WHAT TO LOOK FOR – WEEK 15
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STAYIN’ ALIVE: With three weeks to play in the regular season, 25 teams remain in contention for a trip to Super Bowl 50.
That ties for the fourth-most teams remaining in contention with three weeks to play since the NFL instituted the 16-game schedule in 1978.
The most teams remaining in contention for a trip to the Super Bowl with three weeks to play since 1978:
YEAR
TEAMS REMAINING IN SUPER BOWL CONTENTION
WITH THREE WEEKS TO PLAY
2004
27
1995
27
1982
27
2015
25
2013
25
2006
25
1994
25
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KC EXPRESS: The KANSAS CITY CHIEFS have won seven consecutive games to improve to 8-5. The Chiefs, who lost five games in a row before their current winning streak, are the second team in NFL history to win at least seven consecutive games immediately following a losing streak of at least five games (1970 Cincinnati Bengals).
With a win against Baltimore in Week 15, Kansas City would become the first team in NFL history to win at least eight consecutive games immediately following a losing streak of at least five games.
The teams with the most consecutive wins immediately following a losing streak of at least five games:
TEAM
SEASON
LOSING STREAK
CONSECUTIVE WINS FOLLOWING LOSING STREAK
FINAL RECORD
Cincinnati Bengals*
1970
6
7
8-6
Kansas City Chiefs
2015
5
7**
???
*Won division
**Current streak
*
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FITZ VS. PHILLY: Arizona wide receiver LARRY FITZGERALD has 38 receptions for 650 yards and eight touchdowns in six career regular season games against Philadelphia, including at least one touchdown catch in each game.
With a touchdown catch against Philadelphia on Sunday Night Football, Fitzgerald would eclipse Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE (six), ISAAC BRUCE (six) and ROB GRONKOWSKI (six) for the second-most consecutive regular-season games with a receiving touchdown against an opponent to start a career since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
The players with the most consecutive regular-season games with a receiving TD against an opponent to start a career (since 1970):
PLAYER
OPPONENT
YEARS
CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH A RECEIVING TD TO START A CAREER
Isaac Curtis
Cleveland
1973-76
8
Jerry Rice*
Green Bay
1986-98
6
Isaac Bruce
New Orleans
1994-1997
6
Rob Gronkowski
Buffalo
2010-12
6
Larry Fitzgerald
Philadelphia
2005-present
6
*Pro Football Hall of Fame
*
SACK MASTER: Oakland defensive end KHALIL MACK posted five sacks in Week 14 against Denver. Mack, who has four multiple-sack performances this season, currently leads the league with 14 sacks.
In his previous three games, Mack has posted nine sacks, tied for the third-most sacks through any three-game span in a single season since the statistic became official in 1982.
With 2.5 sacks on Sunday against Green Bay, Mack would surpass ALDON SMITH (11 in 2012; 10.5 in 2012) and Pro Football Hall of Famers RICHARD DENT (11) and MICHAEL STRAHAN (10.5) for the most sacks over a four-game span in a single season since 1982.
The players with the most sacks over a four-game span in one season since 1982:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON
WEEKS
SACKS OVER FOUR-GAME SPAN
Aldon Smith
San Francisco
2012
8-12
11
Richard Dent
Chicago
1984
7-10
11
Aldon Smith
San Francisco
2012
7-11
10.5
Michael Strahan
New York Giants
2001
3-6
10.5
Khalil Mack
Oakland
2015
12-14
9*
*Through three-game span
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ROOKIE RECORDS: Two rookie quarterbacks – Tennessee’s MARCUS MARIOTA and Tampa Bay’s JAMEIS WINSTON – can move up the NFL’s all-time rookie touchdown pass list in Week 15.
Mariota has thrown 19 touchdown passes this season. With four touchdown passes this Sunday against New England, Mariota would tie ANDREW LUCK (23) for the second-most TD passes by a rookie in NFL history.
Winston (18) can also move up the ranks this week at St. Louis on Thursday Night Football.
The rookie quarterbacks with the most touchdown passes in NFL history:
MOST PASSING TDs BY ROOKIE QB
PLAYER
TEAM
YEAR
TDs
Peyton Manning
Indianapolis
1998
26
Russell Wilson
Seattle
2012
26
Andrew Luck
Indianapolis
2012
23
Charlie Conerly
N.Y. Giants
1948
22
Cam Newton
Carolina
2011
21
Derek Carr
Oakland
2014
21
Dan Marino
Miami
1983
20
Andy Dalton
Cincinnati
2011
20
Robert Griffin III
Washington
2012
20
Marcus Mariota
Tennessee
2015
19*
Jameis Winston
Tampa Bay
2015
18*
*Through 13 games
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TWIN JETS: New York Jets wide receivers ERIC DECKER and BRANDON MARSHALL have both recorded a touchdown catch in seven games this season, tied for the most by teammates in a season in NFL history (1998 Minnesota: Pro Football Hall of Famer CRIS CARTER and RANDY MOSS).
With a touchdown catch by each player on Saturday night against Dallas, Decker and Marshall would eclipse Carter and Moss for the most games with a touchdown catch by teammates in a season in NFL history.
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SUPER BOWL REMATCHES AND HOMECOMINGS FEATURED THIS SEASON
AS PART OF SUPER BOWL 50 CELEBRATION
WEEK 15: BILLS AT REDSKINS
PACKERS AT RAIDERS
BENGALS AT 49ERS
The 2015 NFL regular-season schedule features 19 Super Bowl rematches as part of the year-long celebration of Super Bowl 50, which will be played on Sunday, February 7, 2016 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
In Week 15, the Bills will travel to take on the Redskins Sunday in a rematch of Super Bowl XXVI, won by the Redskins 37-24. The Raiders will host the Packers in a rematch of Super Bowl II, which the Packers won 33-14. The Bengals travel to San Francisco to face the 49ers in a rematch of Super Bowls XVI & XXIII, which the 49ers won 26-21 and 20-16, respectively.
The Redskins will bring back Super Bowl MVP MARK RYPIEN as an honorary captain and inductMONTE COLEMAN into their Ring of Fame during the halftime ceremony. The Raiders will celebrate their Super Bowl II team throughout the game and recognize RON WOLF. The 49ers will bring back their 1981 defensive line and their 1988 players to celebrate their Super Bowl XVI and XXIII teams. OnThursday Night Football, the Rams will celebrate Super Bowl XXXIV as the team will recreate “The Catch” by RICKY PROEHL during the 1999 NFC Championship Game and will have in-stadium activations for fans. The Cowboys will honor their Super Bowl XXX team with in-stadium activations as well.
Rematches and Homecomings are part of the NFL’s On The Fifty platform, designed to link the past 49 Super Bowls with this year’s game and honor the teams, players, coaches, fans and communities that have been a part of those games.
The Jacksonville Jaguars will also celebrate their Homecoming this week as NFL Legends will return to be honored by their teams and will reconnect with former teammates, club personnel and fans.
