The NFL has had quite the year. The storylines are endless, what with the Kansas City Chiefs watching their dynasty end in front of everyone. The Dallas Cowboys sucked us all in for like a few weeks only to take the rug out from everyone. Something is wrong in Philadelphia, and everything seems to be going right in Chicago. At the Meadowlands, everyone is a mess, and everyone is probably losing jobs.
Then, there’s what is happening in Indianapolis right now. The Colts lost surprise star Daniel Jones to a season-ending Achilles injury, and backup Anthony Richardson was injured in a bizarre pregame injury a few weeks ago. That prompted them to sign 44-year-old Philip Rivers to a contract. Some might think that’s an NFL record, but the Atlanta Falcons actually did something even more extreme in 1998 when they signed nearly-45-year-old Steve DeBerg five years after he had his last start.
There have been records broken this season. The field goal record finally went down when the Jaguars’ Cam Little crushed a 68-yarder in November. Puka Nacua caught the most passes through 40 games of his career with 278. The NFL keeps shattering viewership records after tracking companies changed the way they consider viewership. Josh Allen broke Cam Newton’s record for rushing touchdowns by a QB in his career.
There are still a few records on pace to be broken this season. Some of them have been chased for decades.
1. Myles Garrett
Single Seasons Sacks Record
Current Record Holders: T.J. Watt and Michael Strahan
22.5 sacks
Myles Garrett was a name many thought would finally take down the official sacks record. He’s one of the greatest pass rushers in the history of the game. His only issue is that he plays for the Cleveland Browns, who absolutely stink. Opposing teams don’t have to pass much against them, so Garrett’s opportunities to sack the quarterback are limited.
That makes what he is doing this season even more impressive. Garrett currently has 20 sacks. It’s Week 14 as of this writing! He has four games to score three sacks in order to beat Strahan’s record. Hopefully, Brett Favre doesn’t fall on a banana peel to get Garrett his record breaker. Ironically, he could get the record Week 17 against Favre’s old teammate, Aaron Rodgers, when the Browns take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Right now, Garrett is on pace to beat the “unofficial” record. Sacks didn’t become an official stat until 1982. In 1978, Al “Bubba” Baker reportedly had 23 sacks, which would remain the record to this day. Still, the Browns’ star is on pace for a ridiculous 26 sacks. He likely beats the record in 16 games, preserving any arguments that he doesn’t deserve the record because of the extra game. Heck, he might break the record this weekend.
2. Denver Broncos
Team Sacks
Current Record Holder: 1984 Chicago Bears
72 sacks
Let’s stick with passing rushing statistics for this next record. The Denver Broncos' defense has been one of the best ever at getting to the quarterback. They have 55 sacks through 13 games. The 11-2 team is dominating through defense again, allowing Bo Nix and company to settle in on offense while still winning games.
The Broncos are right on pace to tie the record set by the 1984 Chicago Bears. While they aren’t the famous ‘85 Bears, this was still an insane team. The Broncos are on pace to tie them in pass-rushing statistics. Nik Bonitto is leading the way for the Broncos this season with 12.5 sacks, but it’s been a team approach from there. No other player has double-digit sacks, but 14 players have recorded at least one full sack, and even players have three or more.
Somehow, this record is falling under the radar. Maybe it’s because Garrett’s record is considered more impressive or because we don’t pay as much attention to team records as much, but this one might be more impressive. This isn’t one superstar taking over a game. This is one team dominating from all levels. It’s schematic meets talented and everything in between.
3. Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Single-Season Receiving Yards
Current Record Holder: Calvin Johnson
1,964 yards
This is the other record everyone seems to be tracking this season. We thought we fell off track two weeks ago when Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a paltry 23 yards against the Minnesota Vikings. It wasn’t that JSN was bad. He just wasn’t needed in a 26-0 victory. Still, the Seahawks' newest star wants to get back on track, and he put up 92 yards and two touchdowns last weekend against the Falcons.
Honestly, JSN just needs to face a decent team. The Seattle defense is dominating opposing offenses, so Sam Darnold and company only need to do just enough to win. They’ve been getting past teams easily, and Smith-Njigba is up to just 1,428 yards with four games remaining. Two of those games are against the Rams and 49ers, the two teams that Seattle is fighting for NFC West supremacy.
Technically speaking, the past two weeks knocked JSN off the Calvin Johnson pace, but we have faith he’ll put up a monster performance just in time for the fantasy playoffs in Week 14. He’s facing a Sauce Gardner-less Indianapolis Colts team that just signed Philip Rivers. He might get 150 yards in the first half, knowing the record is on the horizon. It’s crunch time, so we see Darnold fitting a few more balls his way. He’s been virtually uncoverable, so he deserves this honor.
4. Josh Allen
Single-Season Rushing Touchdowns by a QB
Current Record Holders: Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts
15 rushing touchdowns
Everything Josh Allen has been doing as of late has been incredible. Coming off his first MVP award, many thought he would dominate just like every other year. This year was different. He took some time to be truly amazing, but now he’s there. Allen is the best quarterback in football again, even if he isn’t the favorite for MVP. A few more records could change that narrative real quick.
For one, he could rush for more touchdowns in a single season than any quarterback ever. He’s currently on pace for 15.7 rushing touchdowns this season. Wouldn’t you know it? The record is 15, which is partially held by Allen. He had 15 rushing scores in 2023, but he’s tied with Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.
It’s time to put the Tush Push to bed and give this record to a real rusher. Allen is the most opportunistic rushing QB in league history. He uses scrambling as a weapon against his opponents. It’s worked out so well. If he has another big rushing performance against the New England Patriots and takes back some ground in the AFC East (while taking out fellow MVP candidate Drake Maye), it will go a long way in his candidacy for back-to-back awards.
5. Trey McBride
Consecutive Games with 5+ Catches
Current Record Holder: Travis Kelce
15 games in a row
Quietly, Trey McBride is putting up superstar numbers at the tight end position. It’s sad that two of the best players at their position (McBride and Brock Bowers) are stuck on two of the worst teams in the league. We’re starting to see McBride cut out his niche in a position that was once owned by the likes of Antonio Gates, Rob Gronkowski, and Travis Kelce.
Speaking of the latter, Mr. Taylor Swift holds a ton of tight-end and receiving records. One of those records speaks to the consistency Kelce had at the peak of his powers with the Kansas City Chiefs. As of right now, McBride and Kelce are tied with 15 games of at least five catches after McBride caught a late reception in what was a decided game against the Rams.
Of course, Kelce’s record is from years ago, so McBride needs just one more consistent outing to beat the record. He’s had at least five receptions each game, no matter if it’s Kyler Murray, Jacoby Brissett, or whoever else Jonathan Gannon decides to put under center. McBride is getting open, so the QB needs to get him the ball. He’s been a revelation for the Cardinals this season. Let’s hope they start building around him.
6. Brandon Aubrey
60+ yard field goals in a season
Current Record Holder: Brandon Aubrey
3 60+ yard field goals
Is it cheating if we pick someone who has already beaten the record this season? We think Brandon Aubrey is going to extend his own record. No player has ever kicked more than one 60+ yard field goal in one season. We’ve already broken a record with the most 60+ yard field goals in the NFL with seven. The previous high was five throughout the league. Aubrey has an outside shot of beating that himself.
The Dallas Cowboys have the best kicker in the league, and it’s really helped shorten the field for their high-powered offense. Aubrey has been a marvel, dominating both at field goals and at the new kickoff return rules. There is no kicker in the league who is as much of a weapon as Aubrey.
And we think he’s going to continue to get the opportunity for really long kicks and deliver them through the uprights. The Cowboys are still fighting for their playoff lives, which means there will be a few desperation decisions. Heck, Aubrey might get a chance to beat Cam Little’s kicking record for the longest field goal in history. Could Aubrey also be the first player ever to kick a 70-yard field goal? It wouldn’t surprise us.
7. Christian McCaffrey
Receiving Yards by a Running Back
Current Record Holder: Marshall Faulk
1,048 yards
Christian McCaffrey is quietly back to being one of the best running backs in football. Honestly, he’s a top-five weapon in the NFL again. After an injury-riddled 2024 (dang Madden Cover Curse), CMC is on pace to get 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving again.
However, he’s also on pace for 1,054 yards receiving. It would be him barely over the record set by Marshall Faulk in 1999, the first year of the “Greatest Show on Turf.” McCaffrey is doing this with Mac Jones starting half of the season. Brock Purdy is back, and the 49ers are in a dog fight for the NFC West. We see CMC getting the brunt of the work. The schedule pretty much says he has to.
That’s because the 49ers' wide receivers are not what they once were. Deebo Samuel was finally traded. Brandon Aiyuk never returned to the field after last year’s injury. Ricky Pearsal hasn’t stayed healthy. Kendrick Bourne is their second-leading receiver after McCaffrey. The Niners have Tennessee this week, which should bring great stats, and they finish with hard matchups with the Bears and Seahawks. We see Kyle Shanahan getting creative with how he uses CMC, and that gets him past Faulk’s record.
8. Justin Herbert
Most passing yards in a player's first six seasons
Current Record Holder: Peyton Manning
24,885 yards
Justin Herbert has had an up-and-down start to his career. He was considered one of the best rookies in recent memory, but he hasn’t quite lived up to those early impacts. Herbert is definitely a good quarterback, but has he been a great quarterback? Let’s ask this, is he a top-10 quarterback in the league? Gut reaction says yes, but it’s not automatic.
Yet, Herbert is about the break a record held for almost 20 years by Peyton Manning. If he stays healthy, the record is his. As of this writing, Herbert sits at just over 24,000 yards passing in his career, which spans six seasons. Manning has 24,885. Herbert can average 205 yards per game and still break the record. He’s going to get there barring a benching or injury or just a calamity of errors that leads to dreadful statistics.
In the meantime, Herbert is going to pass Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes did sit for his first full season in the league, so there’s an asterisk there, but a record is a record. Herbert has had one of the most consistent starts to a career that we’ve ever seen. Can he take that next step to become a top-five quarterback? That remains to be seen.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers
Most consecutive seasons at .500 or better
Current Record Holder: Dallas Cowboys
21 seasons
It’s almost a joke at this point. The Pittsburgh Steelers, no matter the injuries they face, mistakes they make in the offseason, or quarterbacks they decide to put under center, will never finish a season below .500. It’s written in the stars. The Steel City will be mediocre or better. There will be no rebuild when the foundation is made of steel.
There’s so much going on with the Pittsburgh Steelers this season. This is the first year they went with Aaron Rodgers under center, but he’s dealing with a broken wrist. They got rid of George Pickens and replaced him with DK Metcalf. Pickens is dominating in Dallas, who happens to own the previous record for most consecutive seasons with a .500 record.
The Cowboys were at least a .500 team from 1965 to 1985. The Steelers tied that record last season. This year, they aim to break it. The Steelers have the Dolphins, Lions, Browns, and Ravens to finish off their season. They need to win two of those games to break the record. It seems likely, with the Dolphins and Browns being two teams that will easily miss the playoffs. The Steelers also just beat the Ravens, putting their playoff hopes on life support.
10. Matthew Stafford
Oldest first-time MVP winner
Current Record Holder: Rich Gannon
37 years old
Rich Gannon had an insane season in 2002. Out of seemingly nowhere, Gannon became the NFL’s best gunslinger. He was making incredible decisions under center, and his receivers were getting open for huge gains down the field. Gannon used this season to win his first MVP award, beating out Brett Favre for the honor.
Gannon was never the same, putting up the worst Super Bowl performance by a quarterback possibly in history. However, nobody can take that MVP away from him. That’s why Matthew Stafford must want this win very bad. Playing at a time when Tom Brady handed over the torch to Patrick Mahome, along with Aaron Rodgers and Josh Allen, Stafford never got his just due in MVP voting.
Not only has Stafford never gotten serious consideration for MVP, he’s only received votes once. He finished eighth in 2023. Of course, for most of his career, voters only chose their number-one choice, and now there’s a top-five voting technique, but he still didn’t come remotely close. Now, he’s going head-to-head with Drake Maye. It’s a 37, soon-to-be 38-year-old quarterback versus a 23-year-old QB. Stafford might walk off in the sunset with the top player award in the league.