Friday, December 27, 2024

NFL What To Look For – Week 17

NEW YORK – Below are players that can set historic marks or reach career milestones in Week 17 of the 2024 NFL season, including:

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  • QB Josh Allen
  • QB Joe Burrow
  • WR Ja’Marr Chase
  • QB Sam Darnold
  • QB Jared Goff
  • RB Jahmyr Gibbs
  • WR Amon-Ra St. Brown
  • QB Aaron Rodgers
  • WR Davante Adams
  • QB Jayden Daniels
  • QB Bo Nix
  • QB Caleb Williams
  • TE Brock Bowers
  • WR Malik Nabers
  • WR Brian Thomas Jr.
  • LB Micah Parsons

JOSH ALLEN

Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen has 75 career regular-season wins and with a win against the New York Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS), can surpass Russell Wilson (75 wins) for the most regular-season wins by a quarterback in his first seven seasons in NFL history.

Allen has 37 combined passing and rushing touchdowns (26 passing, 11 rushing) this season and can join Aaron Rodgers (six seasons) as the only players in NFL history with five career seasons with at least 40 combined passing and rushing touchdowns.

Since entering the NFL in 2018, Allen has 193 touchdown passes and with three touchdown passes, will tie Russell Wilson (196 touchdown passes) for the fifth-most by a player in his first seven seasons in NFL history.

The players with the most touchdown passes in their first seven seasons in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMPASS TDs
Dan Marino HOFMiami220
Patrick MahomesKansas City219
Peyton Manning HOFIndianapolis216
Russell WilsonSeattle196
Josh AllenBuffalo193*
*in seventh season

JOE BURROW

Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow leads the NFL with 4,229 passing yards, is tied for first with 39 touchdown passes, and became the first player in NFL history with at least 250 passing yards and three touchdown passes in seven consecutive games.

On Saturday against Denver (4:30 p.m. ET, NFL Network), Burrow can become the fourth player all-time with at least three touchdown passes in eight consecutive games, joining Tom Brady (10 consecutive games in 2007), Andrew Luck (eight in 2018) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (eight in 2004).

The players with at least three touchdown passes in the most consecutive games in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMSEASON(S)GAMES
Tom BradyNew England200710
Andrew LuckIndianapolis20188
Peyton Manning HOFIndianapolis20048
Joe BurrowCincinnati20247*
Dan Marino HOFMiami1986-877
*active streak

Burrow has 136 career touchdown passes and can surpass Josh Allen (138 touchdown passes) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (138) for the third-most touchdown passes by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (168 touchdown passes) and Patrick Mahomes (151) have more.

JA’MARR CHASE

Cincinnati wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase leads the league with 108 receptions for 1,510 yards and 16 touchdowns this season and became the third player in NFL history with at least 100 receptions, 1,500 receiving yards and 15 touchdown receptions in his first 15 games in a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Randy Moss (2003) and Jerry Rice (1995).

Since entering the NFL in 2021, Chase has 45 career touchdown receptions and can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Bob Hayes (45 touchdown receptions) for the third-most touchdown receptions by a player in his first four seasons in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers Randy Moss (53 touchdown receptions) and Jerry Rice (49) have more.

The players with the most touchdown receptions in their first four seasons in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMREC. TDs
Randy Moss HOFMinnesota53
Jerry Rice HOFSan Francisco49
Ja’Marr ChaseCincinnati45*
Bob Hayes HOFDallas45
*in fourth season

SAM DARNOLD

Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold has career highs in passing yards (3,776) and touchdown passes (32) this season and became the third non-rookie quarterback since 1970 to record at least 13 wins in his first season with a team, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (2012 with Denver) and Steve McNair (2006 with the Baltimore Ravens).

With two touchdown passes on Sunday against Green Bay (4:25 p.m. ET, FOX), Darnold can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre (33 touchdown passes in 2009 with Minnesota) and Vinny Testaverde (33 in 1996 with the Baltimore Ravens) for the fourth-most touchdown passes by a player in his first season with a team. Only Matthew Stafford (41 touchdown passes in 2021 with the Los Angeles Rams), Tom Brady (40 in 2020 with Tampa Bay) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (37 in 2012 with Denver) have more.

Darnold has 11 games with at least two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 100-or-higher this season and can become the fourth player in NFL history with 12 such games in a season, joining Aaron Rodgers (14 games in 2020 and 13 in 2011), Patrick Mahomes (13 in 2018) and Matt Ryan (12 in 2016). Each of the players with 12 games with at least two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 100-or-higher earned Associated Press Most Valuable Player honors that season.

The players with the most games with at least two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 100-or-higher in a season in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONGAMES
Aaron Rodgers MVPGreen Bay202014
Patrick Mahomes MVPKansas City201813
Aaron Rodgers MVPGreen Bay201113
Matt Ryan MVPAtlanta201612
Sam DarnoldMinnesota202411*
*entering Week 17

JARED GOFF

The Detroit Lions are 7-0 on the road this season and with a win at San Franciso on Monday Night Football (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC), can become the sixth team since 2000 to go undefeated on the road in a season, joining the 2020 Kansas City Chiefs2016 and 2007 New England Patriots2014 Dallas Cowboys and 2001 St. Louis Rams.

Detroit quarterback Jared Goff passed for 336 yards and three touchdowns with a 137.0 passer rating in Week 16 and became the first player in NFL history with at least 275 passing yards, two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 135-or-higher in five games within a single season in NFL history.

Goff has 41 career games with at least 300 passing yards and can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (41 games) and Matt Ryan (41) for the second-most games with at least 300 passing yards by a quarterback in his first nine seasons in NFL history. Only Patrick Mahomes (48 games, in first eight seasons) has more.

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

PLAYERTEAM(S)GAMES
Patrick MahomesKansas City48#
Jared GoffL.A. Rams, Detroit41*
Dan Marino HOFMiami41
Matt RyanAtlanta41
Peyton Manning HOFIndianapolis40
*in ninth season
#in eighth season


Goff has 34,524 career passing yards and can surpass Matthew Stafford (34,749 passing yards) for the fifth-most by a player in his first nine seasons in NFL history. Only Matt Ryan (37,701 passing yards), Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning (37,586) and Dan Marino (35,386) as well as Derek Carr (35,222) have more.

Goff has 2,994 career completions and can become the fifth player all-time with at least 3,000 completions in his first nine seasons, joining Matt Ryan (3,288 completions), Derek Carr (3,201), Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (3,131) and Matthew Stafford (3,005).

JAHMYR GIBBS

Detroit running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who turns 23 years old on March 20, 2025, has 2,857 scrimmage yards and 26 scrimmage touchdowns (22 rushing, four receiving) in his first two career seasons, including 19 games with a touchdown.

With a touchdown on Monday at San Francisco (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC), Gibbs will become the fifth player under the age of 23 with at least 20 games with a touchdown in NFL history, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Barry Sanders (22 games) and Edgerrin James (20) as well as Maurice Jones-Drew (21) and Jonathan Taylor (21).

The players under the age of 23 with the most games with a touchdown in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMGAMES
Barry Sanders HOFDetroit22
Maurice Jones-DrewJacksonville21
Jonathan TaylorIndianapolis21
Edgerrin James HOFIndianapolis20
Jahmyr GibbsDetroit19*
*turns 23 on March 20, 2025.

The Lions – with Jahmyr Gibbs (15 scrimmage touchdowns in 2024), David Montgomery (12) and Amon-Ra St. Brown (11 entering Week 17) – can become the fourth team in NFL history with three players each with 12 scrimmage touchdowns in a season, joining the 2013 Denver Broncos (Knowshon Moreno, Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas), 2014 Green Bay Packers (Randall Cobb, Eddie Lacy and Jordy Nelson) and 1961 Houston Oilers (Billy Cannon, Bill Groman and Charlie Hennigan).

AARON RODGERS & DAVANTE ADAMS

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has 499 regular-season touchdown passes in 246 career games and can become the fifth player in NFL history with 500 regular-season touchdown passes, joining Tom Brady (649 touchdown passes), Drew Brees (571) and Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning (539) and Brett Favre (508). He can also join Manning (244 games) as the only players to reach 500 regular-season touchdown passes in fewer than 250 career games.

The players with the most regular-season touchdown passes in in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMSPASS TDs
Tom BradyNew England, Tampa Bay649
Drew BreesSan Diego Chargers, New Orleans571
Peyton Manning HOFIndianapolis, Denver539
Brett Favre HOFGreen Bay, N.Y. Jets, Minnesota508
Aaron RodgersGreen Bay, N.Y. Jets499*
*active

Rodgers, who has 24 touchdown passes this season, has 13 career seasons with at least 25 touchdown passes and with one touchdown pass, will tie Drew Brees (14 seasons) for the third-most such seasons in NFL history. Only Tom Brady (17 seasons) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (16) have more.

Rodgers and wide receiver Davante Adams, who have connected for six touchdowns this season with the Jets and had 76 touchdowns (including the postseason) together in Green Bay, can surpass Miami’s quarterback-wide receiver duo of Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino and Mark Clayton (82 touchdowns) for the third-most touchdowns, including the playoffs by a quarterback-wide receiver pairing in NFL history.

The quarterback-wide receiver duos with the most touchdowns, including the postseason, in NFL history:

QUARTERBACKWIDE RECEIVERTEAM(S)TOUCHDOWNS
Peyton Manning HOFMarvin Harrison HOFIndianapolis114
Steve Young HOFJerry Rice HOFSan Francisco92
Dan Marino HOFMark ClaytonMiami82
Aaron RodgersDavante AdamsGreen Bay, N.Y. Jets82*
Ben RoethlisbergerAntonio BrownPittsburgh78
*active

ROOKIE QUARTERBACKS

Rookie quarterbacks are set to appear in multiple single-window games this week, with Chicago’s Caleb Williams on Thursday Night Football against Seattle (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video), Denver’s Bo Nix on Saturday at Cincinnati (4:30 p.m. ET, NFL Network) and Atlanta’s Michael Penix Jr. and Washington’s Jayden Daniels on Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC).

The matchup between Penix Jr. (No. 8 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft) and Daniels (No. 2) will mark the first primetime game in NFL history between rookie starting quarterbacks each selected in the first round.

Daniels, who has 22 touchdown passes and six rushing touchdowns this season, can become the fourth rookie quarterback in NFL history with at least 30 combined passing and rushing touchdowns, joining Justin Herbert (36 combined passing and rushing touchdowns in 2020 with the Los Angeles Chargers), Cam Newton (35 in 2011 with Carolina) and Russell Wilson (30 in 2012 with Seattle).

Daniels can become the seventh rookie quarterback all-time to win 11 regular-season games, joining Dak Prescott (13 wins in 2016 with Dallas), Ben Roethlisberger (13 in 2004 with Pittsburgh), Joe Flacco (11 in 2008 with Baltimore), Andrew Luck (11 in 2012 with Indianapolis), Matt Ryan (11 in 2008 with Atlanta) and Russell Wilson (11 in 2012 with Seattle).

Daniels has 737 rushing yards this season and can join Robert Griffin III (815 rushing yards in 2012 with Washington) as the only rookie quarterbacks all-time with at least 800 rushing yards.

Daniels and Nix each have 22 touchdown passes this season and can join Justin Herbert (31 touchdown passes in 2020), Baker Mayfield (27 in 2018), Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (26 in 1998) and Russell Wilson (26 in 2012) as the only rookie quarterbacks in NFL history with 25 touchdown passes.

The rookies with the most touchdown passes in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONPASS TDs
Justin HerbertL.A. Chargers202031
Baker MayfieldCleveland201827
Peyton Manning HOFIndianapolis199826
Russell WilsonSeattle201226
Daniel JonesN.Y. Giants201924
Jayden DanielsWashington202422*
Bo NixDenver202422*
*entering Week 17

Nix has eight games with at least two touchdown passes this season and can join Justin Herbert (10 games in 2020 with the Los Angeles Chargers) and Baker Mayfield (nine in 2018 with Cleveland) as the only rookie quarterbacks all-time with nine games of two-or-more touchdown passes.

In Week 17, Nix can join Dak Prescott (2016) as the only rookie quarterbacks in NFL history with at least two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 90-or-higher in four consecutive road games.

Williams has attempted 326 consecutive pass attempts without an interception, including nine consecutive games with at least 20 pass attempts and no interceptions. In Week 17, he can move into the top-five for most consecutive pass attempts without an incompletion in a season all-time and can become the third quarterback in NFL history with 10 consecutive games with at least 20 pass attempts and no interceptions, joining Tom Brady (10 consecutive games in 2010 with New England) and Derek Carr (10 consecutive games in 2018 with the Oakland Raiders).

The players with the most consecutive pass attempts without an interception within a single season in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONATTEMPTS
Aaron RodgersGreen Bay2018402
Tom BradyTampa Bay2022399
Justin HerbertL.A. Chargers2024357
Tom BradyNew England2010335
Derek CarrOakland Raiders2018332
Caleb WilliamsChicago2024326*
*active streak

ROOKIE PASS CATCHERS

Las Vegas rookie Brock Bowers leads all tight ends and is tied for second in the NFL with 101 receptions this season, while New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers is tied for fifth with 97.

In Week 17, Bowers (at New Orleans on Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX) and Nabers (vs. Indianapolis on Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX), can surpass Puka Nacua (105 receptions in 2023) for the most receptions by a rookie in NFL history.

The rookies with the most receptions in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONRECEPTIONS
Puka NacuaL.A. Rams2023105
Jaylen WaddleMiami2021104
Anquan BoldinArizona2003101
Brock BowersLas Vegas2024101*
Malik NabersN.Y. Giants202497*
*entering Week 17

Bowers leads all tight ends with 1,067 receiving yards this season and in Week 17, can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka (1,076 receiving yards in 1961) for the most receiving yards by a rookie tight end in NFL history.

Nabers has 12 games with at least five receptions and can surpass Anquan Boldin (12 games in 2003) and Terry Glenn (12 in 1996) for the most such games by a rookie in NFL history.

Jacksonville rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. leads all rookies with 1,088 receiving yards and nine touchdown receptions this season, including at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown catch in each of his past two games.

With 12 receiving yards and a touchdown reception against Tennessee (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS), Thomas Jr. can become the fourth rookie in the Super Bowl era with at least 1,100 receiving yards and 10 touchdown receptions, joining Odell Beckham Jr. (2014 with the New York Giants), Ja’Marr Chase (2021 with Cincinnati) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss (1998 with Minnesota).

The rookies with at least 1,100 receiving yards and 10 touchdown receptions in the Super Bowl era:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONREC. YARDSREC. TDs
Odell Beckham Jr.N.Y. Giants20141,30512
Ja’Marr ChaseCincinnati20211,45513
Randy Moss HOFMinnesota19981,31317
Brian Thomas Jr.Jacksonville20241,088*9*
*entering Week 17

Thomas Jr. can become the fifth rookie in NFL history with at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in three consecutive games, joining Odell Beckham Jr. (four consecutive games in 2014), Jimmy Orr (four in 1958), Mike Evans (three in 2014) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss (three in 1998).

MICAH PARSONS

Dallas linebacker Micah Parsons has 9.5 sacks in 2024 and can become the fourth player since 1982 with at least 10 sacks in each of his first four NFL seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Dwight FreeneyDerrick Thomas and Reggie White.

Parsons has 50 career sacks since entering the NFL in 2021 and needs one sack to tie Pro Football Hall of Famer Dwight Freeney (51 sacks) for the fifth-most sacks by a player in his first four seasons since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic.

The players with the most sacks in their first four seasons since 1982:

PLAYERTEAMSACKS
Reggie White HOFPhiladelphia70
Derrick Thomas HOFKansas City58
J.J. WattHouston57
DeMarcus Ware HOFDallas53.5
Dwight Freeney HOFIndianapolis51
Micah ParsonsDallas50*
*in fourth season
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