Inside the Numbers

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs won 25-22. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Next hurdle for the champion Chiefs is the 1st Super Bowl 3-peat

The Kansas City Chiefs ended a nearly two-decade drought without a repeat champion in the NFL. Now they will go for an unprecedented three Super Bowl wins in a row.

FILE - Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith, left, cannot catch a pass while being defended by Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 57 football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. Few college programs have had as much success or produced as many star players in the NFL as Alabama. Amazingly, there is still something no player who ended his college career playing for the Crimson Tide has done: score a point in a Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)

An Alabama draft pick has never scored in a Super Bowl. That won’t change this year.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) reacts after beating the Buffalo Bills in an NFL AFC division playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Conference title games are old hat for Chiefs and 49ers and new stage for Baltimore and Lions

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud celebrates after a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Texans’ C.J. Stroud and Packers’ Jordan Love have dazzling playoff debuts

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, right, runs during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Texans’ duo of C.J. Stroud and DeMeco Ryans highlights a big season for rookies

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San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) runs up against Washington Commanders safety Kamren Curl (31) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

The 49ers have a rare quartet of 1,000-yard players. Dolphins and Lions could do the same

The San Francisco 49ers and their deep group of playmakers accomplished a rare feat. They soon could have company from the Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) catches a pass for a touchdown as Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (24) defends during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Amari Cooper’s record-setting day highlights a milestone week for NFL wide receivers

Several wide receivers had milestone performances this past week, but no one could do what Amari Cooper did for the Cleveland Browns.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (13) catches a pass for a first down during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

The Patriots and Packers are still seeking their 1st 100-yard games from a rusher or receiver

When it comes to getting big games from playmakers, the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers have been lacking at a historic level.

Baltimore Ravens punt returner Tylan Wallace (16) starts to celebrates as he returns a punt for a game-winning touchdown as Los Angeles Rams tight end Davis Allen (87) looks on during overtime of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, in Baltimore. The Ravens won 37-31. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

AFC boasts a record number of winning teams and NFC filled with losing teams

In a season when much of the NFL is clustered around break even, the AFC can boast a record number of winning teams headed into Week 15 while NFC has the most teams ever on the losing side.

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick walks off the field after a 6-0 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers following an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Offensive struggles mount for the Patriots, Giants and Jets

It’s been more than a decade since the NFL featured three offenses as challenged as the ones for the New England Patriots, New York Jets and New York Giants.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts celebrates after scoring the game winning touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during overtime in an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

49ers and Eagles head into NFC title game rematch focused on reversing last season’s disappointment

The Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers haven’t let last season’s postseason disappointment become a hangover in 2023.

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) runs in the endzone after his 1-yard rushing touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Typical NFL also-rans surge toward playoff position in topsy-turvy season

The way this NFL season is going so far, there’s a decent chance there could be a first-time Super Bowl participant for the first time since the 2008 season when Arizona became the 28th franchise to reach the big game.

CORRECTS TO DETROIT LIONS HEAD COACH DAN CAMPBELL NOT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS HEAD COACH DAN CAMPBELL - Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell, right, talks to quarterback Jared Goff (16) during the second half an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

The Lions take fourth-down aggressiveness to a new level in their win over the Chargers

Detroit coach Dan Campbell took fourth-down aggressiveness to a new level last week. His biggest decision came when the Lions faced a fourth-and-2 from the Chargers 26 with 1:47 remaining in a tie game.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud looks to pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

The NFL’s youth movement at quarterback reaches a new milestone

The generational shift at quarterback in the NFL reached a new milestone last week. For the first time ever, every player who threw a pass in the NFL in Week 9 was born in 1990 or later, with 15 of the 28 starting quarterbacks last week age 25 or younger.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) holds off New England Patriots cornerback Jack Jones (13) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Tyreek Hill and A.J. Brown are setting their sights on the NFL receiving record

The way Tyreek Hill and A.J. Brown are playing, the NFL’s single-season receiving record could be in serious jeopardy.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws as Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Scott Matlock (99) defends during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Fast starts by the Chiefs and Eagles raise the possibility of a rare Super Bowl rematch

Kansas City and Philadelphia are setting the stage for the possibility of a rare Super Bowl rematch.

New York Jets' Tony Adams, right, runs with the ball after an interception during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Struggling offenses lead to the lowest-scoring week in the NFL since 2014

The NFL hadn’t experienced a week of inept offenses like it did this past weekend in nearly a decade.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) listens to head coach Mike McDaniel during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

The Dolphins and the 49ers are off to record-threatening offensive starts

Kyle Shanahan and Mike McDaniel spent years together scheming ways to exploit NFL defenses. Now split apart with McDaniel in his second season coaching Miami and Shanahan in Year 7 in San Francisco, the two offensive coaches have their teams threatening records with their early season domination.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) throws against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Texans’ C.J. Stroud is off to a sizzling start as several other NFL rookie QBs struggle

NFL rookie quarterbacks are getting their chances early this season with five getting a start in Week 4. C.J.

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane (28) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Dolphins defeated the Broncos 70-20. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Dolphins set numerous records in their blowout win over Broncos but miss out on a few more

The records kept getting set almost as fast as the Miami Dolphins scored last week against the Denver Broncos.

Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa celebrates after a sack against the New York Jets during the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

The NFC is off to a record-setting start to the NFL season with seven teams at 2-0

The AFC came into the season with the lion’s share of the top quarterbacks and Super Bowl contenders led by passers like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow.

FILE - Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) sets back to pass in the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. It's no surprise Mahomes was an unanimous choice by The Associated Press for the top spot among quarterbacks. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)

The Chiefs have won 8 straight season openers. They have a ways to go to catch the longest streak

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs have been fast starters to the NFL season. The defending-champion Chiefs head into their opener Thursday night at home against Detroit having won eight straight regular-season openers, which is tied for the fifth longest streak of the Super Bowl era.

10 for Tom: Brady joins exclusive club with 10th title game

A 10th trip to the Super Bowl puts Tom Brady in some exclusive company across sports. Brady’s 10th trip to the title round comes a few months after LeBron James did the same in the NBA Finals, making them the only players in the four major North American sports leagues to do that in more than 30 yea

10-win team to miss playoffs in AFC despite expanded field

A 10-win team will miss the playoffs this season and a team with a losing record will make it. When the NFL expanded the playoffs from six to seven teams per conference this season, the fear is it would allow an inferior team into the postseason.

Struggling Steelers in midst of historic collapse

The Pittsburgh Steelers have gone from dreams of matching the perfect 1972 Miami Dolphins to searching for another win.

NFC East stages late-season turnaround

The NFC East is no longer the laughingstock division in the NFL. After combining to win just two of their first 21 non-division games this season, the teams from the NFC East have been knocking off some powerhouses in recent weeks.

Rodgers’ 50th TD pass vs. Bears puts him in exclusive group

Aaron Rodgers picked apart Chicago’s defense once again last week, throwing four TD passes to give him 51 for his career against the Bears.

2020 features 1st NFL season in 9 years with 0-10, 10-0 team

Winning or losing 10 straight games to open the season is a relatively rare occurrence. A season in which teams have done both has happened only a handful of times before the Pittsburgh Steelers won their first 10 games and the New York Jets lost their first 10 this season.

Plenty of reasons for record-setting scoring pace in NFL

Passing has never been easier and NFL defenses are overmatched on a weekly basis. Whether it was the virtual offseason that hampered defensive development, a lack of screaming fans to hinder road teams, rules changes that always seem to favor the offense or coaches willing to be more aggressive, clu

Chargers make blown leads an art form in season full of them

In a season full of blown leads, perhaps no team has perfected the art of the late-game collapse better than the Los Angeles Chargers.

Browns, Bills, Bears pile up wins despite being outscored

Cleveland, Buffalo and Chicago have piled up wins early this season, even if they haven’t come in dominating fashion.

NFL teams going for 2 at record-setting rate

Never before have NFL teams gone for 2-point conversions as often as they have this season, even if the decision sometimes has backfired.

4th down tries on a record-setting pace early in NFL season

Teams have been going for it on fourth down at an unprecedented rate this season in the NFL. There have been few games where fourth-down decisions had as big an impact as it did in Seattle when the Seahawks used two fourth-down conversions after stopping Minnesota on fourth-and-1 to beat the Vikings

Offensive numbers off the charts 3 weeks into NFL season

The NFL has never had a start to a season like this one when it comes to offensive production. Through three weeks, teams have combined for 51 points per game, 738.2 yards per game and a 96.3 passer rating, the most ever at this juncture of an NFL season.

Kickers look out of sorts after no exhibition games

Maybe kickers needed preseason more than anyone else. After a virtual offseason and a lack of exhibition games, it was the kickers who looked most out of sorts on opening weekend in the NFL.