NFL Week 16: Nice stuff to watch
We play Grinch and add naughty notes to league's list.
Under the direction of PR/communication bosses Sam Drexler and Cody Enos, our hard-working compadres from NFL HQ are doing their best to stay atop the fast-moving assault on record books to help you know what to look for in Week 16.
The good stuff, anyway. With the myriad of rule changes this century and a cautious evolution to the spread offense and RPO, Ã la college football, there is a blitz on the record books and such names as Rice, Marino, Hayes, and Ditka.
Mmm. Check here and fill in the name of the player on whom you seek more profound knowledge.
Other significant things are happening that NFL HQ sidesteps, like the plight of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, for which you must trust the honest-to-a-fault observations of Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman, easily the NFL’s best analyst on television. Troy pointed out a shot of Caleb’s sideline composure that went viral.
To me, Caleb’s reaction wasn’t new. It was reminiscent of the night in 2023 when Caleb collapsed on national TV in his mother’s arms after losing to Oregon and Bo Nix. We noted much of his on-field play back then, which we thought needed plenty of work before being NFL-ready. The list of concerns familiar to us is now being seriously pondered by those in Chicago who are suddenly discovering them.
Yes, we are revisiting that pre-draft warning again because (1) we were told it was too harsh, and (2) we want you to appreciate our analysis as we dive into the 2025 draft season, our 37th as NFL Draft Scout.
In this Week 16 What to Watch, there is no mention of Caleb, the Bears’ eight-game losing streak, or any other negatives. It is the Christmas holiday, so put on a happy face and dive into this data with a ho-ho-ho.
The sleigh is leaving. Hop on.
NEW YORK — Dec. 18, 2024 — Below are players who can set historic marks or reach career milestones in Week 16 of the 2024 NFL season: • QB Josh Allen • QB Jalen Hurts • RB Saquon Barkley • WR A.J. Brown • QB Lamar Jackson • QB Joe Burrow • WR Ja’Marr Chase • RB Derrick Henry • TE Brock Bowers • WR Malik Nabers • RB Tyrone Tracy JOSH ALLEN Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen, over the past three weeks, has become … • The first quarterback ever with a passing touchdown, rushing touchdown and receiving touchdown in the same game (Week 13). • The first player all-time with at least three touchdown passes and three rushing touchdowns in a regular-season game (Week 14). • The first player in NFL history with at least two touchdown passes and two rushing touchdowns in consecutive games (Week 14-15). On Sunday against New England (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS), Allen can become the fifth player all-time with at least four offensive touchdowns (passing, rushing and receiving combined) in four consecutive games, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning (five consecutive games in 2004) and Dan Marino (four in 1984) as well as Tom Brady (four in 2020-21) and Drew Brees (four in 2018). The players with at least four offensive touchdowns (passing, rushing and receiving combined) in the most consecutive games in NFL history: PLAYER TEAM SEASON(S) GAMES Peyton Manning HOF Indianapolis 2004 5 Tom Brady Tampa Bay 2020-21 4 Drew Brees New Orleans 2018 4 Dan Marino HOF Miami 1984 4 Josh Allen Buffalo 2024 3* *active streak In Week 16, Allen can join Justin Fields (2022) and Kyler Murray (2020) as the only players with a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown in five consecutive games. Additionally, Allen can also join Justin Fields (2022) and Johnny Lujack (1950) as the only quarterbacks all-time with a rushing touchdown in six consecutive games. This season, Allen has 36 combined passing and rushing touchdowns (25 passing, 11 rushing) and can join Aaron Rodgers (six seasons) as the only players in NFL history with five career seasons with at least 40 combined passing and rushing touchdowns. Allen has 30,193 combined passing and rushing yards (26,098 passing, 4,095 rushing) in his career and can surpass Patrick Mahomes (30,360) for the most combined passing and rushing yards by a player in his first seven seasons in NFL history. Allen as 63 career games with at least two touchdown passes and with his next such performance, can tie Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (64 games) for the third-most games with multiple touchdown passes in a player’s first seven seasons in NFL history. Only Patrick Mahomes (67 games) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (65) have more. The players with the most games with at least two touchdown passes in their first seven seasons in NFL history: PLAYER TEAM GAMES Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 67 Dan Marino HOF Miami 65 Peyton Manning HOF Indianapolis 64 Josh Allen Buffalo 63* *in seventh season JALEN HURTS, SAQUON BARKLEY and A.J. BROWN Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts has 18 touchdown passes and 14 rushing touchdowns this season, including nine games with both a touchdown pass and a rushing touchdown. With another such performance against Washington (1 p.m. ET, FOX), Hurts can join Josh Allen (11 games in 2023) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history with a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown in 10 games within a season. With a rushing touchdown, Hurts can tie the single-season record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, a mark that he and Josh Allen set last season (15 rushing touchdowns each). The quarterbacks with the most rushing touchdowns in a season in NFL history: PLAYER TEAM SEASON RUSH TDs Josh Allen Buffalo 2023 15 Jalen Hurts Philadelphia 2023 15 Jalen Hurts Philadelphia 2024 14* Cam Newton Carolina 2011 14 *entering Week 16 Hurts has 55 career regular-season rushing touchdowns – the third-most by a quarterback in NFL history – and with a rushing touchdown on Sunday, can surpass Derrick Henry (55 rushing touchdowns) for the fifth-most by a player in his first five seasons since 2000. The players with the most rushing touchdowns in their first five seasons since 2000: PLAYER TEAM RUSH TDs LaDainian Tomlinson HOF San Diego Chargers 72 Adrian Peterson Minnesota 64 Shaun Alexander Seattle 62 Todd Gurley St. Louis/L.A. Rams 58 Derrick Henry Tennessee 55 Jalen Hurts Philadelphia 55* *in fifth season Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley leads the league with 1,964 scrimmage yards in 2024 and can become the fourth non-rookie in NFL history to record 2,000 scrimmage yards in his first season with a team, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk (2,429 scrimmage yards in 1999 with the St. Louis Rams), Priest Holmes (2,169 in 2001 with Kansas City) and Ricky Williams (2,216 in 2002 with Miami). Barkley, who had 2,028 scrimmage yards as a rookie with the New York Giants in 2018, can become the fourth player in NFL history to record 2,000 scrimmage yards in a season with two franchises, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Eric Dickerson (L.A. Rams and Indianapolis Colts) and Marshall Faulk (St. Louis Rams and Indianapolis Colts) as well as Christian McCaffrey (Carolina and San Francisco). Last week, Philadelphia wide receiver A.J. Brown recorded his 20th career game with at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown reception. With another such performance, Brown can tie Pro Football Hall of Famers Marvin Harrison (21 games) and Calvin Johnson (21) for the fourth-most games with at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown reception by a player in his first six seasons. The players with the most games with at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in their first six seasons in NFL history: PLAYER TEAM(S) GAMES Randy Moss HOF Minnesota 31 Lance Alworth HOF San Diego Chargers 28 Jerry Rice HOF San Francisco 27 Marvin Harrison HOF Indianapolis 21 Calvin Johnson HOF Detroit 21 A.J. Brown Tennessee, Philadelphia 20* *in sixth season LAMAR JACKSON Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson has 3,580 passing yards with 34 touchdown passes and only three interceptions for a league-leading 120.7 passer rating along with 743 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns this season. On Saturday against Pittsburgh (4:30 p.m. ET, FOX), he can become the first player in NFL history with at least 35 touchdown passes and three-or-fewer interceptions in his first 15 games of a season and the first player ever with at least 40 combined passing and rushing touchdowns and three-or-fewer interceptions in his first 15 games of a season. Jackson has 11 games with a passer rating of 100-or-higher this season, including seven games with a 125-or-better rating. With a passer rating of 125-or-higher on Saturday, he can join Aaron Rodgers (nine games in 2020) as the only players with eight games with a passer rating of 125-or-higher in a season in NFL history. Jackson has nine games with at least two touchdown passes and no interceptions this season and can become the third player in NFL history with multiple touchdown passes and no interceptions in 10-or-more games in a season, joining Tom Brady (11 games in 2010) and Aaron Rodgers (13 games in 2021, 11 in both 2020 and 2014 and 10 games in 2016). Jackson has 6,001 career rushing yards and with 109 rushing yards, can surpass Michael Vick (6,109 rushing yards) for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history. JOE BURROW Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow leads the NFL with 3,977 passing yards and 36 touchdown passes this season and has passed for at least three touchdowns in each of his past six games. This week, Burrow can become the fourth player in NFL history with 4,000 passing yards and 30 touchdown passes in three of his first five seasons, joining Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes and Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino. On Sunday against Cleveland (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Burrow can become the fifth player all-time with at least three touchdown passes in seven consecutive games, joining Tom Brady (10 consecutive games in 2007) and Andrew Luck (eight in 2018) as well as Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning (eight in 2004) and Dan Marino (seven from 1986-87). The players with at least three touchdown passes in the most consecutive games in NFL history: PLAYER TEAM SEASON(S) GAMES Tom Brady New England 2007 10 Andrew Luck Indianapolis 2018 8 Peyton Manning HOF Indianapolis 2004 8 Dan Marino HOF Miami 1986-87 7 Joe Burrow Cincinnati 2024 6* *active streak Burrow has 43 career games with at least two touchdown passes and can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (43 games) for the fifth-most games with at least two touchdown passes by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history. The players with the most games with at least two touchdown passes in their first five seasons in NFL history: PLAYER TEAM GAMES Dan Marino HOF Miami 50 Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 46 Josh Allen Buffalo 45 Andrew Luck Indianapolis 45 Joe Burrow Cincinnati 43* Peyton Manning HOF Indianapolis 43 *in fifth season JA’MARR CHASE Cincinnati wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase leads the NFL with 102 receptions, 1,413 receiving yards and 15 touchdown receptions this season and leads all players with 44 touchdown receptions since he entered the NFL in 2021. On Sunday against Cleveland (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Chase can become the third player in NFL history with at least 100 receptions, 1,500 receiving yards and 15 touchdown receptions in his first 15 games in a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Randy Moss (2003) and Jerry Rice (1995). Chase has 5,130 career receiving yards since entering the NFL in 2021 and with 16 receiving yards, can surpass CeeDee Lamb (5,145 receiving yards) for the fourth-most by a player in his first four seasons in NFL history. The players with the most receiving yards in their first four seasons in NFL history: PLAYER TEAM REC. YARDS Justin Jefferson Minnesota 5,899 Michael Thomas New Orleans 5,512 Randy Moss HOF Minnesota 5,396 CeeDee Lamb Dallas 5,145 Ja’Marr Chase Cincinnati 5,130* *in fourth season On Sunday, Chase can tie Pro Football Hall of Famer Bob Hayes (45 touchdown receptions) for the third-most touchdown receptions by a player in his first four seasons in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers Randy Moss (53 touchdown receptions) and Jerry Rice (49) have more. The players with the most touchdown receptions in their first four seasons in NFL history: PLAYER TEAM REC. TDs Randy Moss HOF Minnesota 53 Jerry Rice HOF San Francisco 49 Bob Hayes HOF Dallas 45 Ja’Marr Chase Cincinnati 44* Rob Gronkowski New England 42 *in fourth season JARED GOFF and AMON-RA ST. BROWN Detroit quarterback Jared Goff passed for 494 yards and five touchdowns last week, his 40th career game with at least 300 passing yards. On Sunday at Chicago, Goff can tie Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (41 games) and Matt Ryan (41) for the second-most games with at least 300 passing yards by a player in his first nine seasons in NFL history. The players with the most games with at least 300 passing yards in their first nine seasons in NFL history: PLAYER TEAM(S) GAMES Patrick Mahomes # Kansas City 47 Dan Marino HOF Miami 41 Matt Ryan Atlanta 41 Jared Goff * L.A. Rams, Detroit 40 Peyton Manning HOF Indianapolis 40 *in ninth season #in eighth season Goff enters Week 16 with 2,971 career completions and can become the fifth player all-time with at least 3,000 completions in his first nine seasons, joining Matt Ryan (3,288 completions), Derek Carr (3,201), Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (3,131) and Matthew Stafford (3,005). Detroit wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown set career highs in receptions (14) and receiving yards (193) in Week 15 and has 95 receptions for 1,056 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. With five receptions in Week 16, St. Brown can become the third player in NFL history with 100 receptions in three of his first four seasons, joining Brandon Marshall and Michael Thomas. St. Brown has 19 career games with at least 100 receiving yards and with another such performance in Week 16, can become the fourth player in NFL history with 20 such games in his first four career seasons, joining Justin Jefferson (29 games), Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss (23) and A.J. Green (20). The players with the most games with at least 100 receiving yards in their first four seasons in NFL history: PLAYER TEAM GAMES Justin Jefferson Minnesota 29 Randy Moss HOF Minnesota 23 A.J. Green Cincinnati 20 Amon-Ra St. Brown Detroit 19* *in fourth season BROCK BOWERS, MALIK NABERS and TYRONE TRACY Las Vegas rookie tight end Brock Bowers and New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers rank tied for fourth in the NFL with 90 receptions this season. In Week 16, Bowers (against Jacksonville on Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS) and Nabers (at Atlanta, 1 p.m. ET, FOX) can surpass Michael Thomas (92 receptions in 2016) for the fourth-most receptions by a rookie in NFL history. The rookies with the most receptions in NFL history: PLAYER TEAM SEASON RECEPTIONS Puka Nacua L.A. Rams 2023 105 Jaylen Waddle Miami 2021 104 Anquan Boldin Arizona 2003 101 Michael Thomas New Orleans 2016 92 Three tied at 91 Brock Bowers Las Vegas 2024 90* Malik Nabers N.Y. Giants 2024 90* *entering Week 16 Bowers leads all tight ends with 968 receiving yards this season and in Week 16, can join Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka (1,076 receiving yards in 1961) and Kyle Pitts (1,026 in 2021) as the only rookie tight ends all-time with 1,000 receiving yards. The rookie tight ends with the most receiving yards in NFL history: PLAYER TEAM SEASON REC. YARDS Mike Ditka HOF Chicago 1961 1,076 Kyle Pitts Atlanta 2021 1,026 Brock Bowers Las Vegas 2024 968* *entering Week 16 Nabers (903 scrimmage yards in 2024) and New York Giants rookie running back Tyrone Tracy (915 scrimmage yards this season) can become the third pair of rookie teammates each with at least 1,000 scrimmage yards in the same season, joining New Orleans’ Reggie Bush and Marques Colston (2006) and the Dallas Texans’ Abner Haynes and Pro Football Hall of Famer Johnny Robinson (1960).