NFL News: What To Look For – Week 5

By Lydia Jane Allison

Below are teams and players that can set historic marks or reach career milestones in Week 5 of the 2023 NFL season, including:

  • San Francisco (Brock Purdy & Christian McCaffrey)
  • Buffalo (Josh Allen)
  • Miami (De’Von Achane)
  • Minnesota (Justin Jefferson)
  • L.A. Rams (Puka Nacua & Kyren Williams)
  • Houston (C.J. Stroud)
  • Indianapolis (Anthony Richardson)
  • Baltimore (Lamar Jackson)
  • Philadelphia (Jalen Hurts)
  • Las Vegas (Davante Adams)

49ERS CAN SET SEVERAL MARKS ON SNF

​The SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS have won 14 consecutive regular-season games since Week 8 of the 2022 season and have scored at least 30 points in each of their past seven wins.

With 30 points against Dallas on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC), the 49ers can become the fifth team in NFL history to score 30 points in eight consecutive regular-season games, joining the 1999-2000 ST. LOUIS RAMS (14 consecutive games), 2010-11 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (13), 2012-13 DENVER BRONCOS (11) and 2006-07 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (nine).

Quarterback BROCK PURDY is expected to make his 10th career regular-season start on Sunday. He has won each of his first nine career regular-season starts and with a win against Dallas, would become the third quarterback to begin his career since 1970 to win each of his first 10 career starts, joining BEN ROETHLISBERGER (15 consecutive wins to begin his career) and MIKE TOMCZAK (10).

In his first nine starts, Purdy has completed 166 of 236 pass attempts (70.3 percent) with 19 touchdowns (16 passing, three rushing) and a passer rating of 117.1. On Sunday, he can surpass ROB JOHNSON (113.8 rating) and CHAD PENNINGTON (70.8 percent) for the highest passer rating and highest completion percentage by a quarterback through his first 10 career starts in NFL history.

The quarterbacks with the highest passer rating through their first 10 career starts in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM(S) PASSER RATING
Brock Purdy San Francisco 117.1*
Rob Johnson Jacksonville, Buffalo 113.8
Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 112.7
*In first nine starts

The quarterbacks with the highest completion percentage through their first 10 career starts in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM COMPLETION PERCENTAGE
Chad Pennington N.Y. Jets 70.8
Brock Purdy San Francisco 70.3*
Mac Jones New England 69.0
*In first nine starts

Running back CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY leads the NFL with 600 scrimmage yards and ranks tied for first in scrimmage touchdowns (seven) through the first four weeks of the season. In Week 5, he can become the fourth player in NFL history with at least 100 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in each of his team’s first five games of a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers JIM BROWN (1958) and O.J. SIMPSON (1975) as well as JAMAAL CHARLES (2013).

Dating back to Week 13 of the 2022 season and including the postseason, McCaffrey has recorded at least one scrimmage touchdown in 13 consecutive games. With a touchdown on Sunday Night Football, he would become the fifth player in NFL history to register a touchdown in 14 consecutive games, including the postseason, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers LENNY MOORE (17 consecutive games from 1963-64), JOHN RIGGINS (15 consecutive games from 1982-83), O.J. SIMPSON (15 consecutive games from 1974-75) and EMMITT SMITH (14 consecutive games in 1995).

The players with the most consecutive games with a touchdown, including the postseason, in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM GAMES (DATES)
Lenny MooreHOF Baltimore Colts 17 (Oct. 27, 1963 – Dec. 13, 1964)
John RigginsHOF Washington 15 (Jan. 15, 1983 – Nov. 27, 1983)
O.J. SimpsonHOF Buffalo 15 (Dec. 12, 1974 – Dec. 20 – 1975)
Emmitt SmithHOF Dallas 14 (Oct. 8, 1995 – Jan. 28, 1996)
     
Christian McCaffrey San Francisco 13* (Dec. 4, 2022 – current)
*Active streak

McCaffrey recorded his 12th career game with both a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown last week. With another such game, he can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer LENNY MOORE (12 games) and BRIAN WESTBROOK (12) for the second-most such games in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer MARSHALL FAULK (15 games) has more.

JOSH ALLEN, BILLS EYEING HISTORY IN LONDON

The BUFFALO BILLS (3-1) have won three consecutive games and lead the league with eight interceptions, while tying for the lead league with 16 sacks.

Buffalo can become the fourth team since 1990 with at least 20 sacks and 10 interceptions through their first five games of a season, joining New England in 2019, Jacksonville in 2017 and Philadelphia in 1991.

Quarterback JOSH ALLEN totaled five touchdowns (four passing, one receiving) last week and recorded a 158.3 passer rating – the highest attainable mark – for the first time in his career. His nine touchdown passes this season are tied for the second-most in the NFL.

In 81 career games, Allen has 147 touchdown passes and 40 rushing touchdowns. With three passing touchdowns against the Jaguars in London on Sunday (9:30 AM ET, NFL Network), Allen will surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer BRETT FAVRE (84 games) as the fifth-fastest player to reach 150 career touchdown passes in NFL history.

The players to reach 150 career touchdown passes in the fewest games in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM GAMES  
Dan MarinoHOF Miami 62
Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 63
Aaron Rodgers Green Bay 76
Andrew Luck Indianapolis 77
Brett FavreHOF Green Bay 84
     
Josh Allen Buffalo 81*
*Has 147 touchdown passes in 81 games      

With a rushing touchdown on Sunday, Allen will surpass JACK KEMP (40 rushing touchdowns) for the third-most by a quarterback in NFL history. Only CAM NEWTON (75) and Pro Football Hall of Famer STEVE YOUNG (43) have more.

​The quarterbacks with the most rushing touchdowns in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM(S) RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS
Cam Newton Carolina, New England 75
Steve YoungHOF Tampa Bay, San Francisco 43
Josh Allen Buffalo 40
Jack Kemp L.A./San Diego Chargers, Buffalo 40

ACHANE & DOLPHINS LOOK TO CONTINUE HISTORIC OFFENSIVE SUCCESS

The MIAMI DOLPHINS (3-1) lead the NFL in total offense (511 yards per game) and scoring offense (37.5 points per game) this season and their 2,044 total yards of offense are the most-ever through a team’s first four games of a season.

With 456 total yards of offense against the New York Giants on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX), a mark they have hit twice in 2023, they will become the second team in NFL history with at least 2,500 yards of total offense in their first five games of a season, joining the 2000 St. Louis Rams (2,527 total yards).

Rookie running back DE’VON ACHANE has totaled 353 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns (four rushing, two receiving) over the past two weeks. He is the fourth player ever with six touchdowns through his first three career games.

​With a touchdown on Sunday, Achane will become the second player in NFL history with seven touchdowns through his first four career games, joining BILL PASCHAL (eight touchdowns through his first four games in 1943).

With two rushing touchdowns, Achane will join Paschal (seven rushing touchdowns in 1943) and Pro Football Hall of Famers ERIC DICKERSON (six in 1983) and LADAINIAN TOMLINSON (six in 2001) as the only players ever with six-or-more rushing touchdowns through their first four games. He can also become the fifth rookie ever with at least two rushing touchdowns in three consecutive games, joining MIKE ANDERSON (2000), BILLY KILMER (1961), Pro Football Hall of Famer CURTIS MARTIN (1995) and Paschal (1943).

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

PLAYER TEAM SEASON RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS
Bill Paschal N.Y. Giants 1943 7
Eric DickersonHOF L.A. Rams 1983 6
LaDainian TomlinsonHOF San Diego Chargers 2001 6
       
De’Von Achane Miami 2023 4*
*Through three games      

JEFFERSON & NACUA ON RECORD-BREAKING PACE

Minnesota wide receiver JUSTIN JEFFERSON leads the league with 543 receiving yards, while Los Angeles Rams rookie PUKA NACUA ranks second with 501.

They can become the fifth and sixth players in NFL history with at least 650 receiving yards through their team’s first five games of a season, joining WES WELKER (740 receiving yards in 2011), CHARLIE HENNIGAN (704 in 1961), BOB BOYD (686 in 1954), and Pro Football Hall of Famer ELROY HIRSCH (663 in 1951).

The players with at least 650 receiving yards in their first five games of a season in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM SEASON RECEIVING YARDS
Wes Welker New England 2011 740
Charlie Hennigan Houston Oilers 1961 704
Bob Boyd L.A. Rams 1954 686
Elroy HirschHOF L.A. Rams 1951 663
       
Justin Jefferson Minnesota 2023 543*
Puka Nacua L.A. Rams 2023 501*
*Through four games      ​

Nacua also leads the NFL with 39 receptions this season. With 11 receptions against Philadelphia on Sunday (4:05 PM ET, FOX), he will become the first player ever with 50 receptions through his team’s first five games of a season.

With five receptions on Sunday, Nacua will become the third player ever with at least five receptions in each of his first five career games, joining TERRY GLENN (1996) and CEEDEE LAMB (2020). He can also become the sixth player ever with at least 50 receiving yards in each of his first five games, joining JA’MARR CHASE (2021), Glenn (1996), Lamb (2020), EARL MCCULLOUCH (1968), and TERRY MCLAURIN (2019).

KYREN WILLIAMS, MULTIPLE TOUCHDOWN SCORER

Los Angeles Rams second-year running back KYREN WILLIAMS ranks tied for third in the NFL with six touchdowns this season (five rushing, one receiving), having scored two touchdowns in three of the first four weeks.

With two touchdowns against Philadelphia on Sunday (4:05 PM ET, FOX), Williams will become the sixth player in NFL history and third in the Super Bowl era to record multiple touchdowns in four of his team’s first five games of a season.

The players with the most games with at least two touchdowns in their team’s first five games of a season in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM SEASON GAMES
Jim BrownHOF Cleveland 1958 5
Emerson Boozer N.Y. Jets 1967 4
Rick Casares Chicago 1956 4
Abner Hayes Dallas Texans 1962 4
Calvin JohnsonHOF Detroit 2011 4
       
Kyren Williams L.A. Rams 2023 3*

*Through four games

STROUD’S FIRST FIVE

Houston rookie quarterback C.J. STROUD ranks fourth in the NFL with 1,212 passing yards entering Week 5, the second-most ever by a player in his first four career games. He is also one of three starting quarterbacks to not throw an interception this season (minimum two starts).

With 273 passing yards at Atlanta on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX), Stroud will move into the top-five for most passing yards ever by a player in his first five career games.

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

PLAYER TEAM SEASON(S) PASSING YARDS
Cam Newton Carolina 2011 1,610
Justin Herbert L.A. Chargers 2020 1,542
Marc Bulger St. Louis Rams 2002 1,496
Andrew Luck Indianapolis 2012 1,488
Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 2017-18 1,484
       
C.J. Stroud Houston 2023 1,212*

*Through four games

Stroud can also join Pro Football Hall of Famer KURT WARNER (1999) as the only players ever with at least 300 passing yards and two touchdown passes in three of their first five career games.

RICHARDSON RUSHING INTO RECORD BOOK

Indianapolis rookie quarterback ANTHONY RICHARDSON ties for the lead among quarterbacks this season with four rushing touchdowns, becoming the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era with a rushing touchdown in each of his first three career games.

With another rushing touchdown against Tennessee on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Richardson will join CAM NEWTON (2021) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history with a rushing touchdown in each of their first four games of a season.

Richardson can also become the third player in the Super Bowl era with a rushing touchdown in each of his first four career games, joining JOE CRIBBS (1980) and ROBERT EDWARDS (1998).

LAMAR LOOKS TO CONTINUE STREAKS

​Baltimore quarterback LAMAR JACKSON has a 74.3 completion percentage (78 of 105), the second-highest mark among starting quarterbacks this season and is the only quarterback with a completion percentage of 70-or-higher in each of the first four weeks.

On Sunday at Pittsburgh (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Jackson can become the third quarterback ever with a completion percentage of 70-or-higher in each of his team’s first five games of a season (minimum 15 attempts per game), joining DEREK CARR (2020) and ALEX SMITH (2017).

Jackson leads all quarterbacks with 220 rushing yards and ranks tied for first with four rushing touchdowns, including two rushing touchdowns in both Week 3 and Week 4. With two rushing touchdowns against Pittsburgh, he can become the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era with multiple rushing touchdowns in three consecutive games.

HURTS’ FIRST 50

In 49 career games, Philadelphia quarterback JALEN HURTS has recorded 8,865 passing yards with 49 touchdown passes and 2,032 rushing yards with 29 rushing touchdowns.

In his 50th career game on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams (4:05 PM ET, FOX), Hurts needs 31 rushing yards to surpass BOBBY DOUGLAS (2,062 rushing yards) and CAM NEWTON (2,058) for the third-most rushing yards by a quarterback in his first 50 career games in the Super Bowl era. Only LAMAR JACKSON (3,185) and MICHAEL VICK (2,563) have more.

The quarterbacks with the most rushing yards in their first 50 games in the Super Bowl era:

PLAYER TEAM RUSHING YARDS
Lamar Jackson Baltimore 3,185
Michael Vick Atlanta 2,563
Bobby Douglas Chicago 2,148
Cam Newton Carolina 2,058
Jalen Hurts Philadelphia 2,032*
*In 49 career games

With his next rushing touchdown, Hurts would become the third quarterback ever with at least 30 rushing touchdowns in his first four career seasons, joining CAM NEWTON (33 rushing touchdowns) and JOSH ALLEN (31).

DAVANTE IN PRIMETIME

In 42 career primetime games (games starting 7:00 PM ET or later), Las Vegas wide receiver DAVANTE ADAMS has totaled 249 receptions for 3,088 yards and 31 touchdowns.

With a touchdown reception against his former team Green Bay on Monday Night Football (8:15 PM ET, ESPN/ABC), Adams will surpass ANTONIO BROWN (31 touchdown receptions) and JIMMY GRAHAM (31) for the fourth-most touchdown receptions in primetime games in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers JERRY RICE (46), RANDY MOSS (44) and TERRELL OWENS (34) have more.

The players with the most touchdown receptions in primetime games in NFL history:

PLAYER PRIMETIME TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS
Jerry RiceHOF 46
Randy MossHOF 44
Terrell OwensHOF 34
Davante Adams 31
Antonio Brown 31
Jimmy Graham 31​

Adams has recorded at least 100 receiving yards in each of his past four games on Monday Night Football. He can become the first player in NFL history with at least 100 receiving yards in five consecutive Monday Night Football games.

COURTESY NFLmedia.com

Posted in NFL