A look at seven statistical highlights from games played at 1:00 p.m. ET and 4:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, December 15, the 15th week of the 2013 season.
The KANSAS CITY CHIEFS defeated the Oakland Raiders 56-31 and clinched a playoff berth. The CINCINNATI BENGALS, who play at Pittsburgh tonight, can clinch the AFC North with a win and a Baltimore loss tomorrow night. The NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS can clinch a playoff berth with a Baltimore loss tomorrow night.
Kansas City running back JAMAAL CHARLES scored five touchdowns in the Chiefs’ win at Oakland. Charles is the first player in NFL history with at least four touchdown receptions and one touchdown run in a single game. His five total touchdowns are tied for the fourth-most in a game in league history and just one shy of the record. Three players scored six touchdowns in a game: ERNIE NEVERS (November 28, 1929), DUB JONES (November 25, 1951) and GALE SAYERS (December 12, 1965).
The Chiefs scored 35 first-half points in the team’s victory. Last week, the Chiefs scored 38 first-half points in Kansas City’s win at Washington. The Chiefs are the only team in NFL history to score at least 35 points in the first half of consecutive games and this is the second time the team has accomplished the feat (December 1 and 8, 2002).
Seattle quarterback RUSSELL WILSON threw a touchdown pass in the Seahawks’ 23-0 win at the New York Giants. Wilson, who now has 50 career touchdown passes, joined Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (68) and PEYTON MANNING (52) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to pass for at least 50 touchdowns in their first two seasons.
Wilson has 23 wins, the most by a starting quarterback in his first two seasons in the Super Bowl era. He passed BEN ROETHLISBERGER (22) with today’s victory.
Indianapolis quarterback ANDREW LUCK passed for 180 yards and two touchdowns in the Colts’ 25-3 win over Houston. Luck has 7,673 career passing yards and joined CAM NEWTON (7,920) and PEYTON MANNING (7,874) as the only quarterbacks with at least 7,500 passing yards in their first two NFL seasons.
Atlanta tight end TONY GONZALEZ had six catches for 62 yards and a touchdown in the Falcons’ 27-26 win over Washington. Gonzalez became the fifth player – and first tight end – in NFL history to reach 15,000 career receiving yards (15,008).
In his career, Gonzalez has 1,313 receptions for 15,008 yards and 110 touchdowns. He and Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE are the only two players in NFL history with at least 1,100 receptions, 15,000 receiving yards and 100 touchdown catches.
In Chicago’s 38-31 win at Cleveland, Bears cornerback ZACK BOWMAN and Browns safety TASHAUN GIPSON each had two interceptions, including a touchdown. It marked the first game since December 12, 1965 in which opposing players each had two interceptions, including an interception-return touchdown, in the same game. In that contest, Philadelphia’s JIM NETTLES (three interceptions, one touchdown) and Pittsburgh’s MARV WOODSON (two interceptions, one touchdown) accomplished the feat.
Minnesota running back MATT ASIATA rushed for three touchdowns in the Vikings’ 48-30 win over Philadelphia. Asiata, who made his first career start, is the first player since DAUNTE CULPEPPER in 2000 (September 3) to rush for his first three touchdowns in his first NFL start.