NFL – What To Look For Week 10

SECOND-HALF SURGES: Since 2000, 20 teams have reached the halfway point of the season with a .500 or below winning percentage and proceeded to the playoffs, including at least one in each season.

The 2001 New England Patriots started at 4-4 and won seven of their final eight games en route to an 11-5 regular season and the team’s first Super Bowl championship (XXXVI).

In 2002, half of the playoff field of 12 teams consisted of clubs that started at 4-4 or below, including five of the six AFC participants.

The teams since 2000 that started the season at .500 or below through eight games and earned a playoff berth:

Since 2000, the GREEN BAY PACKERS and INDIANAPOLIS COLTS, who are both 4-4, have produced two of the top five records in the NFL in the regular season’s final two months, including January.

The Packers stand fourth in winning percentage in that time period (.667) and the Colts fifth (.630).

The top five records in November and December (including January) since 2000:

ROOKIE QBs RACKING UP WINS & YARDS: The two quarterbacks selected in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft — MATT RYAN (Atlanta, No. 3) and JOE FLACCO (Baltimore, No. 18) — are off to productive starts through the midpoint of the season.

As starting quarterbacks since Week 1, Ryan and Flacco have led their clubs to a combined 10-6 (.625) record (each team is 5-3) and have thrown for a combined 3,125 yards (Ryan, 1,661; Flacco, 1,464).

As Ryan and Flacco begin the second half of their seasons this weekend, they project to post the highest combined winning percentage of two rookie quarterbacks in the same season in the Super Bowl era (minimum eight starts each) and the most combined rookie passing yards all-time.

A look at the highest combined winning percentage by two rookie quarterbacks in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) in a season (minimum eight starts each):

* Through eight games each

The most combined passing yards by two rookie quarterbacks in a season all-time:

* Through eight games each

— NFL —

ROOKIE RB DUOS: Through the midpoint of the season, rookie running backs CHRIS JOHNSON of Tennessee and STEVE SLATON of Houston are on pace to each exceed 1,000 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.

Johnson leads the AFC with 715 rush yards and has five rushing touchdowns. Slaton stands fourth in the conference with 538 yards and has five touchdowns. If both players reach the 1,000-yard/10-touchdown level, they will become the fourth NFL rookie running back duo to accomplish the feat in the same season.

The three rookie running back duos to reach 1,000 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns in the same season:

* Mid-season projections

30-TD RECORD TO FALL?: In 1959, the Baltimore Colts’ JOHNNY UNITAS (32) became the first quarterback in history to throw for 30 touchdowns in a season. In 1980, 2004 and 2007, four quarterbacks reached the 30-touchdown mark, the most in a season.

That mark can fall in 2008. Halfway through the season, five quarterbacks are on pace for 30 or more touchdown passes.

The quarterbacks who project to at least 30 touchdown passes in 2008:

The four quarterbacks who set the NFL record for 30 touchdown passes in a season in 1980, 2004 and 2007:

— NFL —