September 24, 2002
 

NFL SCORING AT 13-YEAR HIGH; PASSING UP, TOO

Scoring…and passing…are up in the first three weeks of the 2002 NFL season.

Scoring after Week 3 is at a 13-year high.

Games have averaged 44.7 points, the most through the first three weeks of a season since 1989 when games averaged 48.6 points.

The all-time record for points per game over a season was set in 1948 when games averaged 46.5 points.

Passing is also up this season.

Passing attempts are at a seven-year high.  There have been 67.9 attempts per game, the highest average in a season’s first three weeks since 1995 (68.4).

The all-time season record for passing attempts per game is 69.6 in 1995.  

Games have averaged 453.0 gross passing yards over the first three weeks, the most since 1994 (498.9 over the first three weeks).

The season record for gross passing yards per game is 471.1 in 1995.