GREAT COMPETITION: Close contests remain a staple of the 2015 season as nine of 13 games in Week 9 were decided by eight points or fewer. Through Week 9, the average margin of victory is 10.28 points, which would be the lowest for a full season since at least 1970.
The lowest average margin of victory since 1970:
SEASON AVERAGE MARGIN OF VICTORY
2015 10.28*
1994 10.42
1982 10.63
1995 10.75
1978 10.76
*Through Week 9
OVERTIME EXCITEMENT: Week 9 continued the trend of close games, as three games were decided in overtime. Fourteen games have gone to overtime this season, the second-most through Week 9 in NFL history.
The most overtime games through Week 9 in NFL history:
SEASON OVERTIME GAMES THROUGH WEEK 9
1995 17
2015 14
1983 14
2003 13
2002 13
THE HURRY-UP: A quick look at some other notable trends and milestones through Week 9:
LEAGUE:
• Scoring in 2015 averages 47.0 points per game, on pace to be the highest average in the Super Bowl era (46.8 in 1948). Teams have combined for 6,199 points this season, the third-most points through nine weeks in NFL history. The high is 6,272 last season.
• There have been 73 individual 300-yard passing games, tied for the most through Week 9 in NFL history (73 in 2012).
• Passers are also on pace to set NFL records with a combined 63.6 completion percentage (62.6 in 2014), 499.2 net passing yards per game average (473.6 in 2014) and 1.88 touchdown to interception ratio (1.79 in 2014).
• The league-wide kickoff-return average of 23.7 yards is on pace to be the third-highest of any season in NFL history (23.8 in 2011 and 2014).
TEAMS:
• 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 CAROLINA PANTHERS and CINCINNATI BENGALS are 8-0 for the first time in franchise history.
• Five teams – the ATLANTA FALCONS (6-3; 6-10 in 2014), NEW YORK JETS (5-3; 4-12 in 2014), OAKLAND RAIDERS (4-4; 3-13 in 2014), TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (3-5; 2-14 in 2014) and TENNESSEE TITANS (2-6; 2-14 in 2014) – have already matched or surpassed their win totals from last season.
PLAYERS:
100 BILLS: The BUFFALO BILLS defeated the Miami Dolphins 33-17 and became the first team to have two 100-yard rushers – running backs LE SEAN MC COY (112 rushing yards) and KARLOS WILLIAMS (110) – and a 150-yard receiver – wide receiver SAMMY WATKINS (168 receiving yards) – in the same game in NFL history.
Williams also had two touchdowns against Miami, becoming the seventh player in NFL history to score a touchdown in each of his first five career games.
PROLIFIC PITTSBURGH: 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.
ROLLING RIVERS: San Diego quarterback PHILIP RIVERS completed 26 of 42 passes (61.9 percent) for 280 yards and a touchdown on Monday Night Football. With 3,033 passing yards this season, Rivers (10) joins BRETT FAVRE (18), PEYTON MANNING (13), DREW BREES (11) and ELI MANNING (10) as the fifth quarterback in NFL history with 10 consecutive seasons with at least 3,000 passing yards.
AWESOME ANDREW: 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.
MARVELOUS MARIOTA: 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 touchdown 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 touchdown pass in overtime (Minnesota’s DAUNTE CULPEPPER, October 10, 2004 vs. Houston).
BIRTHDAY BRADFORD: Philadelphia quarterback SAM BRADFORD completed 25 of 36 passes (69.4 percent) for 295 yards and threw a game-winning 41-yard touchdown to wide receiver JORDAN MATTHEWS in overtime to defeat the Dallas Cowboys 33-27 on Sunday Night Football. Bradford, who celebrated his 28th birthday on Sunday, became the first quarterback to start and win a regular-season overtime game on his birthday in NFL history.
BIG LEG: St. Louis kicker GREG ZUERLEIN converted four field goals against Minnesota, including a 61-yarder in the second quarter. Zuerlein, who also kicked a 60-yard field goal in 2012, joined SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI as the only players with two 60-yard field goals in NFL history.
