| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 3, 2004
NFL PRESS BOX NOTES – WEEK 9 DURABLE QBs: During the first eight weeks of the season, NFL quarterbacks have shown increased durability, with 25 starting every game – an increase over the past two years through the season’s first eight weeks. Of the top 10 rated quarterbacks in the AFC and NFC, only San Francisco’s TIM RATTAY has missed time due to injury. That compares to four of the conference top 10 QBs who missed time due to injuries last year through Week 8. Quarterbacks who started every game through the first eight weeks of the season in the past three years:
-- NFL -- SCORING UP: NFL scoring has increased by almost a touchdown per game over the past four weeks. Games have averaged 44.4 points in Weeks 5-8. That compares to 38.5 for Weeks 1-4. -- NFL -- OFFENSES ON THE MOVE: Scrimmage and passing yards have increased this year. Yards from scrimmage have increased to 658.8 per game this season through eight weeks from 636.6 in that time period in 2003. Passing yards have risen by almost 20 yards per game to 429.2 this year from 410.6 yards in 2003. -- NFL -- DON’T GIVE UP: Since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978, 36 teams that started the season 3-4 reached the playoffs, including the Green Bay Packers last year. There also have been three teams in that time who began the season at 2-5 and advanced to the playoffs:
-- NFL -- ROETHLISBERGER ROLLS: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback BEN ROETHLISBERGER enters Sunday’s game against Philadelphia having completed 96 of 137 pass attempts for a 70.1 completion percentage. With 13 attempts needed to reach 150, Roethlisberger’s 70.1 percent mark would be the best all-time for a rookie over a season with a minimum of 150 attempts. The highest completion percentages of rookies all-time (minimum 150 attempts):
* 137 attempts -- NFL --
EAGLES FLY HIGH ON THE ROAD : The Philadelphia Eagles have won nine consecutive road games, tying the club record set from November 12, 2000-December 16, 2001. With a win at Pittsburgh on Sunday, Philadelphia will become the seventh team in history to win at least 10 road games in a row. The breakdown:
TIGHT ENDS SHAPING THE GAME: The role of tight ends is evolving. Traditionally used as a blocker, today’s tight end is taking on expanded duties as a receiver. Since 2000, the average receptions per game by tight ends has increased from 6.47 to 7.40. Through eight weeks of 2004, tight ends account for five of the top 25 players in receptions and four of the top 25 in receiving yards. In addition, three tight ends round out the top five in third-down receptions. A breakdown of tight end receiving totals this year:
DRIVE FOR FIVE: Last Sunday, quarterbacks DREW BREES of San Diego and PEYTON MANNING of Indianapolis each threw five touchdown passes. Their performances brought to six the season total of five-TD games by a quarterback, the second-most such games in a season behind the eight of 1962 and 1969. The five-TD pass games of 2004:
A RECORD ON MONDAY NIGHT?: On Monday night, when the Indianapolis Colts host the Minnesota Vikings, a pair of Colts can set an NFL record. If quarterback PEYTON MANNING and wide receiver MARVIN HARRISON, who have combined for 660 pass completions in their career, add four more, they will break the NFL record in the QB-WR category (663) held by former Buffalo Bills quarterback JIM KELLY and receiver ANDRE REED. Kelly and Reed played together from 1986-96.
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