (1983-1987)
28: Jim Brown, Cleveland (1957-1961)
27: Chris Johnson, Tennessee (2008-present); Walter Payton, Chicago (1975-1979)
26: Emmitt Smith, Dallas (1990-1994)
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