A look at seven statistical highlights from games played at 1:00 p.m. ET and 4:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 8, the ninth week of the 2015 season.
• The CAROLINA PANTHERS and NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS joined the CINCINNATI BENGALS as the only 8-0 teams in the NFL. That marks the most 8-0 teams in a season in NFL history. Carolina defeated Green Bay 37-29 and New England knocked off Washington 27-10. On Thursday night, Cincinnati beat Cleveland 31-10.
Entering 2015, 21 teams started a season 8-0 during the Super Bowl era. Of those 21 clubs, all 21 made the playoffs, 12 advanced to the Super Bowl and eight of those teams won the Super Bowl.
• The PITTSBURGH STEELERS defeated the Oakland Raiders 38-35 and became the first team in NFL history to have one player with at least 300 scrimmage yards and another player with at least 200 scrimmage yards in the same game.
Wide receiver ANTONIO BROWN had 306 scrimmage yards, including franchise records for catches (17) and receiving yards (284). Running back DE ANGELO WILLIAMS posted 225 scrimmage yards (170 rushing, 55 receiving) and two rushing touchdowns.
• Tennessee rookie quarterback MARCUS MARIOTA passed for 371 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions for a 135.7 passer rating, including the game-winning five-yard TD pass to tight end ANTHONY FASANO in overtime of the Titans’ 34-28 win at New Orleans. Mariota, who also passed for four touchdowns with no interceptions on Kickoff Weekend, is the first rookie in NFL history to have two games with four touchdown passes and no interceptions.
Mariota also became the second player in NFL history to pass for at least 350 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions, including the game-winning TD pass in overtime (Minnesota’s DAUNTE CULPEPPER, October 10, 2004 vs. Houston).
• Carolina quarterback CAM NEWTON threw three touchdown passes and rushed for one TD in the Panthers’ 37-29 win over Green Bay. The performance marked the 15th time in his career in which he threw multiple touchdown passes and rushed for a TD in a game. Newton joined Pro Football Hall of Famers STEVE YOUNG (17) and FRAN TARKENTON (16) as the only players in NFL history to have at least 15 such games.
• Indianapolis quarterback ANDREW LUCK passed for 252 yards and two touchdowns in the Colts’ 27-24 win against Denver. Luck (101) reached 100 career touchdown passes in his 55th career game. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (44 games), KURT WARNER (50) and Hall of Famer JOHNNY UNITAS (53) reached the milestone in fewer games.
• Minnesota running back ADRIAN PETERSON rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings’ 21-18 overtime win over St. Louis. Peterson has 28 career games with at least 125 rushing yards, the sixth most in NFL history. The only five players with more 125-yard rushing games are all in the Pro Football Hall of Fame: BARRY SANDERS (46), JIM BROWN (41), WALTER PAYTON (38), ERIC DICKERSON (36) and EMMITT SMITH (34).
• Buffalo rookie running back KARLOS WILLIAMS rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns in the Bills’ 33-17 win against Miami. Williams is the seventh player in NFL history to score a touchdown in each of his first five career games.
