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NFL: 5 records that could fall during the 2014 season

By Sean Tomlinson

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September 23, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (80) dunks over the goal post after scoring a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the third quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Chiefs defeated the Saints 27-24 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
September 23, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (80) dunks over the goal post after scoring a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the third quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Chiefs defeated the Saints 27-24 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Most receiving touchdowns

Current record: 23 (Randy Moss)

There’s more reaching going on here, admittedly. But a lot of larger, exploding offensive numbers seem possible due to the aforementioned outlawing of almost any contact whatsoever with receivers. And a touchdown mountain that’s only been climbed twice since 1987 is now a little smaller.

Jerry Rice became the first player to score more than 20 receiving touchdowns in a season that year, finishing with 22. His record then stood for two decades until the Randy Moss show in New England happened, and he scored 23 times in 2007. No one else in league history has scored more than 18 receiving touchdowns in a season.

So no, this won’t be easy, but two oft-targeted pass catchers and focal points of their offense have already landed in the same area code. Rob Gronkowski scored 17 times in 2011, and Jimmy Graham topped out at 16 last year, even while being slowed by an ankle injury in several games. They’re both large and surprisingly fast targets who can high-point the ball, and gain body position easily.

Dez Bryant may also have an outside chance here. His totals are set to take a leap due to both the rules emphasis, and the buckets of targets he’ll receive with the Cowboys constantly in shootout mode thanks to a defense that could be historically leaky.

About that…

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