NFL News: What To Look For – Kickoff Weekend

By Lydia Jane Allison

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

  • Kansas City (Patrick Mahomes & Travis Kelce)
  • Detroit (Jared Goff)
  • Cincinnati (Joe Burrow & Ja’Marr Chase)
  • Buffalo (Josh Allen)
  • L.A. Chargers (Justin Herbert & Austin Ekeler)
  • Dallas (Dak Prescott & Micah Parsons)
  • San Francisco (Brock Purdy)
  • Las Vegas (Davante Adams)
  • Baltimore (Justin Tucker)

For a look at upcoming season-long records and milestones, click here.

CHIEFS AIM TO CONTINUE WEEK 1 DOMINANCE, KELCE CAN SURPASS SHARPE

The KANSAS CITY CHIEFS begin their quest to repeat as Super Bowl champions by hosting the DETROIT LIONS in the league’s annual primetime Kickoff Game on Thursday (8:20 PM ET, NBC). Kansas City has won its past eight Kickoff Weekend games, the longest active streak in the NFL. With a win on Thursday, the Chiefs can become the fifth team in the Super Bowl era to win nine consecutive season-opening games.

The teams with the most consecutive season-opening wins in the Super Bowl era:

TEAM SEASONS CONSECUTIVE WINS
Dallas 1966-81 16
Miami 1992-2002 11
New England 2004-13 10
Chicago 1984-92 9
Kansas City 2015-22 8*
Pittsburgh 2003-10 8
*Active streak    

Quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES, who in 2022 became the seventh player ever to win both NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP in the same season, has started each of the past five Kickoff Weekend games for Kansas City. In those five starts, Mahomes has totaled 1,542 passing yards (308.4 per game) with 18 touchdown passes and no interceptions for a 136.9 passer rating. He also has thrown at least three touchdown passes in each game, including a five-touchdown performance last season.

Patrick Mahomes’ five career starts in Week 1:

SEASON OPPONENT RESULT PASS YARDS TD PASSES INTs PASSER RATING
2022 at Arizona W 44-21 360 5 0 144.2
2021 vs. Cleveland W 33-29 337 3 0 131.4
2020 vs. Houston W 34-20 211 3 0 123.3
2019 at Jacksonville W 40-26 378 3 0 143.2
2018 at L.A. Chargers W 38-28 256 4 0 127.5

Overall, Mahomes has 16 career games with at least four touchdown passes, tied for the most-ever by a player in his first six seasons. With another four-touchdown performance on Kickoff Weekend, Mahomes will surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (16 games) for the most such games by a player in his first seven seasons in NFL history.

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

PLAYER TEAM GAMES WITH 4+ TD PASSES
Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 16*
Dan MarinoHOF Miami 16
Brett FavreHOF Green Bay 12
Peyton ManningHOF Indianapolis 12
*Entering seventh season    

Last season, tight end TRAVIS KELCE set a career high with 110 receptions, tied for the second-most in a season by a tight end in NFL history. He enters the 2023 season with 814 career receptions, the fifth-most by a tight end all-time.

With two catches on Thursday night, Kelce will surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer SHANNON SHARPE (815 receptions) for the fourth-most receptions ever by a tight end.

The tight ends with the most receptions in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM(S) RECEPTIONS
Tony GonzalezHOF Kansas City, Atlanta 1,325
Jason Witten Dallas, Las Vegas 1,228
Antonio Gates San Diego/L.A. Chargers 955
Shannon SharpeHOF Denver, Baltimore Ravens 815
Travis Kelce Kansas City 814

 

GOFF BRINGS NO-INTERCEPTION STREAK INTO SEASON

The DETROIT LIONS won eight of their final 10 games in 2022 and finished with a .500-or-better record (9-8) for the first time since 2017.

Quarterback JARED GOFF ended the season without an interception over his final 324 pass attempts, the fifth-longest streak of consecutive pass attempts without an interception in NFL history. He can extend the streak on Thursday night and surpass DEREK CARR (332 consecutive attempts in 2018) and TOM BRADY (358 attempts in 2010-11) on the all-time list.

The players with the most consecutive pass attempts without an interception in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM SEASON(S) CONSECUTIVE ATTEMPTS
Aaron Rodgers Green Bay 2018 402
Tom Brady Tampa Bay 2022 399
Tom Brady New England 2010-11 358
Derek Carr Oakland Raiders 2018 332
Jared Goff Detroit 2022 324*
*Active streak      

BURROW, CHASE CONTINUE HISTORIC PACE

Cincinnati quarterback JOE BURROW tied for second in the NFL with 35 touchdown passes last season and ranked fifth with 4,475 passing yards. He has 11,774 passing yards since entering the league in 2020 and became the first player ever to record at least 400 passing yards in five games within his first three seasons.

With 400 passing yards at Cleveland on Kickoff Weekend (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Burrow can surpass PATRICK MAHOMES (five games) and MATTHEW STAFFORD (five) for the second-most such games by a player in his first four seasons in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (seven) has more.

The players with the most games with at least 400 passing yards in their first four seasons in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM GAMES WITH 400+ PASSING YARDS
Dan MarinoHOF Miami 7
Joe Burrow Cincinnati 5*
Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 5
Matthew Stafford Detroit 5
*Entering fourth season    

Wide receiver JA’MARR CHASE enters the 2023 season with 2,501 receiving yards in 29 career games and became the fifth player ever to total at least 2,500 receiving yards through his first two seasons.

With 27 receiving yards on Sunday, Chase will surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer RANDY MOSS (2,527 receiving yards) for the third-most receiving yards ever by a player in his first 30 career games, trailing only ODELL BECKHAM JR. (3,035) and JUSTIN JEFFERSON (2,735).

The players with the most receiving yards in their first 30 career games in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM RECEIVING YARDS
Odell Beckham Jr. N.Y. Giants 3,035
Justin Jefferson Minnesota 2,735
Randy MossHOF Minnesota 2,527
Ja’Marr Chase Cincinnati 2,501*
*In 29 career games    

 

ALLEN MOVING UP TOUCHDOWN LIST

Last season, Buffalo quarterback JOSH ALLEN ranked second among quarterbacks with 42 combined passing and rushing touchdowns (35 passing, seven rushing). Since entering the league in 2018, Allen has 176 combined passing and rushing touchdowns, the second-most in the NFL.

With two touchdowns at the New York Jets on Monday Night Football (8:15 PM ET, ESPN/ABC), Allen will surpass RUSSELL WILSON (177 touchdowns) for the fourth-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
Russell Wilson Seattle 177
Josh Allen Buffalo 176*
*Entering sixth season    

HERBERT’S HISTORIC FIRST 50, EKELER CAN JOIN ELITE RB COMPANY

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback JUSTIN HERBERT ranked second in the league with 4,739 passing yards in 2022 and became the first player ever with at least 4,000 passing yards in each of his first three career seasons. He also recorded 25 touchdown passes and joined Pro Football Hall of Famer PEYTON MANNING as the only players ever with at least 25 touchdown passes in each of their first three seasons.

In 49 career games, Herbert has totaled 14,089 passing yards and 94 touchdown passes. With 243 passing yards against Miami on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, CBS), Herbert will surpass MATTHEW STAFFORD (14,331 passing yards) for the second-most passing yards ever by a player in his first 50 career games.

The players with the most passing yards in their first 50 career games in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM PASSING YARDS
Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 15,370
Matthew Stafford Detroit 14,331
Justin Herbert L.A. Chargers 14,089*
*In 49 career games    

With two touchdown passes, Herbert will surpass DESHAUN WATSON (95 touchdown passes) for the fourth-most touchdown passes ever by a player in his first 50 career games.

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

PLAYER TEAM TOUCHDOWN PASSES
Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 128
Dan MarinoHOF Miami 114
Kurt WarnerHOF St. Louis Rams 101
Deshaun Watson Houston Texans 95
Justin Herbert L.A. Chargers 94*
*In 49 career games    

Running back AUSTIN EKELER led the NFL with 18 touchdowns (13 rushing, five receiving) in 2022 and led all running backs with 107 receptions, tied for the second-most receptions ever by a running back in a season. It marked his third-career season with at least five touchdown receptions and Ekeler enters the 2023 season with 29 career touchdown receptions.

With a touchdown reception on Kickoff Weekend, Ekeler will become the sixth running back in the Super Bowl era with at least 30 career touchdown receptions, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer MARSHALL FAULK (36 touchdown receptions), DARREN SPROLES (32), KEITH BYARS (31), JAMES BROOKS (30) and BRIAN WESTBROOK (30).

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
Brian Westbrook Philadelphia, San Francisco 30
Austin Ekeler L.A. Chargers 29

 


PRESCOTT & PARSONS EACH EYEING MILESTONES ON SNF

Since entering the NFL in 2016, Dallas quarterback DAK PRESCOTT has totaled 24,943 passing yards and 1,642 rushing yards in 97 games.

With 57 passing yards at the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC), Prescott will join AARON RODGERS as the only players in NFL history with at least 25,000 passing yards and 1,500 rushing yards in their first 100 career games.

Linebacker MICAH PARSONS totaled 13.5 sacks in 2022 and became the third player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, to record at least 13 sacks in each of his first two seasons. He also led all players last season with six games of two-or-more sacks. Parsons enters 2023 with nine career games of at least two sacks.

With his next game of at least two sacks, Parsons would become the sixth player since 1982 to record 10-or-more games with at least two sacks in his first three NFL seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers REGGIE WHITE (16 games) and RICHARD DENT (12), as well as SHAWNE MERRIMAN (12), ALDON SMITH (12) and DWIGHT FREENEY (10).

The players with the most games with at least two sacks in their first three seasons since 1982:

PLAYER TEAM GAMES WITH 2+ SACKS
Reggie WhiteHOF Philadelphia 16
Richard DentHOF Chicago 12
Shawne Merriman San Diego Chargers 12
Aldon Smith San Francisco 12
Dwight Freeney Indianapolis 10
J.J. Watt Houston Texans 9
Micah Parsons Dallas 9*
*Entering third season    

 

PURDY LOOKS TO CONTINUE HISTORIC START TO CAREER

San Francisco 49ers quarterback BROCK PURDY became the team’s starter in Week 14 of last season and has not looked back since. He led the 49ers to victory in each of their final five regular-season games, recording at least two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 95-or-higher in each contest. Purdy became the third rookie quarterback ever to win each of his first five career starts.

With at least two touchdown passes and a victory at Pittsburgh on Kickoff Weekend (1:00 PM ET, FOX), Purdy will become the first quarterback in NFL history to win each of his first six career regular-season starts and throw at least two touchdown passes in each start. He can also become the first quarterback in NFL history with a passer rating of 95-or-higher in each of his first six career regular-season starts.

Brock Purdy’s 2022 regular-season starts:

WEEK OPPONENT RESULT PASS YARDS TD PASSES PASSER RATING
Week 14 vs. Tampa Bay W 35-7 185 2 134.0
Week 15 at Seattle W 21-13 217 2 117.0
Week 16 vs. Washington W 37-20 234 2 114.6
Week 17 at Las Vegas W 37-34 (OT) 284 2 95.4
Week 18 vs. Arizona W 38-13 178 3 141.3

 

ADAMS CAN SURPASS FITZGERALD

Las Vegas wide receiver DAVANTE ADAMS led the NFL with 14 touchdown receptions in 2022, his first season as a Raider. He became the fourth player ever with 10 touchdown receptions in at least six of his first nine career seasons. Adams enters the 2023 season with 87 career touchdown receptions.

With a touchdown reception at Denver on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, CBS), Adams will surpass LARRY FITZGERALD (87 touchdown receptions) for the fifth-most touchdown receptions by a player in his first 10 seasons in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers JERRY RICE (131), RANDY MOSS (124), MARVIN HARRISON (110) and TERRELL OWENS (101) have more.

The players with the most touchdown receptions in their first 10 seasons in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM(S) TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS
Jerry RiceHOF San Francisco 131
Randy MossHOF Minnesota, Oakland Raiders, New England 124
Marvin HarrisonHOF Indianapolis 110
Terrell OwensHOF San Francisco, Philadelphia 101
Davante Adams Green Bay, Las Vegas 87*
Larry Fitzgerald Arizona 87
*Entering 10th season    

TUCKER CAN MATCH JANIKOWSKI IN 50-YARD FIELD GOALS

Since entering the league in 2012, Baltimore’s JUSTIN TUCKER has established himself as one of the NFL’s most reliable kickers. Last season, he led all players with 37 made fields, including nine from at least 50 yards. In his career, Tucker has 57 career made field goals of at least 50 yards.

With a made field goal of a least 50 yards against Houston on Kickoff Weekend (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Tucker will tie SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI (58 made 50-yard field goals) for the second-most made field goals of at least 50 yards in NFL history. Only Arizona’s MATT PRATER (71) has more.

The players with the most career made field goals of at least 50 yards in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM(S) 50+ YARD FIELD GOALS
Matt Prater* Denver, Detroit, Arizona 71
Sebastian Janikowski Oakland Raiders, Seattle 58
Justin Tucker* Baltimore Ravens 57
*Active    

COURTESY NFLmedia.com

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