The Week That Was - Week 15

THE WEEK THAT WAS – WEEK 15

CLOSE GAMES: There have been 130 games decided by eight points or fewer and 120 games decided by seven points or fewer through Week 15, both the most such games in the first 15 weeks of a season in league annals. In Week 15, eight games were decided by eight points or fewer.

The most games decided by eight points or fewer through Week 15 in NFL history:

SEASON	GAMES DECIDED BY EIGHT POINTS OR FEWER THROUGH WEEK 15
2016	130
2002	123
2015	121
2012	119
2013	118

The most games decided by seven points or fewer through Week 15 in NFL history:

SEASON	GAMES DECIDED BY SEVEN POINTS OR FEWER THROUGH WEEK 15
2016	120
2015	113
2002	113
2013	110
2003	109

-- NFL --

COMEBACKS GALORE: There have been 66 games won by teams that trailed in the fourth quarter through Week 15, the second-most such games in the first 15 weeks of a season in NFL history.

Five teams – DALLAS, HOUSTON, OAKLAND, PITTSBURGH and TENNESSEE – were victorious in Week 15 after trailing in the fourth quarter.

Tennessee overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit, the largest fourth-quarter comeback of the week, to defeat Kansas City 19-17. Titans kicker RYAN SUCCUP, who previously spent five seasons with the Chiefs, converted a game-winning 53-yard field goal as time expired and became the first kicker in NFL history to defeat his former team by converting a game-winning, come-from-behind 50+ yard field goal as time expired.

The most games won after trailing in the fourth quarter through Week 15 in NFL history:

SEASON	GAMES WON AFTER TRAILING IN 4TH QUARTER THROUGH WEEK 14
1989	67
2016	66
2012	65
2015	62
2011	62

-- NFL --

EXCITING FINISHES: There have been 165 games within one score (eight points) in the fourth quarter through Week 15, the most such games in the first 15 weeks of a season in NFL history.

Ten games were within one score in the fourth quarter in Week 15.

The most games within one score in the fourth quarter through Week 15 in NFL history:

SEASON	GAMES WITHIN ONE SCORE IN 4TH QUARTER THROUGH WEEK 15
2016	165
2002	155
2013	154
2007	154
2004	154

Additionally, there have been 153 games within seven points in the fourth quarter, including nine last week, through Week 15, the most such games in the first 15 weeks of a season in NFL history.

The most games within seven points in the fourth quarter through Week 15 in NFL history:

SEASON	GAMES WITHIN SEVEN POINTS IN 4TH QUARTER THROUGH WEEK 15
2016	153
2013	148
2010	147
2004	147
2007	146

-- NFL --

DALLAS DARLINGS: Dallas rookie running back EZEKIEL ELLIOTT rushed for 159 yards & one touchdown in the Cowboys’ 26-20 win over Tampa Bay. The performance marked Elliott’s fifth game with at least 130 rushing yards, tying MIKE ANDERSON (2000) and Pro Football Hall of Famer ERIC DICKERSON (1983) for the most such games by a rookie in NFL history.

It was also Elliott’s 11th game this season with at least 90 rushing yards, tying Dickerson and GEORGE ROGERS (1981) for the most games with 90 or more rushing yards by a rookie in NFL history.

Cowboys rookie quarterback DAK PRESCOTT completed 32 of 36 passes (88.9 percent) for 279 yards in the win. Prescott’s 88.9 completion percentage is the second-highest in a single game in NFL history with a minimum of 30 attempts.

The players with the highest single-game completion percentage with a minimum of 30 attempts:

PLAYER	TEAM	DATE	OPPONENT	COMP	ATT	COMP. % (MIN. 30 ATT.)
Rich Gannon	Oakland	11/11/02	Denver	34	38	89.5
Dak Prescott	Dallas	12/18/16	Tampa Bay	32	36	88.9
Drew Brees	New Orleans	10/23/11	Indianapolis	31	35	88.6
Eli Manning	New York Giants	12/14/15	Miami	27	31	87.1
Lynn Dickey	Green Bay	9/4/83	Houston Oilers	27	31	87.1
Ken Anderson	Cincinnati	1/2/83	Houston Oilers	27	31	87.1

-- NFL --

WINNING WILSON: Seattle quarterback RUSSELL WILSON passed for 229 yards and three touchdowns in the Seahawks’ 24-3 win against Los Angeles on Thursday Night Football.

The victory marked Wilson’s 34th career home win as a starter, surpassing JOE FLACCO and MATT RYAN for the most home wins by a starting quarterback in his first five NFL seasons.

The quarterbacks with the most home wins in their first five NFL seasons:

PLAYER	TEAM	SEASONS	HOME WINS AS STARTER IN 1st 5 SEASONS
Russell Wilson	Seattle	2012-2016	34*
Joe Flacco	Baltimore	2008-2012	33
Matt Ryan	Atlanta	2008-2012	33
*In 5th season

-- NFL --

TERRIFIC TUCKER: Baltimore kicker JUSTIN TUCKER converted both field-goal attempts, including a 53-yarder, in the Ravens’ 27-26 victory over Philadelphia.

Tucker has made all 10 of his field-goal attempts of at least 50 yards this season, tying BLAIR WALSH (Minnesota, 2012) for the most 50+ yard field goals made in a single season.

The players with the most field goals of at least 50 yards made in a single season:

PLAYER	TEAM	SEASON	50+ YARD FIELD GOALS
Justin Tucker	Baltimore	2016	10*
Blair Walsh	Minnesota	2012	10
Jason Hanson	Detroit	2008	8
Morten Anderson	Atlanta	1995	8
*Through Week 15

-- NFL --

MARVELOUS MANNING: New York Giants quarterback ELI MANNING completed 20 of 28 passes (71.4 percent) for 201 yards and two touchdowns in the Giants’ 17-6 win against Detroit.

Manning, who has 4,017 career completions, became the seventh quarterback in NFL history to eclipse 4,000 career completions.

The players with at least 4,000 career completions:

PLAYER	CAREER COMPLETIONS
Brett Favre^	6,300
Peyton Manning	6,125
Drew Brees	5,784*
Tom Brady	5,202*
Dan Marino^	4,967
John Elway^	4,123
Eli Manning	4,017*
*Active
^Pro Football Hall of Famer

-- NFL --

TOP-10 RISERS: Indianapolis running back FRANK GORE gained 115 scrimmage yards (101 rushing, 14 receiving) in the Colts’ 34-6 win at Minnesota.

Gore, who has 16,332 career yards from scrimmage, surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer TONY DORSETT (16,293) for the 10th-most yards from scrimmage in NFL history.

The players with the most yards from scrimmage in NFL history:

PLAYER	CAREER YARDS FROM SCRIMMAGE
Jerry Rice^	23,540
Emmitt Smith^	21,579
Walter Payton^	21,264
Marshall Faulk^	19,154
LaDainian Tomlinson	18,456
Barry Sanders^	18,190
Marcus Allen^	17,654
Curtis Martin^	17,430
Thurman Thomas^	16,532
Frank Gore	16,332*
Tony Dorsett^	16,293
*Active
^Pro Football Hall of Famer

Baltimore wide receiver STEVE SMITH SR. had 40 receiving yards and a touchdown in the Ravens’ 27-26 win over Philadelphia.​

Smith now has 14,618 career receiving yards and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer MARVIN HARRISON (14,580) for the seventh-most receiving yards in NFL history.

The players with the most receiving yards in NFL history:

PLAYER	CAREER RECEIVING YARDS
Jerry Rice^	22,895
Terrell Owens	15,934
Randy Moss	15,292
Isaac Bruce	15,208
Tony Gonzalez	15,127
Tim Brown^	14,934
Steve Smith Sr.	14,618*
Marvin Harrison^	14,580
*Active
^Pro Football Hall of Famer

Dallas tight end JASON WITTEN had 10 receptions in the Cowboys’ 26-20 win over Tampa Bay.

Witten, who has 1,086 career receptions, surpassed TERRELL OWENS (1,078) for the seventh-most career receptions in NFL history.

The players with the most receptions in NFL history:

PLAYER	CAREER RECEPTIONS
Jerry Rice^	1,549
Tony Gonzalez	1,325
Larry Fitzgerald	1,116*
Marvin Harrison^	1,102
Cris Carter^	1,101
Tim Brown^	1,094
Jason Witten	1,086*
Terrell Owens	1,078
*Active
^Pro Football Hall of Famer

Arizona wide receiver LARRY FITZGERALD had seven receptions in the Cardinals’ 48-41 loss against New Orleans. Fitzgerald, who was playing in his 200th career game, has 1,116 career receptions and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE (1,115) for the most catches in a player’s first 200 games in NFL history.  

Detroit wide receiver ANQUAN BOLDIN, who also played in his 200th career game in Week 15, had three receptions in the Lions’ 17-6 loss at the New York Giants. Boldin has 1,067 career catches, the fourth-most in a player’s first 200 games.

The players with the most receptions in their first 200 career games in NFL history:

PLAYER	RECEPTIONS IN 1st 200 CAREER GAMES
Larry Fitzgerald	1,116
Jerry Rice^	1,115
Marvin Harrison^	1,102
Anquan Boldin	1,067
Andre Johnson	1,062
^Pro Football Hall of Famer

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