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Home , Don Meredith, Mick Tingelhoff, Rex Ryan, Super Bowl XLII, Super Bowl XLIV, Super Bowl XXXI

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 23, 2015 http://twitter.com/NFL345

WHAT TO LOOK FOR – WEEK 3

IT’S STILL EARLY: History shows that 0-2 teams advance to the playoffs more often than people might think. Since the current playoff format was instituted in 1990, 24 teams started 0-2 and still qualified for the postseason.

Last season, the started the season 0-2 and went on to win the AFC South after finishing 11-5, advancing to the AFC Championship Game.

The 1993 started 0-2 before winning XXVIII. The 0-2 Patriots of 1996 played in Super Bowl XXXI, and in 2001, the 0-2 Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVI. The 2007 Giants started 0-2 before winning Super Bowl XLII.

The 0-2 teams since 1990 to qualify for the playoffs:

SEASON TEAM WINLESS START ADVANCED TO: 1990 Oilers 0-2 Playoffs 0-2 Wild Card Playoffs Saints 0-2 Wild Card Playoffs 1991 Falcons 0-2 Wild Card Playoffs 1992 Chargers 0-4 Divisional Playoffs 1993 0-2 Wild Card Playoffs Dallas Cowboys 0-2 Won Super Bowl XXVIII 1994 0-2 Wild Card Playoffs 1995 Detroit Lions 0-3 Wild Card Playoffs 1996 New England Patriots 0-2 Lost Super Bowl XXXI 1998 Cardinals 0-2 Divisional Playoffs 0-3 Wild Card Playoffs 0-2 Championship Game 2001 New England Patriots 0-2 Won Super Bowl XXXVI 2002 0-2 Divisional Playoffs Pittsburgh Steelers 0-2 Divisional Playoffs 2003 Philadelphia Eagles 0-2 Championship Game 2006 0-2 Wild Card Playoffs 2007 0-2 Won Super Bowl XLII 2008 Dolphins 0-2 Wild Card Playoffs 0-2 Wild Card Playoffs San Diego Chargers 0-2 Divisional Playoffs 2013 0-2 Divisional Playoffs 2014 Indianapolis Colts 0-2 Championship Game

****************************************************************************************************************************************** NFL TEAMS HONOR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH THIS WEEK, INCLUDING GIANTS ON THURSDAY NIGHT, LIONS ON SUNDAY NIGHT & PACKERS ON MONDAY NIGHT

The and its teams will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15) with a series of special events.

All NFL teams will enhance the celebration with local efforts throughout the month including designated home games in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month and local community outreach.

The theme of this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month recognition is “Feel the Orgullo.” In Spanish, the word “orgullo” means pride. Latino players, fans, and coaches have a strong sense of pride not only in their culture but also in their team and in the NFL. During Hispanic Heritage Month, the NFL and all 32 teams will amplify the rich history, heritage and tradition of Latinos, and honor the positive impact they have had on the game and country.

For more information, go to http://www.nfl.com/HispanicHeritage ******************************************************************************************************************************************

FRESH START: Nine teams are undefeated through the first two weeks of the season – ARIZONA, ATLANTA, CAROLINA, CINCINNATI, DALLAS, DENVER, GREEN BAY, NEW ENGLAND and the NEW YORK JETS – and hope to move to 3-0 this weekend.

Three head coaches – Atlanta’s DAN QUINN, Denver’s GARY KUBIAK and the New York Jets’ – look to reach 3-0 this weekend in the first year with their respective clubs. With wins by all three clubs in Week 3, it would mark the first time since 2009 that at least three head coaches started the season 3-0 in the first year with a club.

In 2009, JIM CALDWELL (Indianapolis), JOSH MC DANIELS (Denver) and REX RYAN (New York Jets) each led their clubs to a 3-0 record. Caldwell and Ryan reached the playoffs and faced off in the AFC Championship Game that season as the Colts advanced to Super Bowl XLIV with a 30-17 win over the Jets.

While no guarantee of future success, a strong start to the season is a good omen – 75 percent of teams (93 of 124) that started 3-0 since 1990 made the playoffs.

And don’t count out any of the 1-1 or 0-2 teams. Since realignment in 2002, 94 of the 156 playoff teams (60.3 percent) began the year at either 1-1 or 0-2, including eight teams last year.

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COMPLETE SUCCESS: In 2015, have completed 1,458 of 2,248 passes for a 64.9 completion percentage, the highest league-wide completion percentage through Week 2 in NFL history. If the current percentage stays at this pace, it would rank as the highest of any season.

The highest league-wide completion percentage after Week 2 and the highest in a season in NFL history:

THROUGH WEEK 2 SEASON YEAR HIGHEST COMPLETION PERCENTAGE YEAR HIGHEST COMPLETION PERCENTAGE 2015 64.9 2015 64.9* 2014 63.5 2014 62.6 2012 62.6 2013 61.2 2013 62.1 2007 61.2 2007 61.9 2008 61.0 *Through Week 2

Denver’s (5,977) and New Orleans’ (4,991) rank second and third, respectively, on the all-time completion list, trailing (6,300).

With 23 completions against Detroit on Sunday Night Football, Manning would join Favre as the only players with 6,000+ career completions. Brees needs nine completions against Carolina to join Favre and Manning with 5,000+ career completions.

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TOM TERRIFIC: New England has completed 63 of 91 passes for 754 yards and seven with zero for a 119.9 this season.

With three passes and no interceptions on Sunday against Jacksonville, Brady would become only the second player in NFL history with 10+ touchdown passes without an through a team’s first three games of any season. Denver quarterback PEYTON MANNING had 12 touchdown passes and zero INTs through the Broncos’ first three games in 2013.

The most TD passes without an INT through a team’s first three games of a season in NFL history:

THROUGH TEAM’S FIRST THREE GAMES OF ANY SEASON PLAYER TEAM YEAR MOST TD PASSES W/OUT INT Peyton Manning 2013 12 Peyton Manning Indianapolis Colts 2010 9 Don Meredith Dallas Cowboys 1966 9 Donovan McNabb Philadelphia Eagles 2004 8 Philadelphia Eagles 1992 8 Rams 1969 8

Tom Brady New England Patriots 2015 7* *Through two games

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40,000 CLUB: Pittsburgh quarterback ranks second in the NFL this season with 720 passing yards, bringing his career total to 39,777.

With 223 passing yards on Sunday against St. Louis, Roethlisberger would become the fifth active quarterback to reach 40,000 passing yards, which would be the most active QBs ever to have 40,000+ passing yards at one time. PEYTON MANNING (70,122), DREW BREES (56,643), TOM BRADY (54,012) and (40,240) are the four active quarterbacks to reach the milestone.

Roethlisberger would also become the ninth quarterback in NFL history to reach the mark with one team and the first to do so with the Steelers.

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JETS DEFENSE: The NEW YORK JETS are 2-0 and have recorded five takeaways in each of their first two games, the first team to accomplish the feat since the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1992.

With five takeaways on Sunday against Philadelphia, the Jets would become the first team since 1962 (GREEN BAY) to have at least five takeaways in each of their first three games in a season.

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TIGHT END TDS: NFL tight ends have been performing at a high level in recent seasons and 2015 has been no different. Tight ends have caught 36 touchdowns so far, the most through the first two weeks of a season in NFL history.

With 13 touchdown receptions by tight ends in Week 3, the 2015 season would surpass 2012 and 2013 (48) for the most tight end TDs through Week 3.

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GREAT GRONK: New England tight end leads the league with four touchdown catches and has at least one touchdown reception in eight consecutive games dating back to last year (including the playoffs).

With two touchdown catches against Jacksonville on Sunday, Gronkowski (68 games) would become the second-fastest player in NFL history to reach 60 career receiving TDs. Pro Football Hall of Famer reached the mark in 64 career games.

The players to reach 60 career touchdown catches in the fewest games:

PLAYER TEAM FEWEST GAMES TO REACH 60 RECEIVING TDS Lance Alworth^ San Diego 64 ^ San Francisco 69 Tommy McDonald^ Philadelphia 75 ^ Dallas 78 Minnesota 78

Rob Gronkowski New England 67* *58 receiving touchdowns ^Pro Football Hall of Famer

Since entering the NFL in 2010, Gronkowski has 59 total touchdowns (58 receiving, one rushing). With one touchdown on Sunday, he would become the fifth tight end in NFL history to record 60 career touchdowns.

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CATCHING ON: Atlanta wide JULIO JONES and New England are tied for the NFL lead with 22 receptions this season, the third-most through a team’s first two games of any season.

Jones and the Falcons travel to Dallas, while Edelman and Patriots host the Jaguars on Sunday. With 10+ catches each, Jones and Edelman would surpass (31 in 2002), CLARK GAINES (31 in 1980) and (31 in 2011) for the most catches through a team’s first three games of any season.

****************************************************************************************************************************************** SUPER BOWL REMATCHES AND HOMECOMINGS FEATURED THIS SEASON AS PART OF CELEBRATION

WEEK 3: STEELERS VS RAMS CHIEFS VS PACKERS

The 2015 NFL regular-season schedule features 19 Super Bowl rematches as part of the year-long celebration of Super Bowl 50, which will be played on Sunday, February 7, 2016 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

The Steelers travel to take on the Rams Sunday in a rematch of Super Bowl XIV, won by the Steelers 31-19. On , the Packers will host the Chiefs in a rematch of , which the Packers won 35-10. The Seahawks will host their Super Bowl Homecoming in Week 3 to commemorate and honor past Super Bowl teams. Rematches and Homecomings are part of the NFL’s On The Fifty platform, designed to link the past 49 Super Bowls with this year’s game and honor the teams, players, coaches, fans and communities that have been a part of those games.

The , and Minnesota Vikings will also celebrate Homecomings this week as NFL Legends will return to be honored by their teams and will reconnect with former teammates, club personnel, and fans. The Cardinals will induct ADRIAN WILSON into the team’s Ring of Honor and Pro Football Hall of Famer MICK TINGELHOFF will receive his Hall of Fame ring during a ceremony at the Vikings game.

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