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Starting off strong - Marcus Mariota leads the league with a 47.2% first down percentage. Nearly half of his pass attempts result in a first down. On the flip side, Mariota has been sacked 9 times to lead all quarterbacks.
Among the league's best - 10 quarterbacks have a QB Rating of 100.0 or higher. Philip Rivers and Tyrod Taylor are the only quarterbacks who are higher than 100 rating with more than one interception - in fact they both have three interceptions. Rivers boasts an 81.2% completion rate, highest in the league. Taylor has a 75.5% completion rate, which is 4th best.
So far so good - Brandon Weeden is a perfect 7-for-7 for 73 yards and 1 touchdown pass. 149.7 QB Rating.
Big arm Ben - Ben Roethlisberger leads the league with 10 passing plays of 20 yards or more. He also has five plays of 40 yards or more. The only other quarterback with more than two is the now benched Johnny Manziel, with three.
Slow out of the gate - Andrew Luck's longest pass play this season is 32 yards. 32 other quarterbacks have passed for longer. Peyton Manning's longest pass play is 22 yards. 36 other quarterbacks have passed for longer.
Slow out of the gate 2 - Carlos Hyde's 211 yards rushing is fewest yards by a running back to lead the league after two games since Darren McFadden's 210 yards rushing in 2008.
Standing out in their position - Three running backs are averaging 6.0 yards per carry or more this year (min 12 attempts) - Dexter McCluster 8.8 in 12 carries, Giovani Bernard 6.6 in 28 carries, Karlos Williams 6.3 in 12 carries and Matt Jones 6.0 in 25 carries.
Zero sacks against - Arizona and Cincinnati have yet to be sacked
Jets are cleared for take off - The Jets have forced 10 turnovers in two games. Opponents are turning the ball over 43% of each drive.
Kickers count too - The league is 13-for-18 on FG attempts of 50 yards or more. Denver leads the way with 3 attempts of 50+, making all three.
Nary a field goal - Tennessee and Indianapolis are the only teams who have not made a field goal this year. Tennessee hasn't even attempted one yet.
Mr. Versatility - Matt Forte has four rushes of over 20 yards. Nobody else has more than two.
Don't look now but... - Giovani Bernard is 4th in the league in rushing with 186 yards. Jeremy Hill has 84 fewer yards on one more carry.
0 receptions to the tight end - The Jets are the only team without a completion to a tight end. In fact, they have only one target to a tight end.
The third best receiver - Rob Gronkowski has 207 yards on 12 catches, averaging 17.2 yards per catch. His 207 yards is third behind only Antonio Brown and Julio Jones.
33%! The Colts have turned the ball over eight times in two games. 33% of each drive results in a turnover.
The Fine Nine - Nine different running backs have totaled over 125 yards rushing and receiving in one of the two games this year. None have done it more than once - Adrian Peterson, Carlos Hyde, Matt Forte, Matt Jones, Giovani Bernard, Dion Lewis, DeAngelo Williams, Jamaal Charles and Darren Sproles.
Reception Leaders By Team
Running Backs
- 23 PHI
- 19 OAK
- 18 BAL, DAL, NO
- 16 DET
- 15 SD
- 14 NYG
- 13 NE
- 12 HOU, CIN, SEA
- 11 KC
- 10 CAR, SF, JAC, TB, STL, MIA
- 9 MIN, IND, CHI, NYJ, ATL
- 8 BUF
- 7 WAS, TEN
- 6 GB
- 5 DEN, PIT
- 3 ARI
- 2 CLE
Wide Receivers
- 38 DEN
- 37 HOU
- 36 ATL
- 34 OAK, IND
- 33 NE, MIA
- 31 SD, GB, PIT
- 30 SEA
- 29 JAC, PHI
- 28 NYJ, NO
- 27 ARI
- 26 DET
- 25 SF
- 23 DAL, BAL
- 22 NYG, WAS
- 21 BUF
- 20 CHI
- 18 CAR
- 17 CLE, MIN
- 15 KC, CIN
- 13 TB, TEN
- 12 STL
Tight End
- 20 DAL
- 17 NE
- 15 SF, WAS
- 14 TEN
- 13 STL, CIN
- 12 KC
- 11 NYG, MIN, CHI
- 10 SD, PIT
- 9 MIA, DET, BAL, SEA
- 8 ATL, CAR, BUF
- 7 TB, CLE, PHI, OAK, DEN
- 6 NO, ARI, GB
- 4 HOU, IND
- 0 NYJ
Yards per play
Yards per play on offense
- 7.8 PIT
- 6.7 ARI
- 6.5 NE
- 6.4 SD
- 6.2 CIN
- 5.8 BUF, GB, DAL
- 5.7 ATL
- 5.6 TEN, STL
- 5.5 CHI, NYJ, OAK, MIA
- 5.4 SF, CLE, NYG
- 5.3 WAS, NO, DET
- 5.2 MIN, KC, BAL
- 5.1 PHI
- 5.0 TB, JAC, IND
- 4.9 SEA
- 4.5 HOU
- 4.4 CAR
- 3.7 DEN
Yards per play allowed on defense
- 3.8 CAR
- 4.2 DEN
- 4.4 DAL
- 4.6 WAS
- 4.9 HOU, STL, BAL, KC
- 5.0 JAC, TEN
- 5.1 CIN
- 5.3 MIN, TB
- 5.4 PHI, CLE, NYJ
- 5.5 PIT, MIA
- 5.6 ARI, BUF
- 5.7 GB
- 5.9 IND, CHI, ATL
- 6.0 SEA
- 6.1 NYG
- 6.2 DET, NE
- 6.3 SD
- 6.6 SF, OAK, NO
Defensive leaders (Sacks plus turnovers)
Team | Turnovers | Sacks | Sacks + turnovers |
New England Patriots | 4 | 11 | 15 |
Denver Broncos | 7 | 6 | 13 |
New York Jets | 10 | 3 | 13 |
Cincinnati Bengals | 5 | 6 | 11 |
Cleveland Browns | 4 | 7 | 11 |
Kansas City Chiefs | 3 | 8 | 11 |
Carolina Panthers | 4 | 6 | 10 |
St. Louis Rams | 2 | 8 | 10 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 4 | 6 | 10 |
Buffalo Bills | 5 | 4 | 9 |
Philadelphia Eagles | 4 | 4 | 8 |
Pittsburgh Steelers | 1 | 7 | 8 |
Seattle Seahawks | 4 | 4 | 8 |
Tennessee Titans | 2 | 6 | 8 |
Arizona Cardinals | 3 | 4 | 7 |
Baltimore Ravens | 2 | 5 | 7 |
Detroit Lions | 4 | 3 | 7 |
Green Bay Packers | 3 | 4 | 7 |
Minnesota Vikings | 4 | 2 | 6 |
New Orleans Saints | 3 | 3 | 6 |
San Francisco 49ers | 1 | 5 | 6 |
Atlanta Falcons | 3 | 2 | 5 |
Dallas Cowboys | 3 | 2 | 5 |
Houston Texans | 1 | 4 | 5 |
Jacksonville Jaguars | 1 | 4 | 5 |
New York Giants | 3 | 2 | 5 |
San Diego Chargers | 4 | 1 | 5 |
Washington Redskins | 1 | 4 | 5 |
Miami Dolphins | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Chicago Bears | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Indianapolis Colts | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Oakland Raiders | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Questions, suggestions and comments are always welcome to haseley@footballguys.com