Thursday, November 21, 2024
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NFL What To Look For – Week 4

Below are teams and players that can set historic marks or reach career milestones in Week 4 of the 2023 NFL season, including:

  • Miami (De’Von Achane, Raheem Mostert & Tyreek Hill)
  • Coaching milestones (Bill Belichick & Andy Reid)
  • Kansas City (Patrick Mahomes)
  • Buffalo (Josh Allen)
  • Philadelphia (Jalen Hurts)
  • San Francisco (Christian McCaffrey)
  • Minnesota (Kirk Cousins & Justin Jefferson)
  • Houston (C.J. Stroud & Tank Dell)
  • L.A. Rams (Puka Nacua)
  • Cincinnati (Ja’Marr Chase)
  • Las Vegas (Davante Adams)
  • L.A. Chargers (Keenan Allen)
  • Pittsburgh (T.J. Watt)
  • Cleveland (Myles Garrett)

DOLPHINS LOOK TO CONTINUE HISTORIC OFFENSIVE START TO SEASON

The MIAMI DOLPHINS are 3-0 for a second-consecutive season and have totaled 1,651 total yards of offense, the most-ever by a team through their first three games of a season. They also lead the league with 130 points scored, the second-most by a team through three games in NFL history.

With 349 total yards of offense at Buffalo on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Miami will become the third team in NFL history to total at least 2,000 total yards of offense through their first four games of a season, joining DALLAS in 2020 (2,038 total yards) and NEW ENGLAND in 2021 (2,030).

They can also join Dallas in 2020 and SAN FRANCISCO in 1998 as the only teams ever to record at least 500 total yards of offense in three of their first four games.

Last week, running backs DE’VON ACHANE (two rushing touchdowns, two receiving touchdowns) and RAHEEM MOSTERT (three rushing, one receiving) became the second pair of teammates in NFL history to each score four touchdowns in the same game.

With two touchdowns on Sunday, Achane – a third-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft – will become the fourth player in NFL history with six touchdowns through his first three career games, joining KAREEM HUNT (2017), BILLY SIMS (1980) and DUTCH STERNAMAN (1920).

Mostert leads the NFL with seven touchdowns this season (six rushing, one receiving). With two touchdowns in Buffalo, he will become the fourth player in NFL history with at least nine touchdowns through his team’s first four games of a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers JIM BROWN (10 touchdowns in 1958) and EMMITT SMITH (nine in 1995) as well as STEPHEN DAVIS (nine in 1999).

The players with the most touchdowns through their team’s first four games of a season in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONTOUCHDOWNS
Jim BrownHOFCleveland195810
Stephen DavisWashington19999
Emmitt SmithHOFDallas19959
    
Raheem MostertMiami20237*
*Through three games   

Mostert can also become the sixth player all-time with at least eight rushing touchdowns in his team’s first four games of a season.

The players with the most rushing touchdowns through their team’s first four games of a season in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONRUSHING TOUCHDOWNS
Jim BrownHOFCleveland19589
Stephen DavisWashington19999
Emmitt SmithHOFDallas19959
LaDainian TomlinsonHOFSan Diego20058
Clarence WilliamsSan Diego19798
    
Raheem MostertMiami20236*
*Through three games   

Wide receiver TYREEK HILL totaled nine receptions for 157 yards and a touchdown in last week’s victory. It marked his 13th-career game with at least 150 receiving yards, tied with JULIO JONES for the fourth-most ever by a player in his first eight seasons.

With another 150-yard performance, Hill will tie Pro Football Hall of Famer CALVIN JOHNSON (14 games) for third-most games with at least 150 receiving yards by a player in his first eight seasons in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers LANCE ALWORTH (17 games) and JERRY RICE (16) have more.

Both Hill, who recorded 215 receiving yards in Week 1, and Minnesota’s JUSTIN JEFFERSON can join Pro Football Hall of Famer TIM BROWN (1997), STEVE SMITH (2011) and WES WELKER (2011) as the only players ever to record at least 150 receiving yards in three of their team’s first four games of a season.

Both Hill and Tampa Bay’s MIKE EVANS can join ANTONIO GATES (2010), T.J. HOUSHMANDZADEH (2007), CARL PICKENS (1995) and Pro Football Hall of Famers LANCE ALWORTH (1964) and RANDY MOSS (2007) as the only players ever to record at least five receptions and a touchdown reception in each of their team’s first four games of a season.

The players with the consecutive games with at least five receptions and a touchdown reception to begin a season in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONGAMES 
Antonio GatesSan Diego Chargers20105 
T.J. HoushmandzadehCincinnati20075 
Carl PickensCincinnati19955 
Lance AlworthHOFSan Diego Chargers19644 
Randy MossHOFNew England20074 
     
Mike EvansTampa Bay20233* 
Tyreek HillMiami20233* 
*Active streak   

BELICHICK & REID EACH CLOSING IN ON MILESTONES

New England head coach BILL BELICHICK and Kansas City head coach ANDY REID each rank in the top-five in all-time total wins and regular-season wins by head coaches.

With a win at Dallas on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, FOX), Belichick will become the third head coach in NFL history with 300 career regular-season wins, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers DON SHULA (328 regular-season wins) and GEORGE HALAS (318).

With a win at the New York Jets on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC), Reid will become the fifth head coach in NFL history with 250 career regular-season wins, joining Shula, Halas, Belichick and Pro Football Hall of Famer TOM LANDRY (250).

The head coaches with the most regular-season wins in NFL history:

HEAD COACHTEAM(S)REG. SEASON WINS
Don ShulaHOFBaltimore Colts, Miami328
George HalasHOFChicago318
Bill BelichickCleveland, New England299
Tom LandryHOFDallas250
Andy ReidPhiladelphia, Kansas City249


MAHOMES FASTEST TO 200

Since entering the NFL in 2017, Kansas City quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES leads all players with 199 touchdown passes.

With a touchdown pass in his 84th career game at the New York Jets on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC), Mahomes will become the fastest player ever to reach 200 career touchdown passes, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO, who reached the mark in 89 games.

The players to reach 200 career touchdown passes in the fewest games in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMGAMES 
Dan MarinoHOFMiami89 
Aaron RodgersGreen Bay99 
Peyton ManningHOFIndianapolis106 
    
Patrick MahomesKansas City83* 
*Has 199 touchdown passes in 82 games  

ALLEN PASSING & RUSHING UP THE RANKS

Last week, Buffalo quarterback JOSH ALLEN recorded his 26th career game with both a passing and a rushing touchdown, the most in the NFL since 2018 and the fourth-most such games in NFL history. Currently in his sixth NFL season, he has 182 combined passing and rushing touchdowns (143 passing, 39 rushing).

With three touchdowns against Miami (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Allen will surpass CAM NEWTON (184 touchdowns) for the third-most combined passing and rushing touchdowns by a player in his first six seasons in NFL history.

The players with the most combined passing and rushing touchdowns in their first six seasons in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMCOMBINED PASS + RUSH TOUCHDOWNS
Patrick MahomesKansas City204
Dan MarinoHOFMiami199
Cam NewtonCarolina184
Josh AllenBuffalo182*
*In sixth season  

With his next rushing touchdown, Allen can become the fourth quarterback in NFL history with 40 career rushing touchdowns, joining CAM NEWTON (75), Pro Football Hall of Famer STEVE YOUNG (43) and JACK KEMP (40).

The quarterbacks with the most rushing touchdowns in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAM(S)RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS
Cam NewtonCarolina, New England75
Steve YoungHOFTampa Bay, San Francisco43
Jack KempL.A./San Diego Chargers, Buffalo40
Josh AllenBuffalo39*
Kordell StewardPittsburgh, Chicago38
*In sixth season 

HURTS RISING ON RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS LIST

Philadelphia enters Week 4 having won 20 of their past 21 regular-season games started by quarterback JALEN HURTS, including each of his past nine regular-season starts dating back to Week 11 of the 2022 season.

From Week 15, 2021 to Week 9, 2022, the Eagles won 11 consecutive games started by Hurts. With a win against Washington (1:00 PM ET), Hurts can become the second starting quarterback in the Super Bowl era with multiple 10-game winning streaks within his first four career seasons, joining PATRICK MAHOMES (10 games from Week 11, 2019 to Week 4, 2020; 10 consecutive wins from Week 6 to Week 16 in 2020).

In his 48th career game last week, Hurts rushed for his 29th career touchdown, the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in his first 50 career games in NFL history.

With a rushing touchdown against Washington (1:00 PM ET, FOX), Hurts can join CAM NEWTON (33 rushing touchdowns) and JOSH ALLEN (31) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history with at least 30 rushing touchdowns in their first four seasons.

The quarterbacks with the most rushing touchdowns in their first four career seasons in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMRUSHING TOUCHDOWNS
Cam NewtonCarolina33
Josh AllenBuffalo31
Jalen HurtsPhiladelphia29*
*In fourth season  

MCCAFFREY CAN EXTEND TOUCHDOWN STEAK

Running back CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY leads the NFL with 353 rushing yards entering Week 4 and has recorded at least 115 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in each of San Francisco’s first three games. McCaffrey can become the fourth player ever to record 115 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in each of his team’s first four games of a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers JIM BROWN (1958) and O.J. SIMPSON (1975).

Since Week 13 of the 2022 season, McCaffrey has scored a touchdown in 12 straight games, including the postseason. With a touchdown against Arizona on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, FOX), he will become the fourth player since 1990 to record a touchdown in 13 consecutive games, including the postseason.

The players with the most consecutive games with a touchdown, including the postseason, since 1990:​

PLAYERTEAMGAMES (DATES)
Emmitt SmithHOFDallas14 (Oct. 8, 1995 – Jan. 28, 1996)
Arian FosterHouston13 (Dec. 18, 2011 – Nov. 11, 2012)
Emmitt SmithHOFDallas13 (Nov. 7, 1994 – Sept. 24, 1995)
Christian McCaffreySan Francisco12* (Dec. 4, 2022 – current)
LaDainian TomlinsonHOFSan Diego Chargers12 (Oct. 3 – Dec. 26, 2004)
*Active streak​  

KIRK COUSINS & JUSTIN JEFFERSON LOOK TO CONTINUE STRONG START

Minnesota quarterback KIRK COUSINS leads the NFL with 1,075 passing yards and is the only quarterback with at least 300 passing yards in each of the first three weeks.

On Sunday at Carolina (1:00 PM ET, FOX), Cousins can join Pro Football Hall of Famer KURT WARNER (2000) as the only players in NFL history with at least 325 passing yards in each of his team’s first four games of a season. He can also become the first player ever with at least 325 passing yards and two touchdown passes in each of his team’s first four games.

With his next 300-yard performance, can become the fifth quarterback in NFL history with 50 career games with at least 300 passing yards in his first 12 seasons. Cousins has 49 such games in his career since entering the NFL in 2012. 

The players with the most games with at least 300 passing yards in their first 12 seasons in NFL history: 

PLAYERTEAM(S)GAMES WITH 300+ PASS YARDS 
Drew BreesSan Diego Chargers, New Orleans67 
Matt RyanAtlanta64 
Peyton ManningHOFIndianapolis56 
Kurt WarnerHOFArizona, St. Louis Rams52 
    
Kirk CousinsWashington, Minnesota49* 
*In 12th season

Vikings wide receiver JUSTIN JEFFERSON leads the NFL with 458 receiving yards, tied with Wes Welker (458 receiving yards in 2011) for the most receiving yards by a player in his team’s first three games of a season in NFL history.

On Sunday, Jefferson needs 98 receiving yards to surpass BOB BOYD (555 receiving yards in 1954) and TERRY GLENN (544) for the second-most receiving yards by a player in his team’s first four games of a season all-time. Only WES WELKER (616 receiving yards in 2011) has more. 

The players with the most receiving yards in their team’s first four games of a season in NFL history: 

PLAYERTEAMSEASONRECEIVING YARDS
Wes WelkerNew England2011616
Bob BoydL.A. Rams1954555
Terry GlennNew England1999544
    
Justin JeffersonMinnesota2023458*
*Through three games

Jefferson has recorded at least 125 receiving yards in each of the first three weeks this season and can become the fifth player since 2000 with at least 125 receiving yards in four consecutive games, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer CALVIN JOHNSON (five consecutive games in 2012), ODELL BECKHAM JR. (four in 2014), JOSH GORDON (four in 2013) and ANDRE JOHNSON (four in 2008).

ROOKIE DOMINANCE IN HOUSTON

Houston rookie quarterback C.J. STROUD ranks fifth in the NFL with 906 passing yards entering Week 4. He is also one of four quarterbacks (among those that have started in each of the first three weeks) that have not thrown an interception this season.

With 244 passing yards against Pittsburgh on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Stroud will move into the top-five for most passing yards ever by a player in his first four career games.

The players with the most passing yards in their first four career games in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONPASSING YARDS
Cam NewtonCarolina20111,386
Andrew LuckIndianapolis20121,208
Justin HerbertL.A. Chargers20201,195
Patrick MahomesKansas City2017-181,180
Marc BulgerSt. Louis Rams20021,149
    
C.J. StroudHouston2023906*
*Through three games   

Stroud can also join GARDNER MINSHEW (2019) as the only quarterbacks ever with no interceptions in his first four career starts (minimum 30 attempts in each start).

One of Stroud’s top receivers this season has been fellow rookie TANK DELL, a third-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. Dell ranks second among rookies with 251 receiving yards and has recorded at least five receptions and a touchdown reception in each of the past two weeks.

Dell can join KELVIN BENJAMIN (2014) and TERRY MCLAURIN (2019) as the only players in NFL history with at least five receptions and a touchdown reception in three of their first four career games.

NACUA’S HISTORIC FIRST FOUR

Los Angeles Rams rookie wide receiver PUKA NACUA, a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft from BYU, ranks second in the NFL with 30 receptions this season and fourth with 338 receiving yards.

His 30 receptions are already tied with ANQUAN BOLDIN (30 in 2003) for the most receptions ever by a player in his first four career games and with his first reception at Indianapolis on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Nacua will surpass Boldin for the all-time record.

The players with the most receptions in their first four career games in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONRECEPTIONS
Anquan BoldinArizona200330
Puka NacuaL.A. Rams202330*
Deion BranchNew England200228
*Through three games   

With 62 receiving yards, Nacua will become the sixth player in NFL history to total at least 400 receiving yards in his first four career games.

The players with at least 400 receiving yards in their first four career games in NFL history:

​PLAYERTEAMSEASONRECEIVING YARDS
Anquan BoldinArizona2003464
Stefon DiggsBuffalo2015419
Jerry ButlerBuffalo1979417
Dan EdwardsBrooklyn Dodgers1948412
Harlon HillChicago1954400
    
Puka NacuaL.A. Rams2023338*
*Through three games    

CHASE & ADAMS NEARING RECEPTION MILESTONES

Since entering the NFL in 2021, Cincinnati wide receiver JA’MARR CHASE has totaled 190 receptions for 2,712 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns in 32 games. Last week, he recorded 12 receptions for 141 yards, his fourth-career game with at least 10 receptions.

With 10 catches at Tennessee on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX), Chase will tie JARVIS LANDRY (33 games) as the third-fastest player in NFL history to reach 200 career receptions. Only ODELL BECKHAM JR. (30 games) and MICHAEL THOMAS (32) reached the mark in fewer games.

The players to reach 200 career receptions in the fewest games in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMGAMES
Odell Beckham Jr.N.Y. Giants30
Michael ThomasNew Orleans32
Jarvis LandryMiami33
   
Ja’Marr ChaseCincinnati32*
*Has 190 receptions in 32 games 

Since entering the NFL in 2014, Las Vegas wide receiver DAVANTE ADAMS ranks third among all players with 794 receptions in 132 career games.

With six receptions at the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday (4:05 PM ET, CBS), Adams will tie ANDRE JOHNSON (137 games) as the fifth-fastest player in NFL history to reach 800 career receptions.

The players to reach 800 career reception in the fewest games in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAM(S)GAMES
Antonio BrownPittsburgh126
Keenan AllenSan Diego/L.A. Chargers127
Julio JonesAtlanta127
Marvin HarrisonHOFIndianapolis131
Andre JohnsonHouston137
   
Davante AdamsGreen Bay, Las Vegas136*
*Has 794 receptions in 136 games 


Los Angeles Chargers.jpg ALLEN EYEING 40 THROUGH 4

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver KEENAN ALLEN leads the NFL with 32 receptions this season. Last week, his 18 receptions were tied for the third-most in a regular-season game in NFL history.

With eight receptions against Las Vegas on Sunday (4:05 PM ET, CBS), Allen will become the fifth player in NFL history with at least 40 receptions through his team’s first four games of a season, joining COOPER KUPP (42 receptions in 2022), MICHAEL THOMAS (42 in 2018), ADAM THIELEN (40 in 2018) and WES WELKER (40 in 2011). ​

The players with at least 40 receptions through their team’s first four games of a season in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONRECEPTIONS 
Cooper KuppL.A. Rams202242 
Michael ThomasNew Orleans201842 
Adam ThielenMinnesota201840 
Wes WelkerNew England201140 
     
Keenan AllenL.A. Chargers202332* 
*Through three games   

GARRETT & WATT SACKING RECORDS

Pittsburgh linebacker T.J. WATT leads the NFL with six sacks this season, while Cleveland defensive end MYLES GARRETT ranks third with 4.5.

Watt has recorded a sack in each of the first three weeks of the season, with multiple sacks in two games. With at least two sacks at Houston on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Watt will become the fourth player since 2000 to record at least two sacks in three of his team’s first four games of a season, joining ELVIS DUMERVIL (2009), KABEER GBAJA-BIAMILA (2001) and PATRICK KERNEY (2004).

Since entering the league in 2017, Garrett has totaled 79 sacks in 87 career games. With a sack against Baltimore on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Garrett will tie Watt (88 games) as the second-fastest player to reach 80 career sacks since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer REGGIE WHITE (71 games) reached the mark in fewer games. 

The players to reach 80 career sacks in the fewest games since 1982: 

PLAYERTEAMGAMES
Reggie WhiteHOFPhiladelphia71
T.J. WattPittsburgh88
J.J. WattHouston92
   
Myles GarrettCleveland87*
*Has 79 sacks in 87 games
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