FRESH START: Three teams are undefeated through their first three games of the season – Arizona, Cincinnati and Philadelphia.
While no guarantee of future success, a strong start to the season is a good omen – 75.2 percent of teams (91 of 121) that started 3-0 since 1990 made the playoffs.
And don’t count out any of the 1-1 or 0-2 teams. Since realignment in 2002, 86 of the 144 playoff teams (59.7 percent) began the year at either 1-1 or 0-2, including seven teams last year.
– NFL–
SUPER REMATCH: The SEATTLE SEAHAWKS defeated the Denver Broncos 26-20 in overtime. The game was the sixth Super Bowl rematch in the following regular season and the first since 1997 (Green Bay vs. New England).
The teams to play in a Super Bowl and play each other in the following regular season:
| DATE | SUPER BOWL (RESULT) | WINNING TEAM | OPPONENT | DATE | FOLLOWING REGULAR SEASON RESULT | WINNING TEAM | |
| 1/11/70 | IV (23-7) | Kansas City | Minnesota | 9/20/70 | 27-10 | Minnesota | |
| 1/9/77 | XI (32-14) | Oakland | Minnesota | 12/11/77 | 35-13 | Oakland | |
| 1/21/79 | XIII (35-31) | Pittsburgh | Dallas | 10/28/79 | 14-3 | Pittsburgh | |
| 1/31/93 | XXVII (52-17) | Dallas | Buffalo | 9/12/93 | 13-10 | Buffalo | |
| 1/26/97 | XXXI (35-21) | Green Bay | New England | 10/27/97 | 28-10 | Green Bay | |
| 2/2/2014 | XLVIII (43-8) | Seattle | Denver | 9/21/2014 | 26-20 (OT) | Seattle |
– NFL–
TIGHT CONNECTION: In New England’s 16-9 win over Oakland, Patriots quarterback TOM BRADY connected with tight end ROB GRONKOWSKI for the game’s only touchdown. Brady and Gronkowski have now combined for 44 career touchdowns, tying PEYTON MANNING and DALLAS CLARK for the third-most QB-TE touchdowns all-time.
The most touchdown connections between a quarterback-tight end in NFL history:
| QUARTERBACK | TIGHT END | TEAM | TD CONNECTIONS |
| Philip Rivers | Antonio Gates | San Diego | 63* |
| Drew Bledsoe | Ben Coates | New England | 45 |
| Tom Brady | Rob Gronkowski | New England | 44* |
| Peyton Manning | Dallas Clark | Indianapolis | 44 |
| Drew Brees | Jimmy Graham | New Orleans | 43* |
| Sonny Jurgensen | Jerry Smith | Washington | 43 |
| Dan Fouts | Kellen Winslow | San Diego | 41 |
| John Elway | Shannon Sharpe | Denver | 41 |
| *Active |
– NFL–
AWESOME ANTONIO: Pittsburgh wide receiver ANTONIO BROWN caught 10 passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns in the Steelers’ 37-19 win over Carolina on Sunday Night Football. It marked Brown’s 19th consecutive game with at least five catches and 50 receiving yards, tying LAVERANUES COLES for the most consecutive such games in NFL history. Brown’s streak dates back to Kickoff Weekend last season.
The players with the most consecutive games with 5+ receptions and 50+ receiving yards:
| PLAYER | TEAM(S) | YEARS | CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH 5+ REC & 50+ REC YARDS |
| Antonio Brown | Pittsburgh | 9/8/2013-present | 19* |
| Laveranues Coles | New York Jets, Washington | 9/29/2002-10/12/03 | 19 |
| Keyshawn Johnson | Tampa Bay | 12/18/2000-12/16/01 | 15 |
| Herman Moore | Detroit Lions | 11/17/1996-11/2/97 | 15 |
| Herman Moore | Detroit Lions | 10/22/1995-9/29/96 | 15 |
| *Active |
– NFL–
WHAT TO LOOK FOR ON MNF: One more note to keep in mind for tonight’s Monday Night Football game between the Bears and Jets…
COMPLETE SUCCESS: In 2014, quarterbacks have completed 2,101 of 3,268 passes for a 64.3 completion percentage, the highest league-wide completion percentage through Week 3 in NFL history. If the current percentage stays at this pace, it would rank as thehighest of any season.
The highest league-wide completion percentage after Week 3 and the highest in a season in NFL history:
| THROUGH WEEK 3 | SEASON | ||||
| YEAR | HIGHEST COMPLETION PERCENTAGE | YEAR | HIGHEST COMPLETION PERCENTAGE | ||
| 2014 | 64.3 | 2014 | 64.3* | ||
| 2007 | 62.4 | 2013 | 61.2 | ||
| 2012 | 62.0 | 2007 | 61.2 | ||
| 2013 | 61.9 | 2008 | 61.0 | ||
| 2010 | 61.8 | 2012 | 60.9 | ||
| 2009 | 60.9 | ||||
| *Through Week 3 | |||||
