What To Look For – Week 15

NEW YORK — Dec. 11, 2024 — Below are teams and players that can set historic marks or reach career milestones in Week 15 of the 2024 NFL season, including:

  • Kansas City Chiefs
  • QB Patrick Mahomes
  • RB Saquon Barkley
  • QB Justin Herbert
  • QB Joe Burrow
  • WR Ja’Marr Chase
  • RB Derrick Henry
  • QB Jayden Daniels
  • QB Bo Nix
  • TE Brock Bowers

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

The Kansas City Chiefs improved to 12-1 this season after defeating the Los Angeles Chargers, 19-17, on a game-winning field goal with no time remaining in Week 14. The Chiefs – who defeated Carolina, 30-27, in Week 12 and Las Vegas, 19-17, in Week 13 – can become the second team in NFL history to win four consecutive games by three-or-fewer points in a season, joining the 1986 New York Giants (Weeks 9-12).

Ten of the Chiefs’ 12 victories this season have been by one score (eight points or fewer) and at Cleveland on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Kansas City can join the 2022 Minnesota Vikings as the only teams to win 11 one-score games in a season in NFL history.

The teams with the most one-score victories in a season in NFL history:

TEAMSEASONONE-SCORE WINS
Minnesota202211
Kansas City202410
Seattle201910
Houston Oilers197810

With a win, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid – who won 13 games with Philadelphia in 2004 and 14 games with Kansas City in 2020 and 2022 – can become the fourth head coach all-time to win at least 13 games in four different seasons, joining Bill Belichick (seven seasons), Sean Payton (four) and George Seifert (four).

PATRICK MAHOMES

Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes has 239 touchdown passes and 31,613 passing yards since entering the NFL in 2017.

On Sunday at Cleveland (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Mahomes can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (241 touchdown passes) for the second-most touchdown passes by a player in his first eight seasons in NFL history and surpass Derek Carr (31,700 passing yards) for the third-most passing yards ever by a player in his first eight seasons.

The players with the most touchdown passes in their first eight seasons in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMTD PASSES
Peyton Manning HOFIndianapolis244
Dan Marino HOFMiami241
Patrick MahomesKansas City239*
*in eighth season

The players with the most passing yards in their first eight seasons in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMPASS YARDS
Peyton Manning HOFIndianapolis33,189
Matt RyanAtlanta32,757
Derek CarrOakland Raiders31,700
Patrick MahomesKansas City31,613*
Dan Marino HOFMiami31,416
*in eighth season

Including the postseason, Mahomes has 298 career combined passing and rushing touchdowns (280 passing, 18 rushing) in 127 games and can surpass Aaron Rodgers (135 games) as the fastest player to reach 300 combined passing and rushing touchdowns, including the postseason, in NFL history.

The fastest players to reach 300 combined passing and rushing touchdowns, including the postseason, in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMGAMES
Aaron RodgersGreen Bay135
Dan Marino HOFMiami149
Russell WilsonSeattle151
Peyton Manning HOFIndianapolis152
   
Patrick MahomesKansas City127*
*has 298 combined passing and rushing touchdowns

SAQUON BARKLEY

Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley leads the NFL with 1,623 rushing yards in 13 games this season.

On Sunday against Pittsburgh (4:25 p.m. ET, FOX), Barkley can become the fourth player since 2000 with at least 1,700 rushing yards in his first 14 games of a season and the first since Adrian Peterson in 2012 (1,812 rushing yards).

The players with the most rushing yards in their first 14 games of a season in since 2000:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONRUSH YARDS
Adrian PetersonMinnesota20121,812
Jamal LewisBaltimore20031,747
Chris JohnsonTennessee20091,730
    
Saquon BarkleyPhiladelphia20241,623*
*in first 13 games

Barkley leads the league with 1,890 scrimmage yards in 2024 and can become the fourth non-rookie in NFL history to record 2,000 scrimmage yards in his first season with a team, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk (2,429 scrimmage yards in 1999 with the St. Louis Rams), Priest Holmes (2,169 in 2001 with Kansas City) and Ricky Williams (2,216 in 2002 with Miami).

Barkley, who had 2,028 scrimmage yards as a rookie with the New York Giants in 2018, can become the fourth player in NFL history to record 2,000 scrimmage yards in a season with two franchises, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Eric Dickerson (L.A. Rams and Indianapolis Colts) and Marshall Faulk (St. Louis Rams and Indianapolis Colts) as well as Christian McCaffrey (Carolina and San Francisco).

JUSTIN HERBERT

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, from Weeks 3-14, became the second player in NFL history without an interception in 11 consecutive games (minimum 15 pass attempts in each game) within a single season, joining Tom Brady (11 consecutive games in 2010).

Herbert has 335 consecutive pass attempts without an interception and on Sunday against Tampa Bay (4:25 p.m. ET, FOX), can surpass Tom Brady (358 consecutive attempts from 2010-11) for the fourth-most consecutive pass attempts without an interception in NFL history.

The players with the most consecutive pass attempts without an interception in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMSEASON(S)CONSECUTIVE ATTEMPTS
Aaron RodgersGreen Bay2018402
Tom BradyTampa Bay2022399
Jared GoffDetroit2022-23383
Tom BradyNew England2010-11358
Justin HerbertL.A. Chargers2024335*
Derek CarrOakland Raiders2018332
*active streak   

Herbert has 19,987 passing yards since entering the NFL in 2020 and can join Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (20,618 passing yards) as the only players with at least 20,000 passing yards in their first five seasons in NFL history.

JOE BURROW

Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow leads the NFL with 3,706 passing yards and 33 touchdown passes this season and has passed for at least 300 yards and three touchdowns in each of his past four games.

On Sunday at Tennessee (1 p.m. ET, FOX), Burrow can join Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Young (1998) as the only players in NFL history with at least 300 passing yards and three touchdown passes in five consecutive games.

In Week 15, Burrow can become the fifth player all-time with at least three touchdown passes in six consecutive games, joining Tom Brady (10 consecutive games in 2007) and Andrew Luck (eight in 2018) as well as Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning (eight in 2004) and Dan Marino (seven from 1986-87).

The players with at least three touchdown passes in the most consecutive games in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMSEASON(S)GAMES
Tom BradyNew England200710
Andrew LuckIndianapolis20188
Peyton Manning HOFIndianapolis20048
Dan Marino HOFMiami1986-877
    
Joe BurrowCincinnati20245*
*active streak

Burrow, who had 35 touchdown passes in 2022, can become the fifth player in NFL history with at least 35 touchdown passes in two of his first five seasons, joining Josh Allen (three seasons) and Patrick Mahomes (three) as well as Pro Football Hall of Famers Dan Marino (two) and Kurt Warner (two).

Burrow can also become the fourth player in NFL history with 4,000 passing yards and 30 touchdown passes in three of his first five seasons, joining Josh AllenPatrick Mahomes and Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino.

JA’MARR CHASE

Cincinnati wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase leads the NFL with 93 receptions, 1,319 receiving yards and 15 touchdown receptions this season and leads all players with 44 touchdown receptions since he entered the NFL in 2021.

On Sunday at Tennessee (1 p.m. ET, FOX), Chase can become the fifth player in NFL history with at least 100 receptions, 1,400 receiving yards and 15 touchdown receptions in a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Marvin Harrison (2001), Randy Moss (2003) and Jerry Rice (1995) as well as Cooper Kupp (2021).

The players with at least 100 receptions, 1,400 receiving yards and 15 touchdown receptions in a season in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONRECEPTIONSREC. YARDSREC. TDs
Marvin Harrison HOFIndianapolis20011091,52415
Cooper KuppL.A. Rams20211451,94716
Randy Moss HOFMinnesota20031111,63217
Jerry Rice HOFSan Francisco19951221,84815
      
Ja’Marr ChaseCincinnati202493*1,319*15*
*entering Week 15

On Sunday, Chase can tie Pro Football Hall of Famer Bob Hayes (45 touchdown receptions) for the third-most touchdown receptions by a player in his first four seasons in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers Randy Moss (53 touchdown receptions) and Jerry Rice (49) have more.

The players with the most touchdown receptions in their first four seasons in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMREC. TDs
Randy Moss HOFMinnesota53
Jerry Rice HOFSan Francisco49
Bob Hayes HOFDallas45
Ja’Marr ChaseCincinnati44*
Rob GronkowskiNew England42
*in fourth season

Chase has 11 career games with multiple touchdown receptions, leading the NFL with five such games this season, and can tie Rob Gronkowski (12 games) for the second-most games with multiple touchdown receptions by a player in his first four seasons in the Super Bowl era. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice (13 games) has more.

Chase can become the fifth player in the Super Bowl era to record six games with multiple touchdown receptions in a season in the Super Bowl era and the first since Rob Gronkowski in 2011 (seven games).

The players with the most games with multiple touchdown receptions in a season in the Super Bowl era:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONGAMES
Randy Moss HOFNew England20078
Cris Carter HOFMinnesota19957
Rob GronkowskiNew England20117
Jerry Rice HOFSan Francisco19877
    
Ja’Marr ChaseCincinnati20245*
*entering Week 15

DERRICK HENRY

Baltimore running back Derrick Henry ranks tied for first in the NFL with 13 rushing touchdowns and second with 1,407 rushing yards this season.

With 93 rushing yards at the New York Giants on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Henry – who had at least 1,500 rushing yards in 2019, 2020 and 2022 with Tennessee – can become the fifth player in NFL history to record 1,500 rushing yards in four career seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Barry Sanders (five seasons), Eric Dickerson (four), Edgerrin James (four) and Walter Payton (four).

Additionally, Henry can join Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson (Indianapolis and the Los Angeles Rams) and Clinton Portis (Denver and Washington) as the only players in NFL history with at least 1,500 rushing yards in a season with multiple franchises.

The players with the most seasons with at least 1,500 rushing yards in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAM(S)SEASONS
Barry Sanders HOFDetroit5
Eric Dickerson HOFIndianapolis, L.A. Rams4
Edgerrin James HOFIndianapolis4
Walter Payton HOFChicago4
   
Derrick HenryTennessee3*
*has 1,407 rushing yards with Baltimore in 2024

Henry, who had 17 rushing touchdowns in 2020 and 16 rushing touchdowns in 2019 with Tennessee, can become the fourth player in NFL history with 15-or-more rushing touchdowns in three career seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers LaDainian Tomlinson (four seasons) and Emmitt Smith (three) as well as Shaun Alexander (three).

Henry would become the first player ever with at least 15 rushing touchdowns in a season with multiple franchises.

Henry has 26 games with at least two rushing touchdowns and with another such performance, can tie Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown (27 games) for the fourth-most games with multiple rushing touchdowns in NFL history, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famers LaDainian Tomlinson (38) and Emmitt Smith (36) as well as Adrian Peterson (28).

JAYDEN DANIELS & BO NIX

Washington rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and Denver rookie quarterback Bo Nix have each won eight games this season. The 2024 season can become the third all-time with multiple rookie quarterbacks recording nine-or-more wins, joining 2012 [Andrew Luck (11 wins), Russell Wilson (11) and Robert Griffin III (9)] and 2008 [Joe Flacco (11) and Matt Ryan (11)].

Daniels ranks second among rookies with 2,819 passing yards and third with 590 rushing yards. On Sunday at New Orleans (1 p.m. ET, FOX), Daniels can become the fourth rookie quarterback in NFL history with at least 3,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards, joining Robert Griffin III (2012), Kyler Murray (2019) and Cam Newton (2011). All three players were named Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year.

The rookie quarterbacks with at least 3,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONPASS YARDSRUSH YARDS
Robert Griffin III ROYWashington20123,200815
Kyler Murray ROYArizona20193,722544
Cam Newton ROYCarolina20114,051706
     
Jayden DanielsWashington20242,819*590*
*entering Week 15

Denver quarterback Bo Nix leads all rookies with 2,842 passing yards and 17 touchdown passes this season.

On Sunday against Indianapolis (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS), Nix – who passed for 294 yards in Week 13, 273 yards in Week 12 and 307 yards in Week 11 – can become the third rookie quarterback ever with at least 250 passing yards in four consecutive games, joining Justin Herbert (seven consecutive games in 2020) and C.J. Stroud (five in 2023).

Nix can become the second rookie quarterback in NFL history with at least 200 passing yards in each of his first seven career home starts, joining Justin Herbert (first eight home starts in 2020).

Nix can also become the fourth rookie quarterback with six games with at least two touchdowns passes and no interceptions, joining Justin Herbert (2020), C.J. Stroud (2023) and Russell Wilson (2012). Herbert and Stroud were each named Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year. Herbert and Stroud were each named Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year.

The rookies with the most games with at least two touchdown passes and no interceptions in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONGAMES
Justin Herbert ROYL.A. Chargers20206
C.J. Stroud ROYHouston20236
Russell WilsonSeattle20126
    
Bo NixDenver20245*
*entering Week 15

BROCK BOWERS

Las Vegas rookie tight end Brock Bowers ranks second in the NFL with 87 receptions – the most receptions by a rookie tight end in NFL history – and leads all tight ends with 933 receiving yards this season.

With six receptions against Atlanta on Monday night (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), Bowers can surpass Michael Thomas (92 receptions in 2016) for the fourth-most receptions by a rookie in NFL history.

The rookies with the most receptions in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONRECEPTIONS
Puka NacuaL.A. Rams2023105
Jaylen WaddleMiami2021104
Anquan BoldinArizona2003101
Michael ThomasNew Orleans201692
Three tied  91
    
Brock BowersLas Vegas202487*
*entering Week 15

With 67 receiving yards in Week 15, Bowers can join Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka (1,076 receiving yards in 1961) and Kyle Pitts (1,026 in 2021) as the only rookie tight ends all-time with 1,000 receiving yards.

The rookie tight ends with the most receiving yards in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONREC. YARDS
Mike Ditka HOFChicago19611,076
Kyle PittsAtlanta20211,026
Brock BowersLas Vegas2024933*
*entering Week 15

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