FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFL-83                1/6/00

It began with a bang – a loud one – on Kickoff Weekend ’99 when four games were decided in the final 15 seconds.

It ended in Week 17 with two teams wildly scoring points in an effort to beat each other out for a playoff spot decided by net conference points.

From Week 1 through Week 17, it was perhaps the zaniest…wackiest…most unpredictable NFL season ever.

Was the NFL in 1999 fun, or what?

"The season had so many twists and turns," said New York Giants defensive end MICHAEL STRAHAN, "it was like a Hardy Boys mystery."

Among the big twists was KURT WARNER and his St. Louis Rams, and PEYTON MANNING and his Indianapolis Colts.

• Four teams finished with 13 or more wins in a season for the first time in history: 14-2 Jacksonville, and 13-3 Indianapolis, St. Louis and Tennessee. Tennessee had the most wins of a wild card team ever.

• Nine clubs had six or more wins in the season’s second half: 7-1 Indianapolis, Jacksonville, St. Louis, Tampa Bay and Tennessee, and 6-2 Baltimore, Buffalo, Minnesota and the New York Jets.

• There were five new division winners this year (there were six last year).

• The Indianapolis Colts manufactured the biggest victory turnaround in history, showing a 10-win improvement between 1998 (3-13) and 1999 (13-3).

• The St. Louis Rams became the first team in history to go from 0-8 in their division to 8-0.

• The Jacksonville Jaguars, the lone division champion to repeat, continued to be the most successful expansion franchise ever with four playoff berths in their first five years.

• The NFL passing game reached superlatives: There were five 4,000-yard passers, 26 1,000-yard receivers, and 187 100-yard receiving games – all the most ever in a season. And there were 72 300-yard passing games, the second most ever (80 in 1995).

• Rams quarterback KURT WARNER became the second quarterback (Dan Marino) in history to throw for 40 touchdowns in a season (41) and was named MVP by Associated Press.

• Rams running back MARSHALL FAULK (2,429) broke BARRY SANDERS’ record (2,358 in 1997) for scrimmage yards in a season.

• The Colts featured a Pro Bowl offensive trio – quarterback PEYTON MANNING, rookie running back EDGERRIN JAMES and wide receiver MARVIN HARRISON -- that gave promise of rivaling in years to come the Dallas "triplets" of TROY AIKMAN, EMMITT SMITH and MICHAEL IRVIN.

The season began on Kickoff ’99 Weekend with close games…high-scoring games…comeback games. And Brett, Troy and Jake were up to their old tricks.

• Eight games on Kickoff Sunday were decided by seven points or less, the most on an opening Sunday since 1985 (eight). Five games were decided by three points or less, one shy of the ’90’s record of 1995.

• The games averaged 47.3 points, the highest average for a first weekend since the 49.6 of 1968, the highest ever.

• There were 21-point comebacks engineered by JAKE PLUMMER and TROY AIKMAN and a last-minute comeback led by BRETT FAVRE.

Arizona trailed Philadelphia 21-0, but Plummer led the Cardinals to two touchdowns and two field goals in the second half for a 25-24 win. "With 12 minutes left, I said, ‘We’re down, but we’re still in it,’" said Plummer.

Dallas trailed Washington by 35-14 but matched its biggest comeback ever on the strength of three Aikman second-half TD passes, including the 76-yard winning strike to ROCKET ISMAIL four minutes into overtime. "It was the wildest game I’ve ever been a part of," said Aikman.

Favre brought Green Bay back with an 11-play, 82-yard drive in the final 1:51 to defeat Oakland 28-24 on a one-yard TD pass.

• Four Sunday games (Arizona-Philadelphia, Cincinnati-Tennessee, Green Bay-Oakland, and New England-New York Jets) were decided in the last 15 seconds – the first time in history that four games in one day were decided in that time span. Plus, Dallas-Washington was decided in overtime.

• New Orleans Saints cornerback TYRONNE DRAKEFORD returned a fumble on the opening kickoff for a touchdown against Carolina 12 seconds into the game – the quickest opening-day touchdown in history.

• And…a hint of things to come: St. Louis quarterback KURT WARNER’s 309-yard passing game was the third-highest total in the 1990s for a quarterback making his first start, behind BROWNING NAGLE’s 366 yards for the New York Jets in 1992, and ERIC ZEIER’s 310 for Cleveland in 1995.

……Tied Marino (nine in 1984) and WARREN MOON (nine in 1990) for most 300-yard passing games in a season.

……Threw 14 touchdown passes in his first four starts, the most ever in 50 years in a quarterback’s first four career starts, since the "start" category began being tracked in 1948.

……Compiled a perfect rating – 158.3 – in the NFL passer rating system on October 3 against Cincinnati when he completed 17 of 21 passes (81.0 percent) for 310 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

……Led the NFL in passer rating with a 109.2 mark, the only rating in 1999 over 100.0, and the fifth-highest in NFL history.

……Became the first quarterback in history to throw for 4,000 yards (4,353) in the year of his first start. Only two other players reached 3,500 yards in their first-start year – JIM KELLY (3,593) in 1986 and PEYTON MANNING (3,739) in 1998.

……Was named The Associated Press 1999 NFL Most Valuable Player.

"It’s all gravy," says Warner. "Down the line, I’m sure I’m going to look back and be happy with what I accomplished. But it’s all about winning."

• Wide receivers AZ-ZAHIR HAKIM (on October 3) and ISAAC BRUCE (October 10) had back-to-back four-TD games, only the third time in history that teammates accomplished the feat (Green Bay’s PAUL HORNUNG and JIM TAYLOR in 1961, and San Diego’s KELLEN WINSLOW and CHUCK MUNCIE in 1981).

COLT-ISH!

……Had six TD receptions in the season’s first three games, the best opening performance by a receiver since DARYL TURNER’s six TD catches for Seattle in 1985. And Harrison’s 422 receiving yards in the first three games was the most in the NFL over that span since JERRY RICE’s 449 yards in 1989.

• JAMES & HARRISON……Became the NFL’s top running back-wide receiver scrimmage-yards duo in history. Their combined 3,806 yards (James: 2,139; Harrison: 1,667) bested the 3,751 yards of RB EMMITT SMITH (2,148) and WR MICHAEL IRVIN (1,603) in 1995. The top five in the category:

SURE, they only won two games, but the – expansion -- Cleveland Browns were back in the NFL in 1999, which was more than good enough for Clevelanders.

And over the course of the season, Browns fans could envision the course their team will be taking in the future thanks to two stellar rookies – quarterback TIM COUCH and wide receiver KEVIN JOHNSON.

The two combined on Halloween to give Browns fans a real treat – the team’s first victory. With no time left on the clock and the Browns down 16-14 to New Orleans, Couch reared back and fired a 56-yard pass to a streaking Johnson, hitting him in the corner of the end zone for the TD and Cleveland’s first win.

"I couldn’t have thrown it another yard," said Couch.

COUCH, the 1999 No. 1 overall NFL draft choice from Kentucky……

……Set club rookie records for completions (223), attempts (399), passing yards (2,447) and touchdowns (15).

……Had 15 touchdowns and 13 interceptions to become the fifth rookie quarterback since 1970 to post a positive TD-to-interception ratio (minimum 10 TDs).

……Posted a 132.2 rating in the Browns’ first win, the highest rookie rating in a game since Detroit’s CHARLIE BATCH had a 149.6 mark on October 15, 1998.

……Led all NFL rookies in TD receptions with eight.

……Combined with Couch for the most touchdowns (eight) by a rookie QB-WR duo since the nine of New England’s JIM PLUNKETT and RANDY VATAHA in 1971.

THROUGH all the unpredictability of ’99, certain truisms held – Dan would throw, Emmitt would run, Andre would catch. And they did, reaching milestones and setting records……

QB DAN MARINO, Miami: On his first attempt on October 17 at New England, Marino hit wide receiver TONY MARTIN with an eight-yard completion, making him the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 60,000 yards. The pass gave Marino 60,001 career yards. Converted, 60,000 yards equates to 34.1 miles.

QB BRETT FAVRE, Green Bay: Set the record for consecutive starts by a quarterback as well as reaching other milestones……

……His start on November 7 against Chicago broke his tie with RON JAWORSKI to give him 117 consecutive starts, the most in NFL history. "How I’ve managed to last this long is beyond me," says Favre. "Man, I hold nothing back." By the end of the season, Favre’s starting streak was up to 125.

……Became the second quarterback (DAN MARINO, 9) to surpass 3,000 passing yards in eight consecutive seasons.

……Became the first quarterback since FRAN TARKENTON in 1969 to throw the game-winning TD pass in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter in three games. He did it with 11 seconds left vs. Oakland on September 12; 12 seconds left vs. Minnesota on September 26; and 65 seconds to go against Tampa Bay on October 10.

RB EMMITT SMITH, Dallas: Had his most productive year since 1995, his best season ever.

Smith finished second in the NFC in rushing with 1,397 yards – his most since 1,773 in ’95. Along the way, he……

……Became the NFL’s second-leading all-time touchdown scorer on December 19 when he caught a 14-yard pass from TROY AIKMAN, giving him 146 career touchdowns and breaking his tie with MARCUS ALLEN for No. 2 all-time behind JERRY RICE (180). Smith finished the year with 147.

……Moved up two spots on the career rushing chart, passing TONY DORSETT (12,739) and ERIC DICKERSON (13,259) into third place with 13,963 yards behind BARRY SANDERS (15,269) and WALTER PAYTON (16,726).

……Rushed for his ninth consecutive 1,000-yard season, joining BARRY SANDERS (10) as the only players with at least nine 1,000-yarders in a row.

……On September 20, rushed for 108 yards on Monday Night Football, making him the first back to break the 2,000-yard rushing barrier on MNF. He added to his career Monday-night total in two more games to give him 2,223 yards on the series.

……Scored two touchdowns (on runs of 63 and 24 yards) within 18 seconds of each other at 8:39 and 8:57 of the second quarter on Monday night, November 9 – the fastest two touchdowns by the same player in 30 years.

WR ANDRE REED, Buffalo: Moved past ART MONK (940) into second place all-time in career receptions (941), behind JERRY RICE (1,206). Reed also……

……Moved past STEVE LARGENT (13,089) into fourth place in career receiving yards with 13,095.

……Became the fifth player in history with 13,000 receiving yards.

……Had his 13th 50-catch season, matching Rice for most in the category.

ADDING to the spice of the season were the NFL rookies, on both sides of the ball…

TIM COUCH & KEVIN JOHNSON: See Cleveland Browns above.

QB CADE MC NOWN, Chicago: Became the third rookie in the ’90s (DREW BLEDSOE in 1993 and JAKE PLUMMER in 1997) to throw four touchdowns in a game (December 19 vs. Detroit).

QB AKILI SMITH, Cincinnati: Became only the third quarterback in the past 50 years (JOHN STOFA, Miami, 12/18/66 and FRANK REICH, Buffalo, 10/16/89) to throw the game-winning touchdown pass in the last minute of regulation in his first start (October 10 vs. Cleveland).

RB OLANDIS GARY, Denver: Rushed for 1,159 yards, breaking the Broncos’ rookie rushing record of BOBBY HUMPHREY (1,151) in 1989. He also surpassed TERRELL DAVIS’ rookie mark of 1,117.

On December 19 and 25, became the first NFL player to rush for at least 180 yards in consecutive games since the New York Giants’ JOE MORRIS in 1986.

DE JEVON KEARSE, Tennessee: Led the AFC and set the NFL record for most sacks by a rookie with 13.5. Became the first defensive player to earn Rookie of the Month honors three times in a season (September, November and December) since the award was instituted in 1996. In December, he became the second rookie to earn a conference’s defensive player of the month honors (CHRIS MIMS, 1992).

CB CHAMP BAILEY, Washington: Became at 21 the youngest player to have three interceptions and an interception return for a touchdown in a game (on October 17 against Arizona).

KR TERRENCE WILKINS, Indianapolis: Became the first undrafted rookie in history to compile 2,000 all-purpose yards (2,089).

THREE young running backs reached career milestones measured by the years they have played:

• SEATTLE defensive tackle CORTEZ KENNEDY has his second interception of the season, after playing his first nine years without an interception (November 7).

• NOT a single player on the winning Detroit Lions was alive the last time the team beat Washington (1965) (December 5).

• SAN FRANCISCO running back CHARLIE GARNER takes a handoff from quarterback JEFF GARCIA, and in the process, rips the towel from Garcia’s waist, proceeding to carry the ball…and towel…for a 10-yard gain (December 26).

1999 NFL MILESTONES

• ALWAYS THERE: Tennessee Titans guard BRUCE MATTHEWS on December 5 set the record for longevity by an offensive lineman by playing in his 260th game, breaking his tie with JACKIE SLATER. "What I like most about being an offensive lineman," says Matthews, "is the anonymity."

• HOT ROD: Baltimore Ravens free safety ROD WOODSON scored twice during the season on interception returns, lifting him into a first-place tie with KEN HOUSTON for most in a career with nine……Woodson also joined LEM BARNEY as the only NFL players with 50 interceptions, 1,000 interception return yards and at least seven touchdowns.

• CRIS CAN’T MISS: Minnesota Vikings wide receiver CRIS CARTER (924) joined JERRY RICE, ANDRE REED and ART MONK as the only receivers with 900 career catches. He posted 1,000 receiving yards for the seventh consecutive season, joining LANCE ALWORTH and TIM BROWN as the only players to do so.

• PERFECT 10 FOR RANDLE: Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle JOHN RANDLE posted 10.0 sacks in ’99, marking his eighth consecutive 10-sack season. Only REGGIE WHITE has more such seasons (nine).

• TONY THE TIGER: On November 28 against Baltimore, Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end TONY BRACKENS became the first defensive lineman since GEORGE MARTIN in 1985 to recover a fumble, record a sack, intercept a pass, and score a touchdown in the same game.

• THREE IN TWO: Washington Redskins running back STEPHEN DAVIS, the NFC’s leading rusher (1,405 yards), joined elite company on September 26 against the New York Jets. His three rushing touchdowns followed three the week before, matching him with JIM BROWN, JIM TAYLOR, JOE MORRIS and TERRY ALLEN as the only players since 1933 with three rushing touchdowns in consecutive games.

• TDs FOUR DIFFERENT WAYS: Indianapolis Colts rookie wide receiver-kick returner TERRENCE WILKINS scored touchdowns on a reception, a punt and kickoff return, and a fumble recovery in 1999. Wilkins tied three other players since 1970 to score touchdowns four different ways in a season – TERRY METCALF (1975), BILLY "WHITE SHOES" JOHNSON (1977) and BRIAN MITCHELL (1997). They all accomplished the feat on a rush, reception, punt and kickoff return.

• TOUGH SCHED: The Denver Broncos did not have an easy time of it this year. Every one of their opponents finished the season with a .500 or better record – the only time that has happened since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978.