Week 13 of the NFL season has nearly come and gone. Let's look back at 7 feats of statistical awesomeness.
1. Carolina rookie quarterback CAM NEWTON rushed for three touchdowns in the Panthers’ 38-19 win at Tampa Bay. Newton has 13 rushing touchdowns, the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a single season in NFL history. Newton passed STEVE GROGAN, who rushed for 12 TDs in 1976.
Newton also passed for 204 yards with a touchdown and had a 27-yard reception. He is the third player in NFL history – joining running backs LADAINIAN TOMLINSON (September 25, 2005) and RONNIE BROWN (September 21, 2008) – to have at least three rushing touchdowns, a passing touchdown and a reception in a single game.
2. The GREEN BAY PACKERS improved to 12-0 with a 38-35 win at the New York Giants. The Packers, who are the second defending Super Bowl champion (1998 Denver) to start the following season 12-0, have won 18 consecutive games, including the playoffs. That is tied for the second-longest winning streak in NFL history, trailing the 2003-04 New England Patriots (21 games).1. Carolina rookie quarterback CAM NEWTON rushed for three touchdowns in the Panthers’ 38-19 win at Tampa Bay. Newton has 13 rushing touchdowns, the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a single season in NFL history. Newton passed STEVE GROGAN, who rushed for 12 TDs in 1976.
Newton also passed for 204 yards with a touchdown and had a 27-yard reception. He is the third player in NFL history – joining running backs LADAINIAN TOMLINSON (September 25, 2005) and RONNIE BROWN (September 21, 2008) – to have at least three rushing touchdowns, a passing touchdown and a reception in a single game.
The Packers have clinched a playoff spot and can claim the NFC North division title if Detroit loses tonight.
3. New England QB TOM BRADY threw two TD passes to tight end ROB GRONKOWSKI in the Patriots’ 31-24 win over Indianapolis. Gronkowski, who also scored his first career rushing touchdown, has 13 receiving touchdowns, tied with ANTONIO GATES (2004) and VERNON DAVIS (2009) for the most TD receptions by a tight end in a single season in NFL history.
Brady has 291 career touchdown passes and tied Pro Football Hall of Famer WARREN MOON for the sixth-most TD passes in NFL history. Brady also passed Pro Football Hall of Famer JOHNNY UNITAS (290) today.
Brady has 30 touchdowns passes this season and is the sixth quarterback in NFL history to pass for at least 30 TDs in at least three different seasons. He joins BRETT FAVRE (nine), PEYTON MANNING (six), Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (four), DREW BREES (three) and KURT WARNER (three).
4. New York Jets quarterback MARK SANCHEZ led the Jets to a 34-19 win at Washington. Including the playoffs, Sanchez has 30 career wins in his first three NFL seasons. He is the fifth quarterback in the Super Bowl era to win at least 30 games (including the postseason) in his first three NFL seasons. He joins Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO and JOE FLACCO, BEN ROETHLISBERGER and MATT RYAN.
5. Denver QB TIM TEBOW had two touchdowns and a 149.3 passer rating in the Broncos’ 35-32 win at Minnesota. Tebow has now led game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime five times in his first 10 starts, tied with SCOTT BRUNNER and MARC WILSON for the most since 1970.
6. San Francisco running back FRANK GORE rushed for 73 yards in the 49ers’ 26-0 win over St. Louis. Gore has 7,396 career rushing yards and passed Pro Football Hall of Famer JOE PERRY (7,344) for the most rushing yards in franchise history.
With the victory, the 49ers clinched the NFC West division title.
7. Tennessee running back CHRIS JOHNSON rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns in the Titans’ 23-17 win at Buffalo. Johnson has now rushed for at least 100 yards and two touchdowns 11 times in his first four seasons, tied for the fourth-most in NFL history with Pro Football Hall of Famer EARL CAMPBELL and CLINTON PORTIS. Johnson trails LARRY JOHNSON (14) and Pro Football Hall of Famers JIM BROWN (13) and ERIC DICKERSON (12).
Johnson had a 48-yard touchdown run, his ninth career TD run of at least 45 yards. That is tied for the fourth-most in NFL history with Pro Football Hall of Famer OLLIE MATSON and PAUL LOWE. Johnson trails Pro Football Hall of Famers BARRY SANDERS (18), JIM BROWN (13) and O.J. SIMPSON (10).
Johnson had a 48-yard touchdown run, his ninth career TD run of at least 45 yards. That is tied for the fourth-most in NFL history with Pro Football Hall of Famer OLLIE MATSON and PAUL LOWE. Johnson trails Pro Football Hall of Famers BARRY SANDERS (18), JIM BROWN (13) and O.J. SIMPSON (10).