NFL News: What To Look For – Week 4

By Lydia Jane Allison

Below are teams and players that can set historic marks or reach career milestones in Week 4 of the 2023 NFL season, including:

  • Miami (De’Von Achane, Raheem Mostert & Tyreek Hill)
  • Coaching milestones (Bill Belichick & Andy Reid)
  • Kansas City (Patrick Mahomes)
  • Buffalo (Josh Allen)
  • Philadelphia (Jalen Hurts)
  • San Francisco (Christian McCaffrey)
  • Minnesota (Kirk Cousins & Justin Jefferson)
  • Houston (C.J. Stroud & Tank Dell)
  • L.A. Rams (Puka Nacua)
  • Cincinnati (Ja’Marr Chase)
  • Las Vegas (Davante Adams)
  • L.A. Chargers (Keenan Allen)
  • Pittsburgh (T.J. Watt)
  • Cleveland (Myles Garrett)

DOLPHINS LOOK TO CONTINUE HISTORIC OFFENSIVE START TO SEASON

The MIAMI DOLPHINS are 3-0 for a second-consecutive season and have totaled 1,651 total yards of offense, the most-ever by a team through their first three games of a season. They also lead the league with 130 points scored, the second-most by a team through three games in NFL history.

With 349 total yards of offense at Buffalo on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Miami will become the third team in NFL history to total at least 2,000 total yards of offense through their first four games of a season, joining DALLAS in 2020 (2,038 total yards) and NEW ENGLAND in 2021 (2,030).

They can also join Dallas in 2020 and SAN FRANCISCO in 1998 as the only teams ever to record at least 500 total yards of offense in three of their first four games.

Last week, running backs DE’VON ACHANE (two rushing touchdowns, two receiving touchdowns) and RAHEEM MOSTERT (three rushing, one receiving) became the second pair of teammates in NFL history to each score four touchdowns in the same game.

With two touchdowns on Sunday, Achane – a third-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft – will become the fourth player in NFL history with six touchdowns through his first three career games, joining KAREEM HUNT (2017), BILLY SIMS (1980) and DUTCH STERNAMAN (1920).

Mostert leads the NFL with seven touchdowns this season (six rushing, one receiving). With two touchdowns in Buffalo, he will become the fourth player in NFL history with at least nine touchdowns through his team’s first four games of a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers JIM BROWN (10 touchdowns in 1958) and EMMITT SMITH (nine in 1995) as well as STEPHEN DAVIS (nine in 1999).

The players with the most touchdowns through their team’s first four games of a season in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM SEASON TOUCHDOWNS
Jim BrownHOF Cleveland 1958 10
Stephen Davis Washington 1999 9
Emmitt SmithHOF Dallas 1995 9
       
Raheem Mostert Miami 2023 7*
*Through three games      

Mostert can also become the sixth player all-time with at least eight rushing touchdowns in his team’s first four games of a season.

The players with the most rushing touchdowns through their team’s first four games of a season in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM SEASON RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS
Jim BrownHOF Cleveland 1958 9
Stephen Davis Washington 1999 9
Emmitt SmithHOF Dallas 1995 9
LaDainian TomlinsonHOF San Diego 2005 8
Clarence Williams San Diego 1979 8
       
Raheem Mostert Miami 2023 6*
*Through three games      

Wide receiver TYREEK HILL totaled nine receptions for 157 yards and a touchdown in last week’s victory. It marked his 13th-career game with at least 150 receiving yards, tied with JULIO JONES for the fourth-most ever by a player in his first eight seasons.

With another 150-yard performance, Hill will tie Pro Football Hall of Famer CALVIN JOHNSON (14 games) for third-most games with at least 150 receiving yards by a player in his first eight seasons in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers LANCE ALWORTH (17 games) and JERRY RICE (16) have more.

Both Hill, who recorded 215 receiving yards in Week 1, and Minnesota’s JUSTIN JEFFERSON can join Pro Football Hall of Famer TIM BROWN (1997), STEVE SMITH (2011) and WES WELKER (2011) as the only players ever to record at least 150 receiving yards in three of their team’s first four games of a season.

Both Hill and Tampa Bay’s MIKE EVANS can join ANTONIO GATES (2010), T.J. HOUSHMANDZADEH (2007), CARL PICKENS (1995) and Pro Football Hall of Famers LANCE ALWORTH (1964) and RANDY MOSS (2007) as the only players ever to record at least five receptions and a touchdown reception in each of their team’s first four games of a season.

The players with the consecutive games with at least five receptions and a touchdown reception to begin a season in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM SEASON GAMES  
Antonio Gates San Diego Chargers 2010 5  
T.J. Houshmandzadeh Cincinnati 2007 5  
Carl Pickens Cincinnati 1995 5  
Lance AlworthHOF San Diego Chargers 1964 4  
Randy MossHOF New England 2007 4  
         
Mike Evans Tampa Bay 2023 3*  
Tyreek Hill Miami 2023 3*  
*Active streak      

BELICHICK & REID EACH CLOSING IN ON MILESTONES

New England head coach BILL BELICHICK and Kansas City head coach ANDY REID each rank in the top-five in all-time total wins and regular-season wins by head coaches.

With a win at Dallas on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, FOX), Belichick will become the third head coach in NFL history with 300 career regular-season wins, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers DON SHULA (328 regular-season wins) and GEORGE HALAS (318).

With a win at the New York Jets on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC), Reid will become the fifth head coach in NFL history with 250 career regular-season wins, joining Shula, Halas, Belichick and Pro Football Hall of Famer TOM LANDRY (250).

The head coaches with the most regular-season wins in NFL history:

HEAD COACH TEAM(S) REG. SEASON WINS
Don ShulaHOF Baltimore Colts, Miami 328
George HalasHOF Chicago 318
Bill Belichick Cleveland, New England 299
Tom LandryHOF Dallas 250
Andy Reid Philadelphia, Kansas City 249


MAHOMES FASTEST TO 200

Since entering the NFL in 2017, Kansas City quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES leads all players with 199 touchdown passes.

With a touchdown pass in his 84th career game at the New York Jets on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC), Mahomes will become the fastest player ever to reach 200 career touchdown passes, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO, who reached the mark in 89 games.

The players to reach 200 career touchdown passes in the fewest games in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM GAMES  
Dan MarinoHOF Miami 89  
Aaron Rodgers Green Bay 99  
Peyton ManningHOF Indianapolis 106  
       
Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 83*  
*Has 199 touchdown passes in 82 games    

ALLEN PASSING & RUSHING UP THE RANKS

Last week, Buffalo quarterback JOSH ALLEN recorded his 26th career game with both a passing and a rushing touchdown, the most in the NFL since 2018 and the fourth-most such games in NFL history. Currently in his sixth NFL season, he has 182 combined passing and rushing touchdowns (143 passing, 39 rushing).

With three touchdowns against Miami (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Allen will surpass CAM NEWTON (184 touchdowns) for the third-most combined passing and rushing touchdowns by a player in his first six seasons in NFL history.

The players with the most combined passing and rushing touchdowns in their first six seasons in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM COMBINED PASS + RUSH TOUCHDOWNS
Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 204
Dan MarinoHOF Miami 199
Cam Newton Carolina 184
Josh Allen Buffalo 182*
*In sixth season    

With his next rushing touchdown, Allen can become the fourth quarterback in NFL history with 40 career rushing touchdowns, joining CAM NEWTON (75), Pro Football Hall of Famer STEVE YOUNG (43) and JACK KEMP (40).

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
Jack Kemp L.A./San Diego Chargers, Buffalo 40
Josh Allen Buffalo 39*
Kordell Steward Pittsburgh, Chicago 38
*In sixth season  

HURTS RISING ON RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS LIST

Philadelphia enters Week 4 having won 20 of their past 21 regular-season games started by quarterback JALEN HURTS, including each of his past nine regular-season starts dating back to Week 11 of the 2022 season.

From Week 15, 2021 to Week 9, 2022, the Eagles won 11 consecutive games started by Hurts. With a win against Washington (1:00 PM ET), Hurts can become the second starting quarterback in the Super Bowl era with multiple 10-game winning streaks within his first four career seasons, joining PATRICK MAHOMES (10 games from Week 11, 2019 to Week 4, 2020; 10 consecutive wins from Week 6 to Week 16 in 2020).

In his 48th career game last week, Hurts rushed for his 29th career touchdown, the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in his first 50 career games in NFL history.

With a rushing touchdown against Washington (1:00 PM ET, FOX), Hurts can join CAM NEWTON (33 rushing touchdowns) and JOSH ALLEN (31) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history with at least 30 rushing touchdowns in their first four seasons.

The quarterbacks with the most rushing touchdowns in their first four career seasons in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS
Cam Newton Carolina 33
Josh Allen Buffalo 31
Jalen Hurts Philadelphia 29*
*In fourth season    

MCCAFFREY CAN EXTEND TOUCHDOWN STEAK

Running back CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY leads the NFL with 353 rushing yards entering Week 4 and has recorded at least 115 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in each of San Francisco’s first three games. McCaffrey can become the fourth player ever to record 115 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in each of his team’s first four games of a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers JIM BROWN (1958) and O.J. SIMPSON (1975).

Since Week 13 of the 2022 season, McCaffrey has scored a touchdown in 12 straight games, including the postseason. With a touchdown against Arizona on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, FOX), he will become the fourth player since 1990 to record a touchdown in 13 consecutive games, including the postseason.

The players with the most consecutive games with a touchdown, including the postseason, since 1990:​

PLAYER TEAM GAMES (DATES)
Emmitt SmithHOF Dallas 14 (Oct. 8, 1995 – Jan. 28, 1996)
Arian Foster Houston 13 (Dec. 18, 2011 – Nov. 11, 2012)
Emmitt SmithHOF Dallas 13 (Nov. 7, 1994 – Sept. 24, 1995)
Christian McCaffrey San Francisco 12* (Dec. 4, 2022 – current)
LaDainian TomlinsonHOF San Diego Chargers 12 (Oct. 3 – Dec. 26, 2004)
*Active streak​    

KIRK COUSINS & JUSTIN JEFFERSON LOOK TO CONTINUE STRONG START

Minnesota quarterback KIRK COUSINS leads the NFL with 1,075 passing yards and is the only quarterback with at least 300 passing yards in each of the first three weeks.

On Sunday at Carolina (1:00 PM ET, FOX), Cousins can join Pro Football Hall of Famer KURT WARNER (2000) as the only players in NFL history with at least 325 passing yards in each of his team’s first four games of a season. He can also become the first player ever with at least 325 passing yards and two touchdown passes in each of his team’s first four games.

With his next 300-yard performance, can become the fifth quarterback in NFL history with 50 career games with at least 300 passing yards in his first 12 seasons. Cousins has 49 such games in his career since entering the NFL in 2012.

The players with the most games with at least 300 passing yards in their first 12 seasons in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM(S) GAMES WITH 300+ PASS YARDS  
Drew Brees San Diego Chargers, New Orleans 67  
Matt Ryan Atlanta 64  
Peyton ManningHOF Indianapolis 56  
Kurt WarnerHOF Arizona, St. Louis Rams 52  
       
Kirk Cousins Washington, Minnesota 49*  
*In 12th season

Vikings wide receiver JUSTIN JEFFERSON leads the NFL with 458 receiving yards, tied with Wes Welker (458 receiving yards in 2011) for the most receiving yards by a player in his team’s first three games of a season in NFL history.

On Sunday, Jefferson needs 98 receiving yards to surpass BOB BOYD (555 receiving yards in 1954) and TERRY GLENN (544) for the second-most receiving yards by a player in his team’s first four games of a season all-time. Only WES WELKER (616 receiving yards in 2011) has more.

The players with the most receiving yards in their team’s first four games of a season in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM SEASON RECEIVING YARDS
Wes Welker New England 2011 616
Bob Boyd L.A. Rams 1954 555
Terry Glenn New England 1999 544
       
Justin Jefferson Minnesota 2023 458*
*Through three games

Jefferson has recorded at least 125 receiving yards in each of the first three weeks this season and can become the fifth player since 2000 with at least 125 receiving yards in four consecutive games, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer CALVIN JOHNSON (five consecutive games in 2012), ODELL BECKHAM JR. (four in 2014), JOSH GORDON (four in 2013) and ANDRE JOHNSON (four in 2008).

ROOKIE DOMINANCE IN HOUSTON

Houston rookie quarterback C.J. STROUD ranks fifth in the NFL with 906 passing yards entering Week 4. He is also one of four quarterbacks (among those that have started in each of the first three weeks) that have not thrown an interception this season.

With 244 passing yards against Pittsburgh on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Stroud will move into the top-five for most passing yards ever by a player in his first four career games.

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

PLAYER TEAM SEASON PASSING YARDS
Cam Newton Carolina 2011 1,386
Andrew Luck Indianapolis 2012 1,208
Justin Herbert L.A. Chargers 2020 1,195
Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 2017-18 1,180
Marc Bulger St. Louis Rams 2002 1,149
       
C.J. Stroud Houston 2023 906*
*Through three games      

Stroud can also join GARDNER MINSHEW (2019) as the only quarterbacks ever with no interceptions in his first four career starts (minimum 30 attempts in each start).

One of Stroud’s top receivers this season has been fellow rookie TANK DELL, a third-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. Dell ranks second among rookies with 251 receiving yards and has recorded at least five receptions and a touchdown reception in each of the past two weeks.

Dell can join KELVIN BENJAMIN (2014) and TERRY MCLAURIN (2019) as the only players in NFL history with at least five receptions and a touchdown reception in three of their first four career games.

NACUA’S HISTORIC FIRST FOUR

Los Angeles Rams rookie wide receiver PUKA NACUA, a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft from BYU, ranks second in the NFL with 30 receptions this season and fourth with 338 receiving yards.

His 30 receptions are already tied with ANQUAN BOLDIN (30 in 2003) for the most receptions ever by a player in his first four career games and with his first reception at Indianapolis on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Nacua will surpass Boldin for the all-time record.

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

PLAYER TEAM SEASON RECEPTIONS
Anquan Boldin Arizona 2003 30
Puka Nacua L.A. Rams 2023 30*
Deion Branch New England 2002 28
*Through three games      

With 62 receiving yards, Nacua will become the sixth player in NFL history to total at least 400 receiving yards in his first four career games.

The players with at least 400 receiving yards in their first four career games in NFL history:

​PLAYER TEAM SEASON RECEIVING YARDS
Anquan Boldin Arizona 2003 464
Stefon Diggs Buffalo 2015 419
Jerry Butler Buffalo 1979 417
Dan Edwards Brooklyn Dodgers 1948 412
Harlon Hill Chicago 1954 400
       
Puka Nacua L.A. Rams 2023 338*
*Through three games        

CHASE & ADAMS NEARING RECEPTION MILESTONES

Since entering the NFL in 2021, Cincinnati wide receiver JA’MARR CHASE has totaled 190 receptions for 2,712 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns in 32 games. Last week, he recorded 12 receptions for 141 yards, his fourth-career game with at least 10 receptions.

With 10 catches at Tennessee on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX), Chase will tie JARVIS LANDRY (33 games) as the third-fastest player in NFL history to reach 200 career receptions. Only ODELL BECKHAM JR. (30 games) and MICHAEL THOMAS (32) reached the mark in fewer games.

The players to reach 200 career receptions in the fewest games in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM GAMES
Odell Beckham Jr. N.Y. Giants 30
Michael Thomas New Orleans 32
Jarvis Landry Miami 33
     
Ja’Marr Chase Cincinnati 32*
*Has 190 receptions in 32 games  

Since entering the NFL in 2014, Las Vegas wide receiver DAVANTE ADAMS ranks third among all players with 794 receptions in 132 career games.

With six receptions at the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday (4:05 PM ET, CBS), Adams will tie ANDRE JOHNSON (137 games) as the fifth-fastest player in NFL history to reach 800 career receptions.

The players to reach 800 career reception in the fewest games in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM(S) GAMES
Antonio Brown Pittsburgh 126
Keenan Allen San Diego/L.A. Chargers 127
Julio Jones Atlanta 127
Marvin HarrisonHOF Indianapolis 131
Andre Johnson Houston 137
     
Davante Adams Green Bay, Las Vegas 136*
*Has 794 receptions in 136 games  

ALLEN EYEING 40 THROUGH 4

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver KEENAN ALLEN leads the NFL with 32 receptions this season. Last week, his 18 receptions were tied for the third-most in a regular-season game in NFL history.

With eight receptions against Las Vegas on Sunday (4:05 PM ET, CBS), Allen will become the fifth player in NFL history with at least 40 receptions through his team’s first four games of a season, joining COOPER KUPP (42 receptions in 2022), MICHAEL THOMAS (42 in 2018), ADAM THIELEN (40 in 2018) and WES WELKER (40 in 2011). ​

The players with at least 40 receptions through their team’s first four games of a season in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM SEASON RECEPTIONS  
Cooper Kupp L.A. Rams 2022 42  
Michael Thomas New Orleans 2018 42  
Adam Thielen Minnesota 2018 40  
Wes Welker New England 2011 40  
         
Keenan Allen L.A. Chargers 2023 32*  
*Through three games      

 

GARRETT & WATT SACKING RECORDS

Pittsburgh linebacker T.J. WATT leads the NFL with six sacks this season, while Cleveland defensive end MYLES GARRETT ranks third with 4.5.

Watt has recorded a sack in each of the first three weeks of the season, with multiple sacks in two games. With at least two sacks at Houston on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Watt will become the fourth player since 2000 to record at least two sacks in three of his team’s first four games of a season, joining ELVIS DUMERVIL (2009), KABEER GBAJA-BIAMILA (2001) and PATRICK KERNEY (2004).

Since entering the league in 2017, Garrett has totaled 79 sacks in 87 career games. With a sack against Baltimore on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Garrett will tie Watt (88 games) as the second-fastest player to reach 80 career sacks since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer REGGIE WHITE (71 games) reached the mark in fewer games.

The players to reach 80 career sacks in the fewest games since 1982:

PLAYER TEAM GAMES
Reggie WhiteHOF Philadelphia 71
T.J. Watt Pittsburgh 88
J.J. Watt Houston 92
     
Myles Garrett Cleveland 87*
*Has 79 sacks in 87 games

 

COURTESY NFLmedia.com

Posted in NFL