| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 17, 2004 NFL PRESS BOX NOTES – WEEK 11 SCORING ON THE RISE : NFL teams have been lighting up the scoreboard in recent weeks as clubs gear up for the 2004 playoff push.NFL games are averaging 42.3 points per game, the second-highest total through 10 weeks since 1990 and the fourth-highest total at this point since the league adopted the 16-game schedule in 1978. Games averaged 38.5 points through the first four weeks of 2004, but a plethora of high-scoring thrillers – including Green Bay’s 34-31 win over Minnesota on Sunday – have helped push the average to 45.0 the last six weeks. A look at the top five seasons in average points per game through 10 weeks since 1978:
– NFL – ROOKIE WINNERS: New York Giants rookie quarterback ELI MANNING will make the first start of his career on Sunday when the Giants host the NFC South-leading Atlanta Falcons.Manning, drafted No. 1 overall by San Diego and dealt to New York in a draft-day trade, will aim to continue the unprecedented level of success rookie quarterbacks have enjoyed this season. Pittsburgh’s BEN ROETHLISBERGER (first-round, No. 11) and Chicago’s CRAIG KRENZEL (fifth-round, No. 148) have a combined 10-0 (1.000) record as starters, with Roethlisberger (7-0) setting the NFL record for most consecutive wins by a rookie to start his career since 1970 and Krenzel helping the Bears to three consecutive wins (3-0). A look at the highest winning percentages in a single season by rookie quarterbacks (since 1970):
* Through 10 weeks – NFL – FANTASTIC FAVRE: Green Bay quarterback BRETT FAVRE has helped the Packers rebound from a 1-4 start to win four consecutive games, moving Green Bay into a tie for first place in the NFC North with the Vikings at 5-4. After a four-touchdown performance last Sunday, Favre has 18 touchdown passes in 2004 and needs two on Sunday in Houston for his 11th consecutive 20-touchdown pass season, surpassing DAN MARINO for the most in NFL history (10). Indianapolis Colts quarterback PEYTON MANNING leads the NFL with 31 touchdown passes, extending his streak of consecutive seasons with at least 20 to seven, the third-most in NFL history. A look at the all-time leaders in consecutive 20-touchdown pass seasons:
* Active streaks SUPER SHAUN: Though a 100-yard game has long been the standard of an outstanding rushing performance, Seattle Seahawks running back SHAUN ALEXANDER has set his sites significantly higher in recent weeks. Alexander has posted three consecutive 150-yard games, rushing for 531 yards over the span and leading the Seahawks to victory in two of three contests. On Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, the fifth-year pro who leads the NFL with 1,055 yards rushing, will attempt to become the first player in nearly a quarter of a century to rush for 150 yards in four consecutive games. Pro Football Hall of Famer EARL CAMPBELL is the only player in NFL history to accomplish the feat. He did it in 1980, en route to rushing for an NFL-best 1,934 yards for the Houston Oilers, as well as the all-time high with seven 150-yard games in a single-season. A look at the all-time leaders in most consecutive 150-yards rushing games and the most in a single-season:
* Active streak SACKS = SUCCESS: Through 10 weeks of the season, chances are good that if the opposing quarterback is going down, the wins are going up. The NFL’s top five teams in sacks have a combined record of 41-13 (.759). The Eagles, who face the NFC East rival Washington Redskins on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field, are tied for the NFL lead with 28 sacks, joining Baltimore and Pittsburgh in the top spot. Fourteen Eagles have recorded at least 0.5 sacks this season. A look at the top five teams in sacks through 10 weeks:
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