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