What To Look For – Week 15
NEW YORK –– Dec. 13, 2023 –– Below are teams, players and coaches that can set historic marks or reach career milestones in Week 15 of the 2023 NFL season, including:
Cincinnati (Jake Browning & Ja’Marr Chase)
N.Y. Giants (Tommy DeVito)
Indianapolis (Michael Pittman Jr.)
Denver (Courtland Sutton)
Minnesota (Justin Jefferson)
Detroit (Amon-Ra St. Brown)
San Francisco (Brock Purdy, Deebo Samuel & Christian McCaffrey)
Miami (Tyreek Hill & Raheem Mostert)
Tennessee (Derrick Henry)
Historic coaching matchup (Bill Belichick & Andy Reid)
Cincinnati Bengals.jpg
New York Giants.jpg
BROWNING & DEVITO BURSTING ONTO SCENE
Since becoming Cincinnati’s starting quarterback in Week 12, quarterback JAKE BROWNING has completed 69 of 87 attempts (79.3 percent) with a 113.4 passer rating, the highest completion percentage by a quarterback in his first three career starts since 1950. Browning also joined CHAD PENNINGTON as the only quarterbacks since 1950 with a completion percentage of 70-or-higher and a passer rating of 95-or-higher in each of his first three career starts.
Browning will make his fourth start against Minnesota on Saturday (1 p.m. ET, NFLN) and he has an opportunity to register one of the highest completion percentages and passer ratings by a quarterback in his first four career starts since 1950.
The players with the highest completion percentages in their first four career starts at quarterback since 1950:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON
COMPLETION %
Chad Pennington
New York Jets
2002
76.9
Kurt WarnerHOF
St. Louis Rams
1999
72.6
Taysom Hill
New Orleans
2020
71.9
Jake Browning
Cincinnati
2023
79.3*
*in first three starts
The players with the highest passer ratings in their first four career starts at quarterback since 1950:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON(S)
PASSER RATING
Kurt WarnerHOF
St. Louis Rams
1999
136.0
Patrick Mahomes
Kansas City
2017-18
125.8
Frank Reich
Buffalo
1989
114.9
Jake Browning
Cincinnati
2023
113.4*
*in first three starts
New York Giants rookie quarterback TOMMY DEVITO, signed by the team as an undrafted free agent, has won three consecutive games, with a passer rating of 100-or-higher and no interceptions in each win.
With a win at New Orleans on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, FOX), DeVito would become the first undrafted rookie quarterback in the common-draft era to win four overall games as a starter. He can also become the first undrafted rookie in the common-draft era to record a passer rating of 100-or-higher in four games.
DeVito can become the third rookie in NFL history with no interceptions and a passer rating of 100-or-higher in four-or-more consecutive games, joining DAK PRESCOTT (2016) and RUSSELL WILSON (2012).
The rookie quarterbacks with no interceptions and a passer rating of 100-or-higher in the most consecutive games in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON
GAMES
Dak Prescott
Dallas
2016
5 (Weeks 9-13)
Dak Prescott
Dallas
2016
4 (Weeks 2-5)
Russell Wilson
Seattle
2012
4 (Weeks 9-13)
Tommy DeVito
New York Giants
2023
3* (Weeks 11-14)
*active streak
Indianapolis Colts.jpgDenver Broncos.jpgMinnesota Vikings.jpgCincinnati Bengals (2).jpgDetroit Lions.jpgSEVERAL RECEIVERS CAN HIT MARKS IN SATURDAY TRIPLEHEADER
Indianapolis wide receiver MICHAEL PITTMAN JR. ranks fourth in the league with 95 receptions and can become the first Colts player to record at least 100 receptions in a season since REGGIE WAYNE in 2012 (106 receptions). Pittman has totaled at least eight receptions in each of his past six games.
With eight catches against Pittsburgh on Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, NFLN), Pittman will become the sixth player ever to record at least eight receptions in seven consecutive games, joining ANTONIO BROWN (eight consecutive games in 2014), AMON-RA ST. BROWN (eight from 2021-22), MICHAEL THOMAS (eight in 2019), ANQUAN BOLDIN (seven in 2005) and TRAVIS KELCE (seven in 2020).
The players with at least eight receptions in the most consecutive games in history:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON(S)
GAMES
Antonio Brown
Pittsburgh
2014
8
Amon-Ra St. Brown
Detroit
2021-22
8
Michael Thomas
New Orleans
2019
8
Anquan Boldin
Arizona
2005
7
Travis Kelce
Kansas City
2020
7
Michael Pittman Jr.
Indianapolis
2023
6*
*active streak
Denver wide receiver COURTLAND SUTTON ranks tied for second in the league with a career-high 10 touchdown receptions and is the first Broncos player with at least 10 touchdown receptions in a season since JULIUS THOMAS (12 touchdown receptions) and DEMARYIUS THOMAS (11) in 2014. Sutton has caught a touchdown in each of Denver’s six road games this season.
With a touchdown reception at Detroit on Saturday night (8:15 p.m. ET, NFLN), Sutton will become the fifth player in NFL history with a touchdown reception in each of his team’s first seven road games of a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers RANDY MOSS (first eight road games in 2007) and LANCE ALWORTH (seven in 1965) as well as DAVANTE ADAMS (seven in 2017) and DONTE’ STALLWORTH (seven in 2002).
The players with a touchdown reception in the most consecutive road games to begin a season in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON
GAMES
Randy MossHOF
New England
2007
8
Lance AlworthHOF
San Diego Chargers
1965
7
Davante Adams
Green Bay
2017
7
Donte’ Stallworth
New Orleans
2002
7
Courtland Sutton
Denver
2023
6*
*active streak
Since entering the league in 2020, Minnesota wide receiver JUSTIN JEFFERSON ranks second among all players with 5,423 receiving yards. With 90 receiving yards at Cincinnati on Saturday (1 p.m. ET, NFLN), Jefferson will surpass MICHAEL THOMAS (5,512 receiving yards) for the most by a player in his first four seasons in NFL history.
Cincinnati wide receiver JA’MARR CHASE has totaled 3,593 receiving yards and 29 touchdown receptions since entering the league in 2021. With a touchdown reception against Minnesota on Saturday, Chase will become the fourth player ever with 3,500 receiving yards and 30 touchdown receptions in his first three seasons, joining ODELL BECKHAM JR. and Pro Football Hall of Famers RANDY MOSS and JERRY RICE.
Detroit wide receiver AMON-RA ST. BROWN is one of six players this season with at least 85 receptions (87) and 1,000 receiving yards (1,063). With three receptions against Denver on Saturday night (8:15 p.m. ET, NFLN), St. Brown will become the third player ever to record 90 receptions and 900 receiving yards in each of his first three seasons, joining ODELL BECKHAM JR. and MICHAEL THOMAS.
San Francisco 49ers.jpg49ERS CONTINUE ON A ROLL
San Francisco second-year quarterback BROCK PURDY leads all qualified passers in completion percentage (70.2) and passer rating (116.9) this season.
Purdy has seven consecutive games with a completion percentage of 70-or-higher and at Arizona on Sunday (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS), can become the second quarterback in NFL history with a completion percentage of 70-or-higher in eight consecutive games within a season in NFL history, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer JOE MONTANA (eight consecutive games in 1989).
The players with the most consecutive games with a completion percentage of 70-or-higher within a season in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON
GAMES
Joe MontanaHOF
San Francisco
1989
8
Drew Brees
New Orleans
2016
7
Sam Bradford
Minnesota
2016
7
Brock Purdy
San Francisco
2023
7*
*active streak
Since entering the NFL in 2022, Purdy has 12 career games with a passer rating of 110-or-higher and, with his next such performance, can tie JUSTIN HERBERT (13 games) for the second-most such games by a player in his first two seasons in NFL history. Only RUSSELL WILSON (14) has more.
The players with the most games with a passer rating of 110-or-higher in their first two seasons in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
GAMES
Russell Wilson
Seattle
14
Justin Herbert
Los Angeles Chargers
13
Dan MarinoHOF
Miami
12
Brock Purdy
San Francisco
12*
*in second season
Over the past two weeks, wide receiver DEEBO SAMUEL became the second player in NFL history with at least 100 receiving yards, one touchdown reception and one rushing touchdown in consecutive games, joining TIMMY BROWN (Weeks 12-13, 1960 with Philadelphia).
In Week 15, Samuel can become the second player in NFL history to record both a rushing touchdown and receiving touchdown in three consecutive games, joining PETE JOHNSON (Weeks 11-13, 1981 with Cincinnati).
Running back CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY leads the league with 1,614 scrimmage yards (1,177 rushing, 437 receiving). With 63 receiving yards on Sunday, McCaffrey would become the fourth player in NFL history to record at least 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in four-or-more career seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers MARSHALL FAULK (five seasons) and THURMAN THOMAS (four) as well as TIKI BARBER (four). McCaffrey reached the marks in 2018, 2019 and 2022.
The players with at least 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in the most career seasons in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM(S)
SEASONS
Marshall FaulkHOF
St. Louis Rams
5
Tiki Barber
New York Giants
4
Thurman ThomasHOF
Buffalo
4
Christian McCaffrey
Carolina, San Francisco
3*
*has 1,177 rushing yards and 437 receiving yards in 2023
Since entering the league in 2017, McCaffrey has totaled 5,903 rushing yards and 4,193 receiving yards. With 97 rushing yards, he will become the third player ever with at least 6,000 rushing yards and 4,000 receiving yards in his first seven seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer MARSHALL FAULK and ROGER CRAIG.
Miami Dolphins.jpgHILL AND MOSTERT SETTING THE PACE
Miami wide receiver TYREEK HILL leads the league with 1,542 receiving yards and 12 touchdown receptions this season, including eight games with at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown.
On Sunday against the New York Jets (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Hill needs 58 receiving yards to become the fourth player in the Super Bowl era and sixth player ever with at least 1,600 receiving yards in their team’s first 14 games of a season.
The players with the most receiving yards in their team’s first 14 games of a season in history:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON
REC. YARDS
Charlie Hennigan
Houston Oilers
1961
1,746
Calvin JohnsonHOF
Detroit
2012
1,667
Cooper Kupp
Los Angeles Rams
2021
1,625
Justin Jefferson
Minnesota
2022
1,623
Lance AlworthHOF
San Diego Chargers
1965
1,602
Tyreek Hill
Miami
2023
1,542*
*in first 13 games
With 100 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in another game this season, Hill will become the fifth player ever with nine such games in a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers ELROY “CRAZY LEGS” HIRSCH (1951), MICHAEL IRVIN (1995) and RANDY MOSS (2007) as well as COOPER KUPP (2021).
The players with the most games with at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in a season in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON
GAMES
Elroy HirschHOF
Los Angeles Rams
1951
9
Michael IrvinHOF
Dallas
1995
9
Cooper Kupp
Los Angeles Rams
2021
9
Randy MossHOF
New England
2007
9
Tyreek Hill
Miami
2023
8*
*entering Week 15
Running back RAHEEM MOSTERT leads the NFL with a career-high 18 scrimmage touchdowns and career-high 16 rushing touchdowns. With his next rushing touchdown, he would surpass ARIAN FOSTER (16 rushing touchdowns in 2010) for the fourth-most rushing touchdowns by an undrafted player in a season since 1967. Only PRIEST HOLMES (27 rushing touchdowns in 2003 and 21 in 2002) and LEGARRETTE BLOUNT (18 in 2016) have more.
The undrafted players with the most rushing touchdowns in a season since 1967:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON
RUSH TDs
Priest Holmes
Kansas City
2003
27
Priest Holmes
Kansas City
2002
21
LeGarrette Blount
New England
2016
18
Arian Foster
Houston
2010
16
Raheem Mostert
Miami
2023
16*
*entering Week 15
With two scrimmage touchdowns, Mostert will also become the third undrafted player since 1967 to record at least 20 touchdowns in a season, joining AUSTIN EKELER (20 touchdowns in 2021) and PRIEST HOLMES (27 touchdowns in 2003 and 24 in 2002).
Tennessee Titans.jpgKING HENRY MOVING UP ALL-TIME RANKS
Tennessee running back DERRICK HENRY ranks tied for fourth in the NFL with 10 rushing touchdowns, becoming the third player ever to record at least 10 rushing touchdowns in six consecutive seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer LADAINIAN TOMLINSON (nine consecutive seasons) and ADRIAN PETERSON (seven).
If Henry totals 12 rushing touchdowns this season, he will become the fifth player ever with at least 12 rushing touchdowns in five-or-more of his first eight seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers LADAINIAN TOMLINSON (six seasons) and EMMITT SMITH (five) as well as SHAUN ALEXANDER (five) and ADRIAN PETERSON (five).
Henry has recorded two rushing touchdowns in each of his past three games. With two rushing touchdowns against Houston on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS), he will become the fourth player since 2000 to record at least two rushing touchdowns in four consecutive games, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer LADAINIAN TOMLINSON (eight consecutive games in 2006), PRIEST HOLMES (six from 2003-04) and RICKY WILLIAMS (four in 2002).
Since entering the league in 2016, Henry has multiple rushing touchdowns in 23 games, more than any other player. With another such performance this season, he will tie PRIEST HOLMES (24 games) for the fourth-most games with at least two rushing touchdowns by a player in his first eight seasons in NFL history.
The players with the most games with at least two rushing touchdowns in their first eight seasons in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM(S)
GAMES
LaDainian TomlinsonHOF
San Diego Chargers
32
Emmitt SmithHOF
Dallas
28
Shaun Alexander
Seattle
25
Priest Holmes
Kansas City, Baltimore
24
Jim BrownHOF
Cleveland
23
Derrick Henry
Tennessee
23*
*in eighth season
Baltimore Ravens.jpgDallas Cowboys.jpgMADUBUIKE LOOKS TO EXTEND SACK STREAK, PARSONS AIMS FOR 13
Baltimore defensive tackle JUSTIN MADUBUIKE has a career-high 11 sacks in 2023, the most in a season by a Ravens player since TERRELL SUGGS (11 sacks) in 2017. He has recorded at least a half sack in each of his past 10 games.
With a half sack at Jacksonville on Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), Madubuike will become the sixth player to record at least half a sack in 11 consecutive games since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, joining JEVON KEARSE (12 consecutive games from 1999-2000), JARED ALLEN (11 from 2010-11), SHAUN ELLIS (11 from 2002-03), TREY HENDRICKSON (11 in 2021) and CHRIS JONES (11 in 2018). Madubuike would join Hendrickson and Jones as the only three to have the streak within a single season.
The players with at least half a sack in the most consecutive games since 1982:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON(S)
GAMES
Jevon Kearse
Tennessee
1999-2000
12
Jared Allen
Minnesota
2010-11
11
Shaun Ellis
New York Jets
2002-03
11
Trey Hendrickson
Cincinnati
2021
11
Chris Jones
Kansas City
2018
11
Justin Madubuike
Baltimore
2023
10*
*active streak
Dallas linebacker MICAH PARSONS ranks eighth in the NFL with 12.5 sacks this season. Since entering the league in 2021, his 39 sacks are the fourth-most among all players.
With a half sack at Buffalo on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET, FOX), Parsons – who had 13 sacks as a rookie in 2021 and 13.5 sacks in 2022 – will join Pro Football Hall of Famer REGGIE WHITE as the only players to record at least 13 sacks in each of their first three NFL seasons since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic.
With a full sack on Sunday, Parsons will become the fifth player since 1982 with at least 40 sacks in his first three seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers REGGIE WHITE (52 sacks) and DERRICK THOMAS (43.5) as well as ALDON SMITH (42).
The players with at least 40 sacks in their first three NFL seasons since 1982:
PLAYER
TEAM
SACKS
Reggie WhiteHOF
Philadelphia
52
Derrick ThomasHOF
Kansas City
43.5
Aldon Smith
San Francisco
42
Micah Parsons
Dallas
39*
*in third season
Kansas City Chiefs.jpgNew England Patriots.jpgREID & BELICHICK MEET IN HISTORIC COACHING MATCHUP
New England head coach BILL BELICHICK ranks third in NFL history with 301 career regular-season wins, while Kansas City head coach ANDY REID ranks fourth with 255.
When the Patriots host the Chiefs on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, FOX), it will mark the first game in NFL history featuring two opposing head coaches each with at least 250 career regular-season wins.
Their 556 combined wins will be the most-ever combined regular-season wins by two opposing head coaches in a single game, surpassing the 496 combined wins by Pro Football Hall of Famers DON SHULA and TOM LANDRY when the Dolphins and Cowboys met on Nov. 22, 1987.
