NFL News: What To Look For – Week 9

By Lydia Jane Allison

NEW YORK –– Nov. 1, 2023 –– Below are teams and players that can set historic marks or reach career milestones in Week 9 of the 2023 NFL season, including:

  • Kansas City (Patrick Mahomes & Travis Kelce)
  • Miami (Tyreek Hill)
  • Buffalo (Josh Allen)
  • Cincinnati (Joe Burrow)
  • Los Angeles Chargers (Austin Ekeler)
  • Los Angeles Rams (Puka Nacua)
  • Minnesota (Jordan Addison)
  • Cleveland (Myles Garrett)
  • Pittsburgh (T.J. Watt)
  • Indianapolis (Zaire Franklin)
  • Philadelphia (Jalen Hurts & A.J. Brown)

MAHOMES AND KELCE LOOK TO CONTINUE TO REWRITE HISTORY

Kansas City quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES has five games with at least two touchdown passes in 2023, tied for the third-most such games in the NFL this season, and has 63 such games in his career since entering the league in 2018, the most among all players in that span.

With two touchdown passes against Miami on Sunday in the NFL’s first-ever regular-season game in Frankfurt, Germany (9:30 a.m. ET, NFLN), Mahomes can tie Pro Football Hall of Famer PEYTON MANNING (64 games) for the second-most games with at least two touchdown passes by a player in his first seven seasons in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (65) has more.

The players with the most games with at least two touchdown passes in their first seven seasons in NFL history:​

PLAYER TEAM GAMES  
Dan MarinoHOF Miami 65  
Peyton ManningHOF Indianapolis 64  
Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 63*  
*in seventh season    

Mahomes and tight end TRAVIS KELCE have connected on 50 regular-season touchdowns. On Sunday, they can surpass DREW BREES and JIMMY GRAHAM (51 touchdowns) for the third-most regular-season touchdowns by a quarterback-tight end combination in NFL history. Only the combinations of TOM BRADY and ROB GRONKOWSKI (90) and PHILIP RIVERS and ANTONIO GATES (89) have more.

The quarterback-tight end combinations with the most regular-season touchdowns in NFL history:

QUARTERBACK TIGHT END  TEAM(S) TOUCHDOWNS
Tom Brady Rob Gronkowski  New England, Tampa Bay 90
Philip Rivers Antonio Gates  San Diego/L.A. Chargers 89
Drew Brees Jimmy Graham  New Orleans 51
Patrick Mahomes Travis Kelce  Kansas City 50*
*active pair      

In 151 career games, Kelce has recorded 10,927 receiving yards. With 73 receiving yards on Sunday, Kelce can become the fourth tight end ever to record 11,000 career receiving yards, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer TONY GONZALEZ (15,127 receiving yards), JASON WITTEN (13,046) and ANTONIO GATES (11,841). Kelce would become the fastest tight end ever to reach the 11,000-yard milestone (152 games).

The tight ends to reach 11,000 receiving yards in the fewest games in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM(S) GAMES
Tony GonzalezHOF Kansas City, Atlanta 191
Antonio Gates San Diego Chargers 201
Jason Witten Dallas, Las Vegas 202
     
Travis Kelce Kansas City 151
*has 10,927 receiving yards

Kelce, whose four touchdown receptions ties for second-most among tight ends this season, has 73 career touchdown receptions. With two touchdown receptions on Sunday, Kelce can surpass JASON WITTEN (74 touchdown receptions) for the fifth-most touchdown receptions by a tight end in NFL history.

The tight ends with the most touchdown receptions in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM(S) TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS
Antonio Gates San Diego Chargers 116
Tony GonzalezHOF Kansas City, Atlanta 111
Rob Gronkowski New England, Tampa Bay 92
Jimmy Graham New Orleans, Seattle, Green Bay, Chicago 86
Jason Witten Dallas 74
Travis Kelce Kansas City 73

HILL LOOKS TO ADD ANOTHER FIRST TO THE LIST

Miami wide receiver TYREEK HILL leads the NFL with 1,014 receiving yards and eight touchdown receptions, and also ranks tied for second with 61 receptions this season. He became the first player in 62 years and fourth player all-time with 1,000 receiving yards in his team’s first eight games of a season.

With 91 receiving yards against Kansas City in Frankfurt on Sunday (9:30 a.m. ET, NFLN), Hill will surpass the record he set last season (1,104 receiving yards) for the most receiving yards by a player in their first nine games of a season in the Super Bowl era.

The players with the most receiving yards in their first nine games of a season in the Super Bowl era:

PLAYER TEAM SEASON RECEIVING YARDS
Tyreek Hill Miami 2022 1,104
Calvin JohnsonHOF Detroit 2013 1,083
Isaac BruceHOF St. Louis Rams 1995 1,073
       
Tyreek Hill Miami 2023 902*
*through seven games      

With 10 receptions and 150 receiving yards on Sunday, Hill will become the first player in NFL history to record 11 career games with at least 10 receptions and 150 receiving yards.

The players with the most career games with at least 10 receptions and 150 receiving yards in NFL history:

PLAYER GAMES
Antonio Brown 10
Tyreek Hill 10*
Andre Johnson 10
Julio Jones 10
Jerry RiceHOF 10

ALLEN LOOKS TO MOVE UP LEADERBOARD

Buffalo quarterback JOSH ALLEN leads all quarterbacks with 22 total touchdowns this season (17 passing, five rushing). Last week, he recorded his sixth consecutive game with multiple touchdown passes and his fifth game in the past six weeks with a rushing touchdown.

With both a passing and rushing touchdown at Cincinnati on Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), Allen can tie AARON RODGERS (31 games) and Pro Football Hall of Famer STEVE YOUNG (31) for the second-most games with at least one touchdown pass and one rushing touchdown in NFL history. Only CAM NEWTON (45) has more.​

The players with the most games with at least one touchdown pass and one rushing touchdown in NFL history:​

PLAYER TEAM(S) GAMES
Cam Newton Carolina, New England 45
Aaron Rodgers Green Bay 31
Steve YoungHOF Tampa Bay, San Francisco 31
Josh Allen Buffalo 30

With two combined passing and rushing touchdowns on Sunday, Allen will surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (199 combined touchdowns) for the second-most combined passing and rushing touchdowns in a player’s first six seasons in NFL history. Only PATRICK MAHOMES (204) has more.​

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

PLAYER TEAM SEASONS TD PASSES RUSHING TDs COMBINED TDs
Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 2017-22 192 12 204
Dan MarinoHOF Miami 1983-88 196 3 199
Josh Allen Buffalo 2018-23 155 43 198*
*in sixth season

BURROW’S FIRST 50 GAMES

Cincinnati quarterback JOE BURROW has played in 49 games since entering the NFL in 2020 and can make his 50th career start against Buffalo on Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC). With three touchdown passes, Burrow will tie JUSTIN HERBERT (95 touchdown passes) and DESHAUN WATSON (95) for the fourth-most touchdown passes by a player in his first 50 career games in NFL history. Only PATRICK MAHOMES (128) and Pro Football Hall of Famers DAN MARINO (114) and KURT WARNER (101) have more.

The players with the most touchdown passes in their first 50 games in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM TD PASSES
Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 128
Dan MarinoHOF Miami 114
Kurt WarnerHOF St. Louis Rams 101
Justin Herbert L.A. Chargers 95
Deshaun Watson Houston 95
Joe Burrow Cincinnati 92*
*in 49 career games

With three touchdown passes on Sunday, Burrow will surpass JUSTIN HERBERT (16 games) for the fourth-most games with at least three touchdown passes by a player in his first 50 career games in NFL history. Only PATRICK MAHOMES (25) and Pro Football Hall of Famers DAN MARINO (21) and KURT WARNER (21) have more.

The players with the most games with at least three touchdown passes in their first 50 games in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM TD PASSES
Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 25
Dan MarinoHOF Miami 21
Kurt WarnerHOF St. Louis Rams 21
Joe Burrow Cincinnati 16*
Justin Herbert L.A. Chargers 16
*in 49 career games

  EKELER CLIMBING LIST OF TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS BY A RUNNING BACK

Last week, Los Angeles Chargers running back AUSTIN EKELER recorded his 30th career touchdown reception, tying JAMES BROOKS (30 touchdown receptions) and BRIAN WESTBROOK (30) for the fourth-most touchdown receptions by a running back in the Super Bowl era.

With one touchdown reception at the New York Jets on Monday Night Football (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC), Ekeler will tie KEITH BYARS (31 touchdown receptions) for the third-most touchdown receptions by a running back in the Super Bowl era. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer MARSHALL FAULK (36) and DARREN SPROLES (32) have more.

The running backs with the most touchdown receptions in the Super Bowl era:

PLAYER TEAM(S) TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS
Marshall FaulkHOF Indianapolis, St. Louis Rams 36
Darren Sproles San Diego Chargers, New Orleans, Philadelphia 32
Keith Byars Philadelphia, Miami, New England, N.Y. Jets 31
James Brooks San Diego Chargers, Cincinnati 30
Austin Ekeler L.A. Chargers 30
Brian Westbrook Philadelphia, San Francisco 30

ROOKIE WIDE RECEIVERS LOOKING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE HISTORY

Los Angeles Rams rookie wide receiver PUKA NACUA ranks tied for second with 61 receptions this season and ranks third with 795 receiving yards. Last week, Nacua surpassed JA’MARR CHASE (786 receiving yards) for the most receiving yards by a player in his first eight career games in the Super Bowl era.

At Green Bay on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, FOX), Nacua can surpass SAQUON BARKLEY (62 receptions in 2018) for the most receptions by a player in their first nine games in NFL history and surpass MARQUES COLSTON (869 receiving yards in 2006) for the most receiving yards in a player’s first nine career games all-time.

The players with the most receiving yards in their first nine games all-time:

PLAYER TEAM SEASON RECEIVING YARDS
Marques Colston New Orleans 2006 869
Ja’Marr Chase Cincinnati 2021 835
Odell Beckham Jr. N.Y. Giants 2014 829
Harlon Hill Chicago 1954 810
Bill Groman Houston Oilers 1960 796
       
Puka Nacua L.A. Rams 2023 795*
*through eight games

Nacua also has two games with at least 150 receiving yards (Weeks 4 and 7). With another such performance this season, Nacua can become the fifth rookie all-time to have three games with at least 150 receiving yards, joining BILL GROMAN (four games in 1960), BILLY HOWTON (four in 1952), JA’MARR CHASE (three in 2021) and Pro Football Hall of Famer RANDY MOSS (three in 1998).

The rookies with the most games with at least 150 receiving yards all-time:

PLAYER TEAM SEASON GAMES
Bill Groman Houston Oilers 1960 4
Billy Howton Green Bay 1952 4
Ja’Marr Chase Cincinnati 2021 3
Randy MossHOF Minnesota 1998 3
       
Puka Nacua L.A. Rams 2023 2

Minnesota rookie wide receiver JORDAN ADDISON ranks tied for second in the NFL with seven touchdown receptions this season, tied for the fifth-most by a player in his first eight career games in the Super Bowl era.​

With a touchdown reception on Sunday at Atlanta (1 p.m. ET, FOX), Addison will become the first player since 1982 and the seventh player all-time to record at least eight touchdown receptions in his first nine games, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers MIKE DITKA (nine in 1961) and BOB HAYES (eight in 1965) as well as HARLON HILL (nine in 1954), CHARLIE BROWN (eight in 1982), BILL GROMAN (eight in 1960) and BILLY HOWTON (eight in 1952).

The players with the most touchdown receptions in their first nine career games all-time:

PLAYER TEAM SEASON TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS
Mike DitkaHOF Chicago 1961 9
Harlon Hill Chicago 1954 9
Charlie Brown Washington 1982 8
Bill Groman Houston Oilers 1960 8
Bob HayesHOF Dallas 1965 8
Billy Howton Green Bay 1952 8
       
Jordan Addison Minnesota 2023 7*
*through eight career games

AFC NORTH SEVENTH-YEAR SACK LEADERS

Cleveland defensive end MYLES GARRETT and Pittsburgh linebacker T.J. WATT each rank tied for third with 8.5 sacks this season. Since both entered the NFL in 2017, Watt, with 87 sacks, and Garrett, with 83, rank first and second, respectively, in sacks.

In Week 9, Watt – appearing in his 94th career game on Thursday Night Football against Tennessee (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video) – can surpass his brother J.J. WATT (87.5 sacks) for the second-most sacks by a player in his first 100 career games since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. Additionally, Garrett – appearing in his 92nd career game on Sunday against Arizona (1 p.m. ET, CBS) needs two sacks to tie Pro Football Hall of Famer DEMARCUS WARE (85 sacks) for the fourth-most sacks by a player in his first 100 career games since 1982.

The players with the most sacks in their first 100 NFL games since 1982:

PLAYER TEAM SACKS
Reggie WhiteHOF Philadelphia 105
J.J. Watt Houston 87.5
T.J. Watt Pittsburgh 86#
DeMarcus WareHOF Dallas 85
Bruce SmithHOF Buffalo 84.5
     
Myles Garrett Cleveland 83*
*in 91 career games
#in 94 career games

With at least one sack on Sunday, Garrett will tie AARON DONALD (57) for the fourth-most career games with at least one sack in a player’s first seven NFL seasons since 1982. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers DEMARCUS WARE (68 games) and REGGIE WHITE (63) as well as VON MILLER (61) have more.

The players with the most games with at least one sack in their first seven NFL seasons since 1982:

PLAYER TEAM(S) GAMES
DeMarcus WareHOF Dallas 68
Reggie WhiteHOF Philadelphia 63
Von Miller Denver 61
Aaron Donald St. Louis/L.A. Rams 57
Myles Garrett Cleveland 56*
Chandler Jones New England, Arizona 56
*in seventh season

FRANKLIN EYES TACKLES MARK THROUGH TEAM’S FIRST NINE GAMES

Indianapolis linebacker ZAIRE FRANKLIN leads the NFL with 102 tackles this season, his second-consecutive 100-tackle season (166 tackles in 2022).

With 13 tackles on Sunday at Carolina (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS), Franklin will surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer ZACH THOMAS (114 tackles in 2005) for the most tackles by a player in his team’s first nine games of a season since 2000.

The players with the most tackles in their team’s first nine games of a season since 2000:

PLAYER TEAM SEASON TACKLES
Zach ThomasHOF Miami 2005 114
Zach ThomasHOF Miami 2004 105
Jerod Mayo New England 2010 104
Lavonte David Tampa Bay 2014 103
Zaire Franklin Indianapolis 2023 102*
Denzel Perryman Las Vegas 2021 102
*in team’s first eight games

HURTS & BROWN LOOK TO CONTINUE MOVING UP LEADERBOARDS

Philadelphia quarterback JALEN HURTS leads all quarterbacks with six rushing touchdowns this season and ranks tied for second with 280 rushing yards. Since entering the NFL in 2020, Hurts leads quarterbacks with 32 rushing touchdowns.

With one rushing touchdown on Sunday against Dallas (4:25 p.m. ET, FOX), Hurts will tie CAM NEWTON (33 rushing touchdowns) for the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in his first four seasons in NFL history.

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

PLAYER TEAM RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS
Cam Newton Carolina 33
Jalen Hurts Philadelphia 32*
Josh Allen Buffalo 31
*in fourth season

Last week, Hurts became the sixth player in NFL history with at least 300 combined passing and rushing yards and two combined passing and rushing touchdowns in six consecutive games. On Sunday, Hurts can tie DREW BREES (seven consecutive games in 2011) and AARON RODGERS (seven in 2011) for the second-most such consecutive games within a single season in NFL history. Only ANDREW LUCK (eight in 2014) has more.

The players with the most consecutive games with at least 300 combined passing and rushing yards and two combined passing and rushing touchdowns within a single season in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM SEASON GAMES
Andrew Luck Indianapolis 2014 8 (Weeks 3-11)
Drew Brees New Orleans 2011 7 (Weeks 1-7)
Aaron Rodgers Green Bay 2011 7 (Weeks 10-17)
Jalen Hurts Philadelphia 2023 6* (Weeks 3-8)
Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 2022 6 (Weeks 5-11)
Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 2021 6 (Weeks 1-6)
Aaron Rodgers Green Bay 2016 6 (Weeks 7-12)
Steve YoungHOF San Francisco 1998 6 (Weeks 1-7)
*active streak

With 130 receiving yards last week, wide receiver A.J. BROWN became the first player in NFL history with 125 receiving yards in six consecutive games and tied ODELL BECKHAM JR. (16 games) for the fifth-most such games by a player in his first five seasons all-time.

With at least 125 receiving yards on Sunday, Brown will tie Pro Football Hall of Famer RANDY MOSS (17 games), JUSTIN JEFFERSON (17, in fourth season) and JULIO JONES (17) for second-most such games by a player in his first five seasons all-time. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer LANCE ALWORTH (19 games) has more.

The players with the most games with at least 125 receiving yards in their first five seasons all-time:

PLAYER TEAM(S) GAMES
Lance AlworthHOF San Diego Chargers 19
Justin Jefferson Minnesota 17#
Julio Jones Atlanta 17
Randy MossHOF Minnesota 17
Odell Beckham Jr. N.Y. Giants 16
A.J. Brown Tennessee, Philadelphia 16*
#in fourth season
*in fifth season

 

COURTESY NFLmedia.com

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