NFL News: What To Look For – Kickoff Weekend

• QB Josh Allen
• QB Lamar Jackson
• QB Patrick Mahomes
• QB Joe Burrow
• QB Matthew Stafford
• RB Derrick Henry
• WR Justin Jefferson
• WR CeeDee Lamb

JOSH ALLEN & LAMAR JACKSON

Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen, the reigning 2024 Associated Press Most Valuable Player, and Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson, the 2019 and 2023 MVP, are set to meet on Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC) as the Bills host the Ravens.

The meeting between Allen and Jackson will mark the fifth occurrence all-time of the two most recent Most Valuable Players meeting in Week 1.

The occurrences of the two most recent Most Valuable Players meetings in Week 1 in NFL history:

PATRICK MAHOMES

Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes, entering his ninth NFL season, has 291 career touchdown passes, including the playoffs.

With three touchdown passes against the Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo on Friday (8 p.m. ET, YouTube), Mahomes can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (293 touchdown passes) for the most touchdown passes by a player in his first nine seasons, including the postseason, in NFL history.

The players with the most touchdown passes in their first nine seasons, including the postseason, in NFL history:

Mahomes, who turns 30 years old on September 17, has 245 career regular-season touchdown passes and can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (245 touchdown passes) for the most regular season touchdown passes by a player under the age of 30 in NFL history.

JOE BURROW

Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow enters the 2025 season with 19,001 passing yards in 69 career games.

With 201 passing yards at Cleveland in Week 1 (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX), Burrow can surpass Jameis Winston (19,201 passing yards) for the third-most passing yards by a player in his first 70 career games in NFL history, trailing only Patrick Mahomes (21,150) and Matthew Stafford (19,953).

The players with the most passing yards in their first 70 career games in NFL history:

MATTHEW STAFFORD

Entering the 2025 season, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford ranks 10th in NFL history with 59,809 career passing yards in 222 games.

With 191 passing yards against Houston on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS), Stafford can tie Matt Ryan (223 games) as the second-fastest player to reach 60,000 career passing yards all-time, trailing only Drew Brees (215 games).

The players to reach 60,000 passing yards in the fewest regular-season games in NFL history:

Stafford has 4,709 passing yards in 16 career starts in Week 1. He has totaled at least 300 passing yards in nine of those starts.

With 291 passing yards on Sunday, Stafford can join Drew Brees (5,566 passing yards) and Tom Brady (5,523) as the only players ever with 5,000 passing yards in season-opening games.

The players with the most passing yards in season-opening games in NFL history:

With 300 passing yards on Sunday, Stafford will tie Drew Brees (10 games) for the most 300-yard passing games in season-opening games in NFL history.

The players with the most games with at least 300 passing yards in season-opening games in NFL history:

DERRICK HENRY

Baltimore running back Derrick Henry leads all active players with 106 career rushing touchdowns entering the 2025 season.

With a rushing touchdown on Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC) at Buffalo, Henry can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown (106 rushing touchdowns) for the sixth-most rushing touchdowns in NFL history.

The players with the most rushing touchdowns in NFL history:

JUSTIN JEFFERSON & CEEDEE LAMB

Two members of the 2020 NFL Draft class, Minnesota wide receiver Justin Jefferson (495 career receptions) and Dallas wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (496), enter their sixth season closing in on 500 career receptions.

In Week 1, Jefferson – who will be 26 years and 84 days old on Monday at Chicago (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC) – and Lamb – who will be 26 years and 149 days old on Thursday at Philadelphia (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC) – can become the youngest and third-youngest players all-time to reach 500 career receptions.

The youngest players to reach 500 career receptions in NFL history:

SEVERAL CAREER MILESTONES TO BE REACHED IN 2025 SEASON

Beyond Kickoff Weekend, many records and milestones are in sight across the NFL this season, including…

• Josh Allen, Buffalo, can become the fifth starting quarterback all-time with at least 90 wins, including the postseason, in his first eight career seasons, joining Patrick Mahomes (106 wins), Tom Brady (100), Russell Wilson (95) and Ben Roethlisberger (90). Allen enters 2025 with 83 career victories, including the postseason.
• Brock Bowers, Las Vegas, needs 35 receptions to surpass Sam LaPorta (146 receptions) for the most receptions by a tight end in his first two seasons all-time and needs 787 receiving yards to surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka (1,980 receiving yards) for the most receiving yards by a tight end in his first two seasons in NFL history. Bowers had 112 receptions and 1,194 receiving yards as a rookie.
• Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati, can become the first player in NFL history with at least 80 receptions, 1,000 receiving yards and seven touchdown receptions in each of his first five seasons.
• Myles Garrett, Cleveland, needs six sacks to surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Reggie White (108 sacks) for the most sacks by a player under the age of 30 since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. Garrett has 102.5 career sacks and turns 30 years old on Dec. 29, 2025.
• Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia, can become the first quarterback in NFL history with at least 10 rushing touchdowns in five career seasons and the sixth player all-time with at least 10 rushing touchdowns in five consecutive seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson (nine from 2001-09), Derrick Henry (seven from 2018-24, active streak), Adrian Peterson (seven from 2007-13), Shaun Alexander (five from 2001-05) and Michael Turner (five from 2008-12).
• Travis Kelce, Kansas City, needs three touchdown receptions to become the fourth tight end all-time with at least 100 career touchdown receptions, including the playoffs, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Antonio Gates (118 touchdown receptions) and Tony Gonzalez (115) as well as Rob Gronkowski (107). Kelce has 97 career touchdown receptions, including the postseason.
• Micah Parsons, Green Bay, can become the fifth player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, with at least 65 sacks in his first five seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Reggie White (81 sacks) and Derrick Thomas (66) as well as J.J. Watt (74.5) and T.J. Watt (72). Parsons has 52.5 career sacks entering 2025.
• Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit, can become the first player in NFL history to record at least 90 receptions in each of his first five seasons.

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