FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 20, 2016 http://twitter.com/NFL345
THE WEEK THAT WAS – WEEK 2
CLOSE GAMES: The 2016 NFL season is off to a thrilling start. Through Week 2, 21 of 32 games (65.6 percent) have been decided by seven points or fewer, the second-most in a season’s first two weeks in NFL history (22 in 2013).
Most games decided by seven points or fewer through Week 2:
SEASON GAMES DECIDED BY SEVEN POINTS OR FEWER THROUGH WEEK 2 2013 22 2016 21 2010 19 2000 18 Many tied 17
There have been 27 games through Week 2 within one score in the fourth quarter, tied for the most through a season’s first two weeks in NFL history (2013).
Most games within one score in the fourth quarter through Week 2:
SEASON GAMES WITHIN ONE SCORE IN THE 4TH QUARTER THROUGH WEEK 2 2016 27 2013 27 2004 25 2015 24 2009 23 2007 23
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PROLIFIC PASS CATCHERS: A total of 247 players had at least one reception in the 16 NFL games played in Week 2, the most players with a reception in one week in NFL history.
The previous record was 242 players with at least one reception, which was set in Week 12 last season.
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ALL-TIME PASSERS: New York Giants quarterback ELI MANNING passed for 368 yards in the Giants’ 16-13 win over New Orleans. Manning has 44,762 career passing yards, surpassing DREW BLEDSOE (44,611) to move into 10th place in NFL history.
New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES passed for 263 yards in Week 2 and now has 61,589 career passing yards, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (61,361) for the third-most in NFL history.
The players with the most career passing yards in NFL history:
PLAYER YEARS CAREER PASSING YARDS Peyton Manning 1998-2015 71,940 Brett Favre 1991-2010 71,838 Drew Brees 2001-present 61,589 Dan Marino 1983-1999 61,361 Tom Brady 2000-present 58,028 John Elway 1983-1998 51,475 Warren Moon 1984-2000 49,325 Fran Tarkenton 1961-1978 47,003 Vinny Testaverde 1987-2007 46,233 Eli Manning 2004-present 44,762
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RECORD-BREAKING RECEIVERS: Detroit wide receiver ANQUAN BOLDIN had his first touchdown reception as a member of the Lions in Week 2.
Boldin joined TERRELL OWENS as the only players in NFL history to have at least 1,000 receptions (1,016) and record a touchdown catch with four different teams (Arizona, San Francisco, Baltimore and Detroit).
Titans wide receiver ANDRE JOHNSON had a touchdown reception in the Titans’ 16-15 win over Detroit.
Johnson, who has 1,057 career catches, has recorded a touchdown reception with three different teams (Houston, Indianapolis and Tennessee) and joined Boldin, Owens and Pro Football Hall of Famers JERRY RICE and CRIS CARTER as the only players in NFL history to accomplish the feat.
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HISTORIC WATT: Houston defensive end J.J. WATT recorded 1.5 sacks in the Texans’ 19-12 win over Kansas City in Week 2.
Watt has 76 sacks in 82 career games and is the second-fastest player to reach 75 sacks since the sack became an official statistic in 1982. Pro Football Hall of Famer REGGIE WHITE accomplished the feat in 62 games.
The players to reach 75 career sacks in the fewest games since 1982:
PLAYER GAMES TO REACH 75 SACKS Reggie White 62 J.J. Watt 82 Bruce Smith 85
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TERRIFIC TIGHT ENDS: Tight ends GREG OLSEN (78 yards) of Carolina and VANCE MC DONALD (75 yards) of San Francisco each had a 75+ yard touchdown reception in the Panthers’ 46-27 win over the 49ers.
It marked the first game in NFL history in which a tight end on each team had a touchdown catch of at least 75 yards.
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WENTZ’S WONDERFUL START: Philadelphia rookie quarterback CARSON WENTZ passed for 190 yards with a touchdown and zero interceptions in the Eagles’ 29-14 victory against Chicago on Monday Night Football.
Wentz joins Pro Football Hall of Famer JOHN ELWAY, RYAN LEAF, JOE FLACCO and MARK SANCHEZ as the only rookie quarterbacks since 1970 to win their first two starts to begin a season.
Wentz, who passed for 278 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions in Philadelphia’s Kickoff Weekend win, is the first rookie quarterback since 1970 to start and win the first two games of the season without throwing an interception.
The rookie quarterbacks to start and win their team’s first two games in a season since 1970:
OVERALL RECORD AS YEAR PLAYER, TEAM ROOKIE STARTER PLAYOFF RESULT 1983 John Elway, Denver 4-6 Advanced to Wild Card 1998 Ryan Leaf, San Diego 3-6 Missed playoffs 2008 Joe Flacco, Baltimore 11-5 Advanced to AFC Championship 2009 Mark Sanchez, New York Jets 8-7 Advanced to AFC Championship 2016 Carson Wentz, Philadelphia* 2-0* ??? *Through 2 games
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