NFL News: What To Look For – Week 6

By Lydia Jane Allison

Below are teams and players that can set historic marks or reach career milestones in Week 6 of the 2023 NFL season, including:

  • Cleveland (Myles Garrett)
  • San Francisco (Brock Purdy & Christian McCaffrey)
  • Miami (Tyreek Hill)
  • Philadelphia (Jalen Hurts & A.J. Brown)
  • Houston (C.J. Stroud)
  • Buffalo (Josh Allen & Stefon Diggs)
  • Cincinnati (Joe Burrow & Ja’Marr Chase)
  • L.A. Rams (Puka Nacua)
  • Detroit (David Montgomery & Sam LaPorta)
  • Seattle (Kenneth Walker)

TOP DEFENSES MEET IN CLEVELAND

The CLEVELAND BROWNS (2-2) enter Week 6 with the top-ranked defense in the league (196.8 yards allowed per game), while the SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (5-0) rank third (266.8 yards allowed per game). The 49ers also lead the league in scoring defense, allowing 13.6 points per game, while the Browns rank tied for second, allowing 15.0 points per game.

When the two clubs meet in Cleveland on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX) it will mark the first game since 2013 (New England at New Orleans in Week 6) featuring two teams that are each allowing 15 points or fewer per game in Week 6 or later.

Since 2021, Cleveland defensive end MYLES GARRETT leads the NFL with 37.5 sacks, while San Francisco defensive lineman NICK BOSA ranks third with 35.5. Since entering the league in 2017, Garrett ranks second in the league with 80 sacks.

With a sack on Sunday, Garrett, who turns 28 later this season, can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer REGGIE WHITE (80 sacks) for the most sacks by a player prior to his 28th birthday since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic.

The players with the most sacks prior to their 28th birthday since 1982:

PLAYER TEAM SACKS
Myles Garrett Cleveland 80
Reggie WhiteHOF Philadelphia 80
Derrick ThomasHOF Kansas City 77
*Turns 28 on Dec. 29, 2023​

49ERS LOOK TO CONTINUE HISTORIC STREAKS

The SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS have won 15 consecutive regular-season games since Week 8 of the 2022 season and have scored at least 30 points in each of their past eight wins.

With 30 points at Cleveland on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX) the 49ers can become the fifth team in NFL history to score 30 points in nine 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).

The teams to score at least 30 points in the most consecutive games in NFL history:

TEAM SEASONS GAMES
St. Louis Rams 1999-2000 14
New England Patriots 2010-11 13
Denver Broncos 2012-13 11
New England Patriots 2006-07 9
     
San Francisco 49ers 2022-23 8*
*Active streak    

San Francisco can also become the second team in NFL history to score at least 30 points and allow less than 30 points in each of their first six games of a season, joining New England in 2007.

Quarterback BROCK PURDY is expected to make his 11th career regular-season start on Sunday. He has won each of his first 10 career regular-season starts and with a win against Cleveland, would join BEN ROETHLISBERGER (15 consecutive wins to begin his career) as the only quarterbacks to begin their careers since 1970 to win each of their first 11 career starts.

Purdy leads the NFL with a 123.1 passer rating this season and is one of two quarterbacks (C.J. STROUD) without an interception (minimum two starts). Purdy can become the second player in NFL history with no interceptions and a passer rating of 90-or-higher in each of his team’s first six games of a season, joining RUSSELL WILSON in 2019.

Running back CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY leads the NFL with 678 scrimmage yards and ranks tied for first in both scrimmage touchdowns (eight) and rushing touchdowns (seven) through the first five weeks of the season. In Week 6, he can become the second player since 2000 to record a rushing touchdown in each of his team’s first six games of a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer LADAINIAN TOMLINSON (2005).

Dating back to Week 13 of the 2022 season and including the postseason, McCaffrey has recorded at least one scrimmage touchdown in 14 consecutive games. With a touchdown on Sunday, he would become the fourth player in NFL history to register a touchdown in 15 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) and O.J. SIMPSON (15 consecutive games from 1974-75).

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)
Christian McCaffrey San Francisco 14* (Dec. 4, 2022 – current)
Emmitt SmithHOF Dallas 14 (Oct. 8, 1995 – Jan. 28, 1996)
*Active streak

McCaffrey has 12 career games with both a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown and 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.

TYREEK HILL & DOLPHINS’ OFFENSIVE START

The MIAMI DOLPHINS (4-1) lead the NFL in total offense (513.6 yards per game) and scoring offense (36.2 points per game) this season and their 2,568 total yards of offense are the most-ever through a team’s first five games of a season.

With 432 total yards of offense against Carolina on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), they will become the second team in NFL history with at least 3,000 yards of total offense in their first six games of a season, joining the 2000 St. Louis Rams (3,056 total yards). They can also join the 2000 Rams as the only teams ever to record at least 500 yards of offense in four of their first six games of a season.

Last week, wide receiver TYREEK HILL recorded eight catches for 181 yards and a touchdown, his third game this season with at least 150 receiving yards. On Sunday, he can become the first player ever to record at least 150 receiving yards in four of his team’s first six games of a season.

Hill now has 11 career games with at least 150 receiving yards and a touchdown reception and with his next such performance, can tie Pro Football Hall of Famer CALVIN JOHNSON (12 games) for the third-most games with at least 150 receiving yards by a player in his first eight seasons. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers LANCE ALWORTH (16) and JERRY RICE (14) have more.

Hill leads the NFL with 651 receiving yards this season. With 99 receiving yards on Sunday, he will become the fifth player ever to record at least 750 receiving yards in his team’s first six games of a season.

The players with at least 750 receiving yards in their team’s first six games of a season in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM SEASON RECEIVING YARDS
Don HutsonHOF Green Bay 1942 819
Charlie Hennigan Houston Oilers 1961 812
Wes Welker New England 2011 785
Elroy HirschHOF L.A. Rams 1951 766
       
Tyreek Hill Miami 2023 651*
*Through five games      

BROWN’S HOT START & HURTS’ WINNING WAYS

The PHILADELPHIA EAGLES are 5-0 for a second-consecutive season and have won 22 of their last 23 games started by quarterback JALEN HURTS, including each of his past 11 starts on the road.

With a win at the New York Jets on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, FOX), Hurts will become the third quarterback since 1970 to win at least 12 consecutive road starts, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer JOE MONTANA (18 consecutive road wins from 1988-93) and TOM BRADY (13 consecutive road wins from 2016-17).

The quarterbacks to win the most consecutive road starts since 1970:

PLAYER TEAM GAMES (DATES)
Joe MontanaHOF San Francisco 18 (Nov. 27, 1988 – Oct. 17, 1993)
Tom Brady New England 13 (Oct. 9, 2016 – Dec. 3, 2017)
Jalen Hurts Philadelphia 11* (Jan. 2, 2022 – current)
Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 11 (Nov. 18, 2019 – Dec. 20, 2020)
Peyton ManningHOF Indianapolis 11 (Nov. 9, 2008 – Dec. 17, 2009)
Tony Romo Dallas 11 (Dec. 22, 2013 – Nov. 22, 2015)
*Active streak

Hurts’ top target this season has been wide receiver A.J. BROWN, who ranks fourth in the league with 541 receiving yards and has totaled at least 125 receiving yards in each of his past three games.

With 125 receiving yards on Sunday, Brown will become the third player in the Super Bowl era to record at least 125 receiving yards in four of his team’s first six games of a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer LANCE ALWORTH (1968) and ANDRE RISON (1990). Miami’s TYREEK HILL can also join that group in Week 6.

Brown can also become the fifth player since 2000 to total at least 125 receiving yards in four consecutive games, joining ODELL BECKHAM JR. (2014), JOSH GORDON (2013), ANDRE JOHNSON (2008) and Pro Football Hall of Famer CALVIN JOHNSON (2012).

STROUD LOOKS TO CONTINUE HISTORIC START TO CAREER

Houston rookie quarterback C.J. STROUD ranks third in the NFL with 1,461 passing yards and is one of two quarterbacks (BROCK PURDY) with no interceptions this season (minimum two starts). His 186 pass attempts are the most-ever without an interception to begin a career and he is the fourth player in NFL history with at least 1,400 passing yards and no interceptions in his team’s first five games of a season.

With no interceptions against New Orleans on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX), Stroud will become the first quarterback ever without an interception in each of his first six career starts.

​If Stroud does not throw an interception in his next 26 pass attempts, he will surpass KYLER MURRAY (211 pass attempts in 2019) for the longest streak of pass attempts without an interception by a rookie in NFL history.

With 294 passing yards this week, Stroud will move into the top-five for most passing yards ever by a player in his first six career games.

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

PLAYER TEAM SEASON(S) PASSING YARDS
Cam Newton Carolina 2011 1,847
Justin Herbert L.A. Chargers 2020 1,820
Marc Bulger St. Louis Rams 2002 1,815
Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 2017-18 1,797
Nick Mullens San Francisco 2018 1,754
       
C.J. Stroud Houston 2023 1,461*
*Through five games      

ALLEN & DIGGS LOOK TO REACH MARKS ON SNF

Buffalo quarterback JOSH ALLEN ranks fifth in the league with 1,407 passing yards this season and is one of five quarterbacks with at least three rushing touchdowns (three). He has recorded a rushing touchdown in each of his past three games and at least 300 passing yards in each of his past two.

With 300 passing yards and a rushing touchdown against the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC), Allen will become the first player in NFL history to record at least 300 passing yards and a rushing touchdown in three consecutive games.

Allen has 149 career touchdown passes since entering the league in 2018. With a touchdown pass on Sunday night, his 83rd career game, he 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 82*
*Has 149 touchdown passes in 82 games      

Buffalo’s leading receiver this season has been wide receiver STEFON DIGGS, who ties for the league lead with five touchdown receptions, ranks third with 39 receptions and sixth with 520 receiving yards. He is also the only player with at least 100 receiving yards in four games this season.

With 100 receiving yards on Sunday night, Diggs will become the fifth player in the Super Bowl era to record at least 100 receiving yards in five of his team’s first six games of a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers MARVIN HARRISON (five games in 2000) and MICHAEL IRVIN (five in 1995) as well as STANLEY MORGAN (five in 1986) and ADAM THIELEN (six in 2018).

BURROW & CHASE SETTING MARKS IN CINCINNATI

Last week, Cincinnati quarterback JOE BURROW set season highs with 317 passing yards and three touchdown passes. It marked his 10th career game with at least 300 passing yards and three touchdown passes.

With at least 300 passing yards and three touchdown passes against Seattle on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Burrow will surpass ANDREW LUCK (10 games) for the fourth-most such games by a player in his first four seasons in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers KURT WARNER (17 games) and DAN MARINO (15) as well as PATRICK MAHOMES (15) have more. Los Angeles Chargers quarterback JUSTIN HERBERT (nine games) can also tie Luck against Dallas on Monday Night Football (8:15 PM ET, ESPN/ABC).

The players with the most games with at least 300 passing yards and three touchdown passes in their first four seasons in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM GAMES
Kurt WarnerHOF St. Louis Rams 17
Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 15
Dan MarinoHOF Miami 15
Joe Burrow Cincinnati 10*
Andrew Luck Indianapolis 10
Josh Allen Buffalo 9
Justin Herbert L.A. Chargers 9*
*In fourth season

Burrow can also tie Pro Football Hall of Famer PEYTON MANNING (16 games) and DAK PRESCOTT (16) for the fifth-most games with at least three touchdown passes by a player in his first four seasons in NFL history.

The players with the most games with at least three touchdown passes in their first four seasons in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM GAMES
Dan MarinoHOF Miami 27
Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 21
Kurt WarnerHOF St. Louis Rams 21
Justin Herbert L.A. Chargers 17*
Peyton ManningHOF Indianapolis 16
Dak Prescott Dallas 16
     
Joe Burrow Cincinnati 15*
*In fourth season

Wide receiver JA’MARR CHASE set a single-game franchise record with 15 receptions last week, while also totaling 193 receiving yards and three touchdowns. It marked his third career game with at least 175 receiving yards. With another such game this season, he will become the fifth player ever to record at least 175 receiving yards in four games within his first three seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers LANCE ALWORTH (five games) and ISAAC BRUCE (four) as well as JUSTIN JEFFERSON (five) and CHARLIE HENNIGAN (four).

Chase has 2,977 receiving yards in 34 career games since entering the NFL in 2021. With 23 receiving yards on Sunday, he can become the fifth player in NFL history to reach 3,000 career receiving yards in 35-or-fewer games, joining ODELL BECKHAM JR. (30 games), CHARLIE HENNIGAN (31), JUSTIN JEFFERSON (33) and Pro Football Hall of Famer LANCE ALWORTH (34).

The players to reach 3,000 career receiving yards in 35-or-fewer games in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM GAMES
Odell Beckham Jr. N.Y. Giants 30
Charlie Hennigan Houston Oilers 31
Justin Jefferson Minnesota 33
Lance AlworthHOF San Diego Chargers 34
     
Ja’Marr Chase Cincinnati 34*
*Has 2,977 receiving yards in 34 games

NACUA CAN CONTINUE TO BREAK RECORDS

Los Angeles Rams rookie wide receiver PUKA NACUA leads the league with 46 receptions and ranks second with 572 receiving yards. His 46 receptions (in five games) are already the most-ever by a player in his first six career games, surpassing SAQUON BARKLEY (40 in 2018).

With 104 receiving yards against Arizona on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, FOX), Nacua will surpass HARLON HILL (675 in 1954) for the most receiving yards ever by a player in his first six career games.

The players with the most receiving yards in their first six career games in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM SEASON RECEIVING YARDS
Harlon Hill Chicago Bears 1954 675
Billy Howton Green Bay 1952 602
Anquan Boldin Arizona 2003 592
       
Puka Nacua L.A. Rams 2023 572*
*Through five games      

Nacua has totaled at least five receptions and 50 receiving yards in each game this season. If he accomplishes the feat again on Sunday, he will become the fifth rookie in NFL history to record at least five receptions and 50 receiving yards in six consecutive games, joining ODELL BECKHAM JR. (nine consecutive games in 2014), BRANDON AIYUK (six games in 2020), CEEDEE LAMB (six games in 2020) and AMON-RA ST. BROWN (six games in 2021). He would join Lamb as the only two to do so in each of their first six career games.

The rookies with at least five receptions and 50 receiving yards in the most consecutive games in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM SEASON GAMES
Odell Beckham Jr. N.Y. Giants 2014 9
Brandon Aiyuk San Francisco 2020 6
CeeDee Lamb Dallas 2020 6
Amon-Ra St. Brown Detroit 2021 6
       
Puka Nacua L.A. Rams 2023 5*
*Active streak      

MONTGOMERY & LAPORTA’S STRONG STARTS IN DETROIT

Detroit running back DAVID MONTGOMERY ranks third in the NFL with six rushing touchdowns this season. He has rushed for a touchdown in each of his first four games with Detroit, who he signed with this past offseason.

​With a rushing touchdown at Tampa Bay on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, FOX), Montgomery will become the first non-rookie in NFL history to record seven rushing touchdowns in his first five games with a new team.

Rookie SAM LAPORTA ranks fourth among tight ends this season with 25 receptions, the third-most ever by a tight end through his first five career games.

With five receptions on Sunday, LaPorta will become the fourth tight end in NFL history to record at least 30 receptions through his first six career games, joining KEITH JACKSON (38 receptions), JORDAN REED (34) and KYLE PITTS (31).​

The tight ends with at least 30 receptions in their first six career games in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM SEASON RECEPTIONS
Keith Jackson Philadelphia 1988 38
Jordan Reed Washington 2013 34
Kyle Pitts Atlanta 2021 31
       
Sam LaPorta Detroit 2023 25*
*Through five games      

WALKER GOES FOR TWO

​Seattle’s KENNETH WALKER is one of four running backs to record two rushing touchdowns in multiple games this season. His five career games with at least two rushing touchdowns since entering the league in 2022 are the second-most in the NFL over that span.

With two rushing touchdowns at Cincinnati on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS) in his 20th career game, Walker will become the fifth player in NFL history with multiple rushing touchdowns in at least six of his first 20 career games, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers JIM BROWN (seven games), STEVE VAN BUREN (seven), ERICK DICKERSON (six) and CLINTON PORTIS (six).

The players with the most games with at least two rushing touchdowns in their first 20 career games in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM GAMES
Jim BrownHOF Cleveland 7
Steve Van BurenHOF Philadelphia 7
Eric DickersonHOF L.A. Rams 6
Clinton PortisHOF Denver 6
     
Kenneth Walker Seattle 5*
*In 19 games​

 

COURTESY NFLmedia.com

Posted in NFL