FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 16

MANNING & MARINO: Heading into Week 15, Indianapolis Colts quarterback PEYTON MANNNING can exceed the all-time single-season touchdown-pass record of DAN MARINO (48) with three such passes Sunday night against Baltimore.

In the 13 games he has played this season, Manning has already exceeded by 10 Marino’s TD pass total for 13 games in 1984, with 46 scoring passes compared to 36.

	Dan Marino (1984)	Peyton Manning (2004)
Record	12-1	10-3
Passing Yards	3,870	3,919
*Touchdown Passes*	36	46
Interceptions	12	9

IRON MAN: The Arizona Cardinals’ EMMITT SMITH, the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, will surpass BRIAN MITCHELL for most games played by an NFL running back when he takes the field Sunday against St. Louis. Smith has amassed 18,150 rushing yards in 223 games.

Running Back	Teams	Years	Games
Brain Mitchell	Washington, Philadelphia, NY Giants	1990-03	223
*Emmitt Smith*	*Dallas, Arizona*	*1990-present*	*223*
Marcus Allen	LA-Oakland Raiders, Kansas City	1982-97	222
Earnest Byner	Cleveland, Washington, Baltimore	1984-97	211
Mosi Tatupu	New England, LA Rams	1978-91	199

MOTOWN EXPRESS: After rushing for 196 and 156 yards in the past two weeks, Detroit Lions running back KEVIN JONES this week seeks to become the first rookie in NFL history to rush for 150 yards in three consecutive games.

With a 150-yard performance against Minnesota on Sunday, Jones and the Dallas Cowboys’ JULIUS JONES (150 and 198) will have totaled five 150-yard games this season, tying the NFL rookie record for most combined 150-yard rushing games in a season.

Players	Year	150-Yard Games
Ricky Williams (NO, 179), Edgerrin James (IND, 152), Olandis Gary (DEN, 183 & 185), Jermaine Fazande (SD, 183)	1999	5
Mike Anderson (DEN, 187, 195 & 251), Jamal Lewis (BAL, 187 & 170)	2000	5
Anthony Thomas (CHI, 188, 173 & 160), Dominic Rhodes (IND, 177)	2001	4
*Julius Jones (DAL, 150 & 198), Kevin Jones (DET, 196 & 156)*	*2004*	4
Many	--	3

BOLT OF LIGHTNING: San Diego Chargers running back LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON has rushed for a touchdown in 10 games in a row. With another TD this week against Cleveland, Tomlinson will move into a tie for second place all-time for the most consecutive games with a rushing touchdown.

Player	Years	Consc. Games/TD
John Riggins, Wash.	1982-83	13
George Rogers, Wash.	1985-86	13
Lenny Moore, Balt.	1963-64	11
Emmitt Smith, Dallas	1994-95	11
Emmitt Smith, Dallas	1995	11
Priest Holmes, K.C.	2002	11
George Bell, LA Rams	1988-89	10
Terry Allen, Wash.	1995-96	10
*LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.*	*2004*	10

CENTURY RUSHERS: After 12 more 100-yard rushing games in Week 14, running backs have topped the century mark 143 times this year, tying 1998 for the second most in a season since 1970. With nine more 100-yard games this week, the 2004 season will top the record of 151 set last year.

Year	Games	100-yd Games
2003	256	151
*2004*	*208*	*143*
1998	240	143
2002	256	136
2001	248	124
1997	240	121

MARTY BALL: San Diego’s MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER can move into a tie for the third most playoff appearances by a head coach since 1960 this weekend with a Chargers win or tie and other scenarios. Schottenheimer is tied with CHUCK KNOX with 11 playoff appearances since 1960. He would join all Pro Football Hall of Fame coaches in the top five in the category.

Coach	Teams	Playoff Appearances
Don Shula *	Baltimore Colts, Miami	19
Tom Landry *	Dallas	18
Chuck Noll *	Pittsburgh	12
Bud Grant *	Minnesota	12
Chuck Knox	LA Rams, Buffalo, Seattle	11
*Marty Schottenheimer*	*Cleveland, Kansas City, San Diego*	11

THE PUPIL: With last week’s win against the New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach BILL COWHER, who was an assistant to Schottenheimer at Cleveland and Kansas City from 1985-91, won his eighth AFC Central/North title in 13 years.

Cowher became the fifth head coach since 1970 to win eight or more division championships, joining DON SHULA (11), CHUCK NOLL (9), BUD GRANT (9), and TOM LANDRY (9) – all members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.