 |
| (Photo by Zach Tarrant/Houston Texans) |
A look at seven statistical highlights from games played on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 24, the third week of the 2023 season.
In Week 3, two teams advanced to 3-0: MIAMI and SAN FRANCISCO.
The MIAMI DOLPHINS recorded 726 total yards of offense in their 70-20 victory over Denver in Week 3 and became the fourth team in NFL history, including the postseason, to score at least 70 points in a game and the first in 57 years, joining CHICAGO (73 points in the 1940 NFL Championship on December 8, 1940), WASHINGTON (72 points on November 27, 1966) and the LOS ANGELES RAMS (70 points on October 22, 1950).
The Dolphins are the second team in NFL history, including the postseason, to record at least 700 yards of total offense in a single game, joining the LOS ANGELES RAMS on September 28, 1951 (735 yards of offense).
Miami has recorded 1,651 total yards of offense this season and surpassed the 2011 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1,621 yards of offense) for the most-ever by a team through its first three games of a season.
The Dolphins have scored 130 points so far this season and surpassed the 2013 DENVER BRONCOS (127 points) and 1966 DALLAS COWBOYS (127) for the second-most ever by a team through its first three games of a season. Only the 1968 DALLAS COWBOYS (132 points) had more.
For the 11th time in NFL history and third time in the past six seasons (2018, 2021 and 2023), a game has gone to overtime in each of the first three weeks of the season. The INDIANAPOLIS COLTS defeated Baltimore, 22-19, in overtime as MATT GAY became the first kicker in NFL history to convert four field goals of 50-plus yards in the same game.
Gay is the fifth kicker ever to convert a game-tying 50-yard field goal in the final two minutes of regulation and kick a game-winning 50-yard field goal in overtime, joining MATT BRYANT (September 7, 2014), MATT PRATER (December 11, 2011), MIKE VANDERJAGT (November 24, 2002) and GREG ZUERLEIN (December 2, 2012). Gay kicked the game-tying 53-yard field goal with 57 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and the game-winning 53-yard field goal with 1:09 left in overtime in Week 3.
The GREEN BAY PACKERS trailed 17-0 entering the fourth quarter and defeated New Orleans, 18-17, in Week 3. They are the third team since 2000 to be shutout through three quarters and overcome a deficit of 17-or-more points in the fourth quarter to win, joining the CAROLINA PANTHERS on October 21, 2018 (at Philadelphia) and TENNESSEE TITANS on November 26, 2006 (vs. the New York Giants).
With three games remaining in Week 3, seven games have been within one score (eight points) in the fourth quarter and three teams – Green Bay, Indianapolis and the LOS ANGELES CHARGERS – came back to win after trailing in the fourth quarter.
Miami rookie running back DE'VON ACHANE totaled 233 scrimmage yards (203 rushing, 30 receiving) and four touchdowns (two rushing, two receiving) while running back RAHEEM MOSTERT totaled 142 scrimmage yards (82 rushing, 60 receiving) and four touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving) in the Dolphins' Week 3 win.
Achane and Mostert are the second pair of teammates in NFL history to each score four touchdowns in the same game, joining Kansas City's DERRICK BLAYLOCK and PRIEST HOLMES (four touchdowns each) on October 24, 2004.
Achane is the second player in NFL history with at least 200 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns and two touchdown receptions in a single game, joining BILLY CANNON (216 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns and two touchdown receptions on December 10, 1961).
Kansas City quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES passed for 272 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions for a 127.3 rating in the Chiefs' 41-10 win over Chicago.
Mahomes has 25,044 passing yards in 83 career games and became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 25,000 career passing yards, surpassing MATTHEW STAFFORD, who reached the mark in 90 games.
Head coach ANDY REID recorded his 271st career win, including the playoffs, and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer TOM LANDRY (270 total wins) for the fourth-most wins by a head coach, including the postseason, in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers DON SHULA (347) and GEORGE HALAS (324) as well as New England head coach BILL BELICHICK (330) have more.
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback JUSTIN HERBERT completed 40 of 47 pass attempts (85.1 percent) for 405 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions for a 123.8 rating while wide receiver KEENAN ALLEN registered 18 receptions for 215 yards and threw a 49-yard touchdown pass in the team's 28-24 win at Minnesota.
Herbert has 15,028 passing yards in 52 career games and surpassed MATTHEW STAFFORD (53 games) as the second-fastest player ever to reach 15,000 career passing yards. Only PATRICK MAHOMES (49 games) reached the milestone quicker.
Herbert has 100 touchdown passes in 52 career games and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer JOHNNY UNITAS (53 games) and DESHAUN WATSON (53) as the fourth-fastest player ever to reach 100 career touchdown passes. Only PATRICK MAHOMES (40 games) and Pro Football Hall of Famers DAN MARINO (44) and KURT WARNER (50) reached the mark in fewer games.
Herbert has 1,406 career completions and surpassed Ryan Tannehill (1,392 completions) for the most completions by a player in his first four seasons.
Allen's 18 receptions are tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer TOM FEARS (December 3, 1950), BRANDON MARSHALL (September 14, 2008) and JASON WITTEN (October 28, 2012) for the third-most receptions in a regular-season game in NFL history. Only Marshall (21 receptions on December 13, 2009) and Pro Football Hall of Famer TERRELL OWENS (20 receptions on December 17, 2000) had more.
Allen, who had 16 receptions in Week 11 of the 2020 season and 15 receptions on Kickoff Weekend in 2015, is the first player in NFL history with three career games with at least 15 receptions in NFL history.
Allen is the fourth player in NFL history with at least 10 receptions and a touchdown pass in a single game, joining TARIK COHEN (December 2, 2018), Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE (December 24, 1995) and JAMES WILDER (December 2, 1984).
Houston rookie quarterback C.J. STROUD passed for 280 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 118.8 rating, rookie defensive end WILL ANDERSON blocked a field goal and fullback ANDREW BECK returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown in the Texans' 37-17 win at Jacksonville.
Stroud has 906 passing yards in his first three career starts and is the third player in NFL history with at least 900 passing yards in his first three career games, joining CAM NEWTON (1,012 passing yards in 2011) and JUSTIN HERBERT (931 in 2020).
The Texans are the first team with a blocked field goal and kickoff-return for a touchdown in the same game since the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS on October 4, 2010.
Detroit rookie tight end SAM LAPORTA had eight receptions for 84 yards and one touchdown in the Lions' 20-6 win over Atlanta.
LaPorta, who had five receptions in both Week 1 and Week 2, is the first rookie tight end in NFL history with at least five receptions in each of his first three career games.
LaPorta has 18 receptions this season and surpassed KEITH JACKSON (17 receptions in 1988) for the most receptions by a tight end in their first three career games in NFL history.
Minnesota quarterback KIRK COUSINS passed for 367 yards and three touchdowns while wide receiver JUSTIN JEFFERSON registered seven receptions for 149 yards and one touchdown on Sunday.
Cousins is the fifth player ever with at least 325 passing yards and two touchdown passes in each of his team's first three games of a season, joining TOM BRADY (2011), DEREK CARR (2021), RYAN FITZPATRICK (2018) and PATRICK MAHOMES (2019).
Jefferson has 458 receiving yards this season, tied with WES WELKER (458 receiving yards in 2011) for the most receiving yards by a player in his team's first three games of a season in NFL history.
Additional notes from Sunday include:
Dallas quarterback DAK PRESCOTT recorded 25 completions in his 100th career start on Sunday.
Prescott has 2,254 completions in 100 career games and surpassed JARED GOFF (2,250 completions) and MATT RYAN (2,242) for the third-most completions ever by a player in his first 100 career games. Only MATTHEW STAFFORD (2,410) and DEREK CARR (2,272) had more.
Baltimore quarterback LAMAR JACKSON totaled 303 yards (202 passing, 101 rushing) and two rushing touchdowns while defensive back KYLE HAMILTON registered three sacks and kicker JUSTIN TUCKER kicked a 50-yard field goal on Sunday.
Jackson has 13 career games with at least 100 rushing yards, the most such games by a quarterback in NFL history, and became the first quarterback ever with three career games with at least 100 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
Hamilton, at 22 years and 192 days old, is the youngest defensive back to record three sacks in a single game since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic.
Hamilton is the sixth defensive back overall with three sacks in a game since 2000, joining JAMAL ADAMS (November 17, 2019), MIKE HILTON (December 25, 2017), LAWYER MILLOY (November 21, 2004), Pro Football Hall of Famer TROY POLAMALU (September 18, 2005) and ADRIAN WILSON (November 20, 2005).
Tucker has 58 career 50-yard field goals, tied with SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI (58) for the second-most made field goals of at least 50 yards in NFL history. Only Arizona's MATT PRATER (73) has more.
Arizona kicker MATT PRATER converted a 62-yard field goal in the Cardinals' 28-16 win over Dallas, his third-career 60-yard field goal.
Prater the third kicker all-time with at least three made field goals of 60-or-more yards, joining BRETT MAHER (four) and GREG ZUERLEIN (three).