Here are seven statistical highlights from Sunday’s Week 2 early games:
- Buffalo’s C.J. Spiller had a 102-yard kickoff-return touchdown and a 47-yard run as the Bills improved to 2-0 with a 29-10 win over Miami. He is the first player since 1973 to have a 100+ yard kickoff-return touchdown and 45+ yard run in the same game. Houston Oilers running back Bob Gresham had a 103-yard kickoff-return touchdown and a 52-yard run against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 23, 1973.
- With the New England Patriots’ 30-7 victory at Minnesota, quarterback Tom Brady earned his 149th career win, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer John Elway (148) for the third-most victories by a starting quarterback in NFL history. Brady now has a 149-46 (.764) record as a starter.
- New England’s Bill Belichick became the sixth head coach in NFL history to reach 200 regular-season wins. Belichick now has a 200-106 (.654) record in the regular season.
- The Arizona Cardinals outscored the New York Giants 15-0 in the fourth quarter as the Cardinals improved to 2-0 with a 25-14 come-from-behind win. Arizona, which outscored San Diego 12-0 in the fourth quarter of the Cardinals’ 18-17 Week 1 comeback victory, is the first team since 1982 (Green Bay) to start 2-0 after trailing entering the fourth quarter in both games and not allowing a single fourth-quarter point.
- Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers passed for 346 yards and three touchdowns in the Packers’ 31-24 win over the New York Jets. Rodgers has 24,732 career passing yards and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer Bart Starr (24,718) for the second-most passing yards in franchise history. Brett Favre ranks first with 61,655 passing yards.
- Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson had nine catches for 209 yards and a touchdown. Nelson’s 209 receiving yards are the most by a Packer in a non-overtime game since Billy Howton had 257 yards on October 21, 1956.
- San Diego tight end Antonio Gates had seven catches for 96 yards and three touchdowns in the Chargers’ 30-21 victory against Seattle. Gates now has 90 career touchdown receptions and surpassed Larry Fitzgerald (87) and Pro Football Hall of Famers Andre Reed (87) and Don Maynard (88) for No. 11 all-time. He ranks second all-time amongst tight ends (Tony Gonzalez, 111).
- Washington running back Alfred Morris rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns in the Redskins’ 41-10 win over Jacksonville. Morris now has 3,064 rushing yards in 34 career games. He is the fastest player in franchise history to reach 3,000 rushing yards to begin his career. Larry Brown reached 3,000 rushing yards in his 41st NFL game with the Redskins.
- Dallas wide receiver Dez Bryant had 10 catches for 103 yards and a touchdown in the Cowboys’ 26-10 win at Tennessee. Bryant now has 307 catches in 61 career games. He is the fastest player in franchise history to reach 300 catches.
- Running back DeMarco Murray rushed for 167 yards and a touchdown in Dallas’ win. Murray, who rushed for 118 yards on Kickoff Weekend, is the first Cowboy to rush for at least 100 yards in each of the first two games of a season since Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith in 1999.
