The 16-game schedule era of the NFL is now over. The league voted this past week to extend the schedule out to 17 regular season games. And it’s not going to revert back, not with the increased revenue gleaned from the extra week on the schedule.
The 16-game schedule dates back to the 1978 season, when the NFL expanded from 14 games to accommodate the recent additions of the expansion teams in Tampa Bay and Seattle. Those 43 seasons were not good ones for the Detroit Lions.
No team posted a lower win percentage over the 43-season span of the 16-game schedule than the Lions. Their record of 268-410-2 finished below the Browns, Buccaneers and Cardinals as the lowest win percentage of the era.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson rushes for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons, an NFL first.
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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson continues to shatter NFL records and is now even creating ones of his own. In Week 17 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Jackson passed 1,000 rushing yards for a second consecutive season. By doing so, he’s the first NFL quarterback to ever do that, topping the record previously held by himself and Michael Vick.
Jackson came into Week 17 with 908 rushing yards this season needing 92 yards to reach the 1,000-yard threshold. In perfect Jackson form, he hit the milestone on a seven-yard scramble that netted a first down, keeping the drive alive as Baltimore is destroying the Bengals en route to the playoffs.
Jackson has already etched his name in NFL history. In his first three seasons, Jackson broke the NFL record for rushing yards by a quarterback in a single-season, became the 2019 NFL MVP, earned the team’s MVP in consecutive seasons, threw an NFL-high and franchise-high 36 touchdowns in 2019, and moved up to 12th on the all-time rushing yards by a quarterback list.
All of Jackson’s carries are not designed but they are a major part of the Ravens’ offense, which has helped them win games over the last three seasons. While Jackson’s rushing numbers are not compared to what they were in 2019, he still manages to break free from defenders and run for big gains more often than not. Expect Jackson to continue using his legs creating and shattering NFL records along the way.
Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater set the NFL record for most career 50+ yard field goals in Week 17 of the 2020 season.
After connecting on a 54-yard field goal in Week 17 of the 2020 season, Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater set the NFL record for most 50+ yard field goals made, with 59 over his career.
Prater, who also owns the longest field goal in NFL history (64 yards), accomplished this new record on just 89 attempts and passed Raiders Sebastian Janikowski (58) who needed 105 attempts to set the previous record.
Additionally, after connecting on that kick, he has scored over 100-points on the season, the 10th of his career and 6th straight during his time with the Lions — a franchise record.
Prater’s family was in attendance for the record and his wife Kati shared the moment on Instagram, “You did it!!! So so proud of you! Such an amazing accomplishment. Bring on 2021, you have a few more records to break. #breakinrecords“:
It took Mahomes just 40 games to reach 100 passing touchdowns.
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Another week and another piece of NFL history owned by Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes.
With three touchdown passes against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Mahomes has become the fastest player in NFL history to reach 100 passing touchdowns. He passes the previous record-holder, Pro Football Hall of Fame QB Dan Marino, who hit the 100 passing touchdown mark in 44 career games. It took Mahomes just 40 career games to hit 100 passing touchdown mark. It’s all the more impressive when you consider that Mahomes has three career games where he didn’t throw a single touchdown pass, including the first game start of his career back in 2017.
That TD pass is Mahomes’ 3rd of the day, his 24th of the season and the 100th of his career. He becomes the fastest QB in NFL history to reach 100 career TD passes, accomplishing the feat in 40 career games. He tops the previous mark of 44 games (PFHOF Dan Marino).
Mahomes continues to trample a number of historic NFL records this season. Earlier in the year became the quickest QB to reach 10,000 career passing yards. That record was also held by Marino.
Last week, Mahomes became the first quarterback to ever throw for at least 20 touchdown passes and one interception through the first eight games to start a season. It’s not exactly a historic record, but it shows just how tremendous Mahomes has been in his third year as a starter.
A season ago, Mahomes helped lead Kansas City to their first Super Bowl title in 50 seasons becoming the youngest player ever to win a Super Bowl MVP Award. The year prior he won the league MVP in a stunning fashion. The growing list of achievements for the Chiefs’ young QB is nothing short of remarkable and the craziest part of it is that he’s still just 25 years old. He hasn’t even reached the prime of his career yet and we’ll still get to watch that greatness unfold in Kansas City.
The Seattle Seahawks secured a win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday to advance to 4-0. In doing so, quarterback Russell Wilson threw for his 16th touchdown on the year, tying Peyton Manning for the most passing TDs to start the season.
Wilson first connected with running back Travis Homer in the second quarter, then found wide receiver David Moore in the fourth. Wilson finished the day completing 24 passes out of 34 attempted for 360 yards and the two scores. He did have one pick and a final rating of 112.4.
Wilson will continue his campaign for this year’s Most Valuable Player next Sunday night when the Seahawks host the Vikings for “Sunday Night Football.”
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was just named the NFC’s Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season and now, for his efforts throughout September, has earned the honor of the NFC Player of the Month. This marks the first time in his career Wilson has been awarded the title.
Throughout three games played, Wilson has completed 79 of 103 passes attempted for 925 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has a 76.7 completion percentage and a passer rating of 139 after just one interception on the year. Wilson has also managed 14 carries for 90 yards on the ground to average 6.4 yards per carry.
With his 14 passing touchdowns, Wilson has set a new NFL record for the most thrown through the first three games of the season. He now also holds the record for passing for four or more touchdowns in each of his first three games this year.
Wilson looks to continue his record-setting ways in Miami this Sunday and hopefully finally earn himself the Most Valuable Player votes he deserves.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson had himself a day Week 3 against the Cowboys, setting an NFL record while ensuring his team advanced to 3-0 on the year with the 38-31 win over Dallas.
Wilson threw for 315 yards completing 27 of 40 passes attempted and five touchdowns. He now holds the all-time record for the most touchdown passes (14) thrown through the first three games of a player’s season, passing Chief’s signal-caller Patrick Mahomes who previously held the honor with 13 TDs in 2018.
Wilson connected on three straight scores with Tyler Lockett, then found Jacob Hollister and finally, DK Metcalf with just under two minutes to go in the fourth quarter.
Wilson has also completed 52 of 63 passes attempted for 610 yards and a completion percentage of 82.54% and a passer rating of 140. He’s thrown one interception.
Hitting a number of milestones already this year, Wilson can tie or set a new NFL record on Sunday. If Wilson is able to log four touchdown passes against the Cowboys, he’ll tie Chiefs signal-caller Patrick Mahomes for the most TD passes in the first three games of a season in NFL history.
The Lions have blown leads of 10 or more in 4 straight weeks, an NFL record
The Detroit Lions raced out to a quick 14-3 lead over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday before the first quarter ended. It turned out to be another case of fool’s gold for Lions fans.
In the process of getting their doors blown off 39-7 over the final three quarters, the Lions set an NFL record that nobody wants their name associated with in the history books. No team has ever blown double-digit leads in four straight games and lost in the 100-year history of the NFL until Matt Patricia’s Lions managed the dubious feat on Sunday. From the ESPN Stats & Info department,
The Lions become the first team in NFL history to lose 4 straight games in which they had a double-digit lead, according to @EliasSports.
Detroit has lost 11 straight games, its most since losing 19 in a row from 2007-09, including the first-ever 0-16 season in league history. pic.twitter.com/VCpZsI6mIl
Coronavirus has claimed the life of record-breaking Saints kicker Tom Dempsey at 73
Tom Dempsey, who overcame physical challenges to become a record-setting NFL kicker, died late Saturday at age 73 due to novel coronavirus, his family told NOLA.com.
Tom Dempsey, the historic New Orleans Saints placekicker, died tonight after a battle with the novel coronavirus. He was 73.
On the kicker who overcame astronomical odds to set what was once thought to be a virtually unbeatable record | https://t.co/ZdYgHqINak
— Ramon Antonio Vargas (@RVargasAdvocate) April 5, 2020
Dempsey — who overcame astronomical odds to establish what was then considered a virtually unbeatable record — contracted the virus in March during an outbreak at the Lambeth House retirement home in Uptown New Orleans. He is one of at least 15 residents there to die after being stricken with the disease.
It is one of the most memorable NFL moments in a career that was absolutely remarkable. Dempsey connecting on a then-record-63 yard field goal in 1970 to defeat the Detroit Lions. Dempsey was born without fingers on his right hand or toes on his right foot. He wore a flat shoe on his kicking foot.
“I don’t believe it …,” Don Criqui said as the ball went through the uprights, “It’s GOOD!” Louisiana Congressman F. Edward Hebert had an account of “The Kick” inserted into the Congressional Record.
Dempsey played 11 seasons, kicking for the Eagles, Oilers and Bills, as well as the Saints from 1969-79. He scored 729 points, making 159 field goals.
RIP the great Tom Dempsey. Here is his kicking shoe and the football from his 63-yard field goal in 1970 on display at the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame Museum in January. pic.twitter.com/AVdGGBDlpe
In 2012, Dempsey publicly disclosed that he had been diagnosed with dementia and detailed the treatment he was receiving for the condition. He spent the final years of his life at Lambeth House.
His family had said last weeek Dempsey was battling coronavirus in New Orleans. He contracted the novel coronavirus during the outbreak at a senior living center, his daughter said Monday. Ashley Dempsey said her 73-year-old father — who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia — developed symptoms of the respiratory disease caused by the virus, COVID-19.
In addition to his wife Carlene and daughter Ashley, Dempsey’s is survived by children Toby Dempsey (Pamela) and Meghan Dempsey Crosby (Lee), as well as his sister, Janice Dempsey. He also had three grandchildren: Dylan Dempsey, Logan Dempsey and Quinn Dempsey.
Dempsey becomes at least the second former NFL player to die after contracting COVID-19. Orlando McDaniel, who played three games for the Broncos in 1982, died last week. McDaniel, who played college ball at LSU, was 59.
