PASSING FRENZY: Teams have totaled 21,077 net passing yards (439.1 per game) through Week 3 of the 2009 season. With 5,635 passing yards this week (an average of 402.5 per game), 2009 would surpass the record for most net passing yards through the first four weeks of a season in NFL history.
The most net passing yards through the first four weeks of a season in NFL history:
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MOST NET PASSING YARDS THROUGH WEEK 4 |
| 2007 | 26,711 |
| 2002 | 26,016 |
| 2005 | 25,835 |
| 2006 | 25,142 |
| 2004 | 25,141 |
| 2009 | 21,077* |
REVENGE OF THE VIKES: When the Minnesota Vikings face the Green Bay Packers this Monday night, they will seek to start 4-0 after beginning 2008 at 1-3.
With a win, the Vikings would become the ninth club in the past six years to start a season 4-0 after beginning 1-3 or 0-4 the previous year. Seven of the eight teams qualified for the playoffs.
Teams the past six years to start a season 4-0 after a 1-3 or 0-4 start the previous year:
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TEAM | PREVIOUS YEAR | SEASON RESULT |
| 2004 | Atlanta | 3-Jan | Reached Conference Championship |
| 2004 | N.Y. Jets | 0-4 | Reached Divisional Playoffs |
| 2005 | Cincinnati | 3-Jan | Reached Wild Card |
| 2005 | Tampa Bay | 0-4 | Reached Wild Card |
| 2006 | Baltimore | 3-Jan | Reached Divisional Playoffs |
| 2006 | Chicago | 3-Jan | Reached Super Bowl XLI |
| 2007 | Green Bay | 3-Jan | Reached Conference Championship |
| 2008 | Buffalo | 3-Jan | Missed Playoffs |
| 2009 | Minnesota* | 3-Jan | ??? |
ONE FOR ALL: Minnesota Vikings quarterback BRETT FAVRE has defeated 31 different teams as a starter in his career. The 19-year veteran, who spent 16 seasons (1992-2007) in Green Bay, can become the first quarterback to beat all 32 current teams when the Vikings host the Packers on Monday night.
Favre can also become the first quarterback to play at least 16 years for one team and to later start against that team.
MOST IN A DECADE: The Indianapolis Colts are off to a 3-0 start this season and with a win on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks the Colts can extend their record for most 4-0 starts since the 2000 season to five.
Following are the teams with the most 4-0 starts since the 2000 season:
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NUMBER OF 4-0 STARTS SINCE 2000 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 4 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 2 |
| New England Patriots | 2 |
| New York Jets | 2 |
| St. Louis Rams | 2 |
WHAT A CATCH: New England Patriots wide receiver RANDY MOSS is off to the best start of his 12-year career with a league-high 26 receptions in 2009. Moss, who has recorded double digit receptions in two games (10, 12) this season, needs 11 receptions on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens to surpass Phoenix Cardinals wide receiver J.T. SMITH (36 in 1989) for most receptions through a team’s first four games of a season for players in their 10th season or later.
The most receptions through the first four games of a season for players in their 10th season or later:
| PLAYER | TEAM | YEAR/SEASON | RECEPTIONS |
| J.T. Smith | Phoenix Cardinals | 1989/12th | 36 |
| Jerry Rice | San Francisco 49ers | 1995/11th | 34 |
| Tim Brown | Oakland Raiders | 1997/10th | 33 |
| Derrick Mason | Baltimore Ravens | 2007/11th | 33 |
| Issac Bruce | St. Louis Rams | 2004/11th | 32 |
| Terrell Owens | Philadelphia Eagles | 2005/10th | 32 |
| Randy Moss | New England Patriots | 2009/12th | 26* |
EARLY SUCCESS: First-year head coaches JIM CALDWELL of the Indianapolis Colts, JOSH MC DANIELS of the Denver Broncos and REX RYAN of the New York Jets have led their respective teams to 3-0 starts. If all three clubs win this Sunday, Caldwell, McDaniels and Ryan will become the first three rookie head coaches to lead their teams to 4-0 starts in the same season in the Super Bowl era (since 1966).
