The final week of NFL the common season is within the books, with the playoff bracket already set. Several gamers had unimaginable performances, together with shocking outcomes from a number of groups.
Arguably the perfect efficiency got here from Lamar Jackson, who completed with 217 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and 63 dashing yards in his common season finale in opposition to the Browns. While his stats do not bounce off the web page, the performances pushed his season totals sufficient to cap off one of the unimaginable years we have ever seen for a quarterback, ending with 4,172 passing yards, 41 passing touchdowns, 4 interceptions , 915 dashing yards and 4 dashing touchdowns. We’ve put into context beneath simply how distinctive the two-time MVP’s season has been:
- Jackson is the primary participant in NFL historical past with 40+ passing touchdowns and 4 or fewer interceptions.
- Jackson is the primary participant in NFL historical past with 40+ passing touchdowns and 600+ dashing yards.
- Jackson is the primary participant in NFL historical past with over 4,000 passing yards and over 800 dashing yards.
- Jackson is the primary participant in NFL historical past to common 8.5 yards per move and 6 yards per carry in the identical season.
- Jackson is simply the third quarterback in NFL historical past to throw 40 touchdowns and run for 4 touchdowns in a single season, becoming a member of Patrick Mahomes (2022) and Aaron Rodgers (2016).
- Jackson went 3-0 in opposition to Josh Allen and Joe Burrow, with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 10-0.
Jackson wasn’t the one one who had an unimaginable efficiency this previous weekend. FOX Sports Research has damaged down ten extra eye-opening nuggets for you. Let’s have a look:
1. Historic 12 months of Nabers
Malik Nabers completed his phenomenal rookie season with 64 receiving yards and a landing catch in opposition to the Eagles. The LSU product completed this season with 109 receptions for 1,204 receiving yards and 7 landing receptions. No participant in Giants historical past has caught extra passes in a single season than Nabers this 12 months, and he is only one of three rookies to ever catch greater than 100 passes for over 1,200 yards, becoming a member of Puka Nacua (2023) and Anquan Boldin (2003). He additionally completed the season with seven straight video games of 60+ receiving yards, changing into solely the fourth rookie for the reason that 1970 merger to have such a document together with Odell Beckham Jr., Michael Clayton and Brian Thomas Jr.
Takeaway: Imagine what Nabers may do with elevated quarterback play. Expect him to placed on a present subsequent 12 months.
2. Buccaneers Ball
The Buccaneers received the NFC South for the fourth consecutive season and a number of other gamers achieved so many milestones that we determined to checklist all of them beneath:
- Baker Mayfield obtained his first profession win when trailing by 10+ factors in any recreation; he entered the sport 0-41 in his profession in such conditions (the Buccaneers had been down 16-6 on the Saints at halftime).
- Baker Mayfield surpassed the 40 landing move mark this season, becoming a member of Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson as the one gamers to take action this season; there have solely been two different seasons with three quarterbacks every throwing greater than 40 touchdowns (2020: Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson; 2011: Matthew Stafford, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees).
- Jalen McMillan has recorded a receiving landing in 5 consecutive video games; the one participant with an extended streak in his rookie season is Randy Moss (seven consecutive).
- Mike Evans surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for the eleventh consecutive season, tying Jerry Rice for the longest receiving streak ever.
Takeaway: Tampa Bay is clicking at simply the proper time. Can they make a critical run on the playoffs this 12 months?
3. Bryce flips the swap
Early within the season, it appeared like Bryce Young may not be “the man” in Carolina after being benched in Week 3. But after being compelled again into motion in Week 8, the previous No. 1 general has improved his recreation considerably. In his final 10 begins of the season, he threw 15 touchdowns with simply six interceptions with a completion proportion of 61.8% and a passer ranking of 88.9. In the ultimate three video games of the season, he completed with 10 complete touchdowns and nil turnovers.
His last recreation of the season was his finest, throwing for 251 yards, finishing 73.5 % of his passes, recording three landing passes and likewise including two on the bottom. He joined Josh Allen as the one gamers this season to throw for 3 touchdowns and run for 2 in the identical recreation. They are additionally the one gamers since 1982 to have performed such a recreation of their first two seasons.
Worth contemplating: After a tough begin to the season, Bryce Young seems to be Carolina’s quarterback of the longer term. The entrance workplace must proceed to construct round him.
4. Starry evening for Gibbs
Jahmyr Gibbs got here out in opposition to the Vikings in Week 18, ending with 139 yards dashing and 4 touchdowns from scrimmage (three dashing and one receiving). Gibbs completed the common season with 20 complete touchdowns, setting the Lions’ single-season franchise document. He can also be the one participant in Lions historical past to supply greater than 1,900 scrimmage yards and greater than 20 touchdowns in a single season. This was additionally Gibbs’ fifth recreation of the season with over 100 yards dashing, essentially the most by a Detroit participant since Hall of Famer Barry Sanders in 1997.
Bottom line: People had been shocked when the Lions chosen a operating again with the twelfth general choose within the 2023 draft. They could not have been extra proper, as Gibbs is an actual game-changer.
5. Rookie QBs shine
The rookie quarterbacks have actually shined this 12 months. We’ve listed just a few nuggets beneath to point out how good they had been:
- Bo Nix accomplished 18 consecutive passes within the season finale in opposition to the Chiefs, essentially the most for a rookie to open a recreation in NFL historical past; Nix additionally helped the Broncos clinch their first playoff berth since 2015.
- Bo Nix and Jayden Daniels are the one two rookies in NFL historical past to have greater than 10 wins, greater than 30 complete touchdowns and greater than 4,000 complete yards in a season.
- Jayden Daniels led the Commanders to their fourth 12-win season in franchise historical past, their first since going 14-2 in 1991.
- Caleb Williams completed with 3,541 passing yards this season, the fifth-most Bears quarterback ever; he’s additionally simply the eighth rookie for the reason that 1970 merger to win at Lambeau Field.
- Drake Maye had eight complete touchdowns in his first 5 profession begins, which ties with Steve Grogan (1975) for essentially the most by a Patriots rookie quarterback ever; he additionally ran for 95 yards in a recreation this season, which is the third-most ever by a Patriots quarterback (solely Steve Grogan (103 vs. Jets in 1976) and Babe Parilli (96 vs. Oilers in 1964) have they’d extra).
- Michael Penix threw for a season-high 312 yards in opposition to the Panthers, changing into simply the third Falcons rookie for the reason that merger to throw for 310-plus yards in a recreation.
Bottom line: With a lot success from rookie quarterbacks, will probably be very attention-grabbing to see if different quarterbacks outdoors of Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward are taken within the first spherical of this 12 months’s draft.
6. Parsons joins an elite firm
Micah Parsons had one sack in opposition to the Commanders, making him 12 on the 12 months. He joined Hall of Famer Reggie White as the one gamers to have 12 or extra sacks in every of their first 4 NFL seasons. Parsons can also be simply the fourth participant with 10-plus sacks in every of his first 4 seasons, becoming a member of Hall of Famers Dwight Freeney, Derrick Thomas and Reggie White.
Takeaway: Parsons is a generational expertise and future Hall of Famer. Clear and easy.
7. Invoices make historical past
Despite the loss to New England, the Bills nonetheless made historical past in Week 18. With Mitch Trubisky’s passing landing, Buffalo reached 30 factors within the air and 32 on the bottom, making them the primary workforce in NFL historical past to succeed in 30 in each classes. in a single season.
Takeaway: It’s all there for invoice assortment. They simply must beat the Chiefs within the playoffs.
8. Rodgers reaches 500
Aaron Rodgers completed the 2024 season with a bang, throwing for 274 yards and 4 touchdowns. After coming into the sport with 499 profession passing factors, the efficiency put him within the 500 membership, making him the fifth participant in NFL historical past to succeed in that mark, becoming a member of Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Tom Brady. It was additionally his thirty fourth profession recreation with 4 landing passes, fourth in NFL historical past.
Bottom line: If this was the final recreation of his profession, do not assume how particular Aaron Rodgers was for practically 20 seasons.
9. Difficult break for Burrow
Joe Burrow had the perfect 12 months of his profession, ending with 4,918 passing yards and 43 passing scores. He is the third quarterback in NFL historical past to throw 40 passing touchdowns in a season and never make the playoffs that 12 months, becoming a member of Drew Brees (2012) and Dan Marino (1986). He additionally had 10 video games this season with over 250 passing yards and three or extra passing touchdowns. The solely different three gamers to play 10 such video games in a single season all received MVP that season: Tom Brady in 2007, Peyton Manning in 2013 and Patrick Mahomes in 2018. Burrow additionally grew to become simply the third quarterback within the NFL historical past in throwing for 4,500. passing yards and 40 passing scores with a 70% completion proportion in a season, becoming a member of Drew Brees (2011) and Baker Mayfield (2024).
Bottom line: The Bengals had been simply the most important disappointment of the 12 months, and none of that had something to do with Burrow. He’s a future MVP.
10. The Steelers lose once more
With the loss to the Bengals in Week 18, the Steelers misplaced their fourth straight recreation. Pittsburgh is now the third workforce in NFL historical past to enter the postseason with greater than 4 consecutive losses, becoming a member of the 1986 Jets and 1999 Lions (neither performed in a convention title recreation). On a optimistic notice, Cameron Heyward grew to become the one NFL participant this season with 10+ tackles for loss and 10+ passes defensed.
Bottom line: Can Mike Tomlin proper the ship in opposition to the Ravens within the Wild Card?
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