1. The Detroit Lions erased a 27-3 second-half deficit to defeat Dallas 34-30. Last week, the Lions trailed 20-0 and rallied to beat Minnesota 26-23 in overtime. Detroit is the first team in NFL history to win consecutive games in which it trailed by at least 20 points in each contest.
In addition to the Lions’ comeback, the San Francisco 49ers rallied from a 23-3 deficit to defeat Philadelphia 24-23. This is the second week in a row that two teams overcame 20+ point deficits (Week 3: Buffalo, 21 points; Detroit, 20 points). It marks the first time in NFL history that two teams have overcome 20+ point deficits in consecutive weeks.
2. Detroit wide receiver CALVIN JOHNSON had eight catches for 96 yards and two touchdowns in the Lions’ win at Dallas. Johnson is the first player in NFL history to have at least two receiving touchdowns in each of a team’s first four games of a season. Johnson also joined CRIS CARTER as the only players in NFL history to record at least two touchdown receptions in four consecutive games.
3. Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS passed for 408 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for two TDs in the Packers’ 49-23 win over Denver. Rodgers is the first player in NFL history with at least 400 passing yards, four passing touchdowns and two rushing TDs in a game.
4. New England quarterback TOM BRADY threw two touchdown passes in the Patriots’ 31-19 win at Oakland. Brady has at least two passing TDs in 13 games in a row, tying PEYTON MANNING for the most consecutive games with multiple touchdown passes in NFL history.
Brady now has 274 career touchdown passes, the ninth-most in NFL history. He passed Pro Football Hall of Famer JOE MONTANA (273) today.
5. New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES completed 31 passes for 351 yards in the Saints’ 23-10 win at Jacksonville. Brees has at least 20 completions in 24 consecutive games, the longest streak in NFL history.
6. Chicago’s DEVIN HESTER had a 69-yard punt-return touchdown in the Bears’ 34-29 win over Carolina. Hester has 11 punt-return touchdowns in his career and moved into sole possession of first place in NFL history, breaking a tie with ERIC METCALF (10).
Hester has 15 combined kick-return touchdowns in his career (11 punt, four kickoff), the most all-time.
7. Chicago running back MATT FORTÉ rushed for a career-high 205 yards and a touchdown in the Bears’ win. Forté joined Pro Football Hall of Famers WALTER PAYTON and GALE SAYERS as the only players in franchise history to rush for at least 200 yards in a game. Forté is the first Bear to rush for 200 yards since Payton’s 275 yards on November 20, 1977.