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NFL 2007 Regular Season Had It All
There was an undefeated season . . . the highest per-game scoring average in 25 seasons . . . big games . . . coveted records set . . . classic quarterback play . . . rookies excelling . . . touchdown runback after touchdown runback . . . an acclaimed overseas game . . . and so much more. In 2007, the NFL had it all! And if the fans loved it all, so did the players. “When I got out to the field, I looked around and was like, ‘This is why you play sports,’” said Dallas Cowboys quarterback TONY ROMO in describing one of the season’s memorable games, the Cowboys’ Thursday night meeting with the Green Bay Packers on November 29, only the eighth matchup of 10-1 teams in history. “You want to play in games like this. Your competitive juices get flowing and you want to prove what kind of player you are.” Of course, that desire by every NFL player to prove himself every Sunday is exactly what produced the milestones and memories that made up 2007: A record 11,104 points were scored, with games averaging 43.4 points, the highest average in 25 seasons, since the 43.7 of 1983. “In the NFL, it’s a full 60 minutes,” says Buffalo Bills wide receiver LEE EVANS. What streak? What undefeated season? It’s that one-game-at-a-time mindset that produced one of the biggest stories of the year – the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS’ 16-0 season, the NFL’s first unbeaten/untied season since the 1972 Miami Dolphins (and only the fourth one in history), and the most games won in a season in history. “Everybody is going to enjoy this one,” said Patriots quarterback TOM BRADY after the 16th win against the New York Giants on December 29. “It happens once every 35 years.” In that game, three major NFL records were set -- two on the same play. The Patriots totaled 589 points for the season, the most by a team in history. When Brady threw a 65-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver RANDY MOSS in the fourth quarter, it was the 50th TD pass for the quarterback in the season, topping PEYTON MANNING’s NFL record 49 in 2004. And it was Moss’ 23rd TD reception of the year, breaking JERRY RICE’s mark of 22 in 1987. There was another quarterback, the Packers’ 38-year-old BRETT FAVRE, who showed the young bucks that he could more than hold his own with them. In addition to leading Green Bay to its most wins (13) in 10 years, Favre set three major records that had belonged to Pro Football Hall of Famers JOHN ELWAY and DAN MARINO. On September 16, Favre won his 149th game, passing Elway for the most by a quarterback in history. Two weeks later on September 30, Favre threw the 421st TD pass of his career, passing Marino for the most ever. And on December 16, he bypassed Marino for the most career passing yards, finishing the season with 61,655. “I say every time this happens that I’m honored that I’ve had a chance to break these records and be part of these wonderful things,” said Favre. Favre and Brady each were named “2007 Sportsman of the Year,” respectively, by Sports Illustrated and the Sporting News. With all these quarterback exploits, it’s no wonder milestones were reached for the position this season. Seven quarterbacks – TOM BRADY, DREW BREES, BRETT FAVRE, JON KITNA, PEYTON MANNING, CARSON PALMER and TONY ROMO – threw for 4,000 yards, the most QBs to do so in a season. There were 81 300-yard passing games, tying 2004 for the most in a season since 1978 when the 16-game schedule began. Four quarterbacks – Brady (50), Romo (36), BEN ROETHLISBERGER (32) and Peyton Manning (31) – threw for at least 30 touchdowns, only the third time in history that many quarterbacks have done so in a season. Games averaged 428.6 passing yards, the highest such figure since 1995 (441.6). The season showed that tight ends are increasingly being worked into the passing game. Three of them – Kansas City’s TONY GONZALEZ, Cleveland’s KELLEN WINSLOW and Dallas’ JASON WITTEN – had 1,000 yards receiving, matching only 1981 for the most tight ends to do so. With another 16 yards by San Diego’s ANTONIO GATES (984), the tight end record in the category would have been broken. There was a record-tying and record-breaking “longest play in history.” On Kickoff Weekend, New England’s ELLIS HOBBS returned a kickoff 108 yards for a touchdown to tie two other players for the longest play in history. That record lasted eight weeks longer, until San Diego’s ANTONIO CROMARTIE returned a missed field-goal attempt 109 yards for a touchdown on November 4. Of course, that’s a mark that can be tied, but never broken. Rookies got in on the record-setting act. In the same game that Cromartie established his record, Minnesota Vikings rookie running back ADRIAN PETERSON -- who would go on to finish second in the NFL in rushing (1,341 yards) -- ran for 296 yards, topping the single-game NFL record of 295 by Baltimore’s JAMAL LEWIS on September 14, 2003. DEVIN HESTER, one of the most exciting players in the NFL, continued to do his thing. The Chicago Bears’ kickoff-punt returner (and, this year, wide receiver) broke the NFL record (five) he established as a rookie last year with six kick returns for touchdowns. NFL returners were lethal this season. There were 42 kickoff and punt returns for TDs this year, breaking the record of 39 in 2002. Twenty-five of those scores came on kickoff returns, besting the record 18 of 1998. The top four teams in the league – New England (16-0), Dallas (13-3), Green Bay (13-3) and Indianapolis (13-3) – combined for an .859 winning percentage, tying 1998 for the highest such mark of the top four teams since 1970. Indianapolis became the first team in history to post five consecutive seasons of at least 12 wins apiece. “In the NFL, things can get crazy,” says Detroit Lions quarterback JON KITNA. And oftentimes that “craziness” continues deep into the game. In 2007, 14 percent of games were decided in the last two minutes or overtime. Twelve times, 20 points or more were scored by a team in the fourth quarter. Games continued to be thisclose. Nearly half were decided by one score:
Internationally, the NFL made news on October 28 when it played the first overseas regular-season game in its history -- the first in a series of such international games. The New York Giants defeated the Miami Dolphins 13-10 in front of 81,176 fans -- a sellout -- in Wembley Stadium in London, England. The fans cheered, sang, and stayed to the end, even in the rain. The fans were thrilled, and so were the players. “I loved playing at Wembley,” said Dolphins cornerback WILL ALLEN. “It made me feel a lot like I was a gladiator. It felt like a playoff game out there. People in England understand the game.” Big games? They kept coming, and America watched!The Patriots-Giants’ game on the final weekend was the most-watched TV show since the Academy Awards in February. That Packers-Cowboys’ game that TONY ROMO loved playing in resulted in the highest rating on ad-supported cable TV since 1993. Another “big game” -- the Patriots-Colts’ matchup of November 4 (the first meeting of 7-0-or-better teams in history) – ranked as the most-watched Sunday regular-season game since 1987. And that Patriots-Ravens Monday night thriller on December 3 in which a TOM BRADY-to-JABAR GAFFNEY TD pass with 44 second left saved New England’s streak was the most-watched show in cable history. Locally, NFL games were the top-ranked program 86 percent of the time, breaking last season’s record of 80 percent. A rundown of NFL records set and milestones reached in 2007Player AccomplishmentsSHAUN ALEXANDER RB, Seattle Seahawks Scored his 100th career rushing touchdown ROB BIRONAS K, Tennessee Titans Converted eight field goals against Houston on 10/21 to set an NFL single-game record, surpassing BILLY CUNDIFF, CHRIS BONIOL, RICH KARLIS and JIM BAKKEN, who all had seven in a game. Kicked two extra points and eight field goals against Houston on 10/21, setting the NFL record for most points by a kicker in a game with 26. ANQUAN BOLDIN WR, Arizona Cardinals Reached 400 receptions the quickest in NFL history. Did it in his 67th game, five less than KELLEN WINSLOW, SR., who did it in 72. TOM BRADY QB, New England Patriots Set an NFL record with at least three touchdowns in each of his first eight games. Had six passing touchdowns against Miami on 10/21 to set a franchise record. Broke the single-season record of DAN MARINO (10) for most games with at least three touchdown passes. Passed PEYTON MANNING (49; 2004) for most touchdown passes in a season with 50.son with 50. DREW BREES QB, New Orleans Saints Set an NFL record for completions in a season with 443. Brees eclipsed the mark of 418 completions by RICH GANNON in 2002. KRIS BROWN K, Houston Texans Tied an NFL single-game record on 10/7 against Miami with three field goals of over 50 yards. He hit two 54-yarders and 57-yard game winner. ISAAC BRUCE WR, St. Louis Rams Pulled ahead of ART MONK (940) for sixth in NFL career receptions with 942. Moved into third place on the career yards-receiving list, passing JAMES LOFTON (14,004), with 14,109 yards. MARQUES COLSTON WR, New Orleans Saints Moved past teammate REGGIE BUSH (161) and LARRY FITZGERALD (161) for the most receptions by a player in his first two seasons. Has 168 career receptions. ANTONIO CROMARTIE CB, San Diego Chargers Plucked a missed field goal out of the air and returned it 109 yards for a touchdown against the Vikings on 11/4 for the longest play in NFL history. ANDRE DAVIS KR, Houston Texans Became only the seventh player in history to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in the same game when he did it against Jacksonville on 12/30. WARRICK DUNN RB, Atlanta Falcons Became the 22nd running back in history with 10,000 yards rushing. Has 10,181 career yards JASON ELAM, Denver Broncos Passed NORM JOHNSON (1,736) for sixth on the career scoring list. Has 1,786 points. Tied MORTEN ANDERSEN and GARY ANDERSON (14) for the most seasons with 100 points. Became the first kicker since 1990 to convert four game-winners in a season. BRETT FAVRE QB, Green Bay Packers Passed JOHN ELWAY (148) for the most wins by a quarterback with 160. Passed DAN MARINO (420) for most career touchdown passes with 442. Passed DAN MARINO (62) for the most career games with three-or-more touchdowns passes. Now has 63 career three-touchdown games. Eclipsed the all-time career passing yards mark set by DAN MARINO (61,361) with 61,655. His 82-yard touchdown pass to GREG JENNINGS against Denver on 10/29 was the second-longest overtime touchdown in NFL history, tying TOM BRADY and TROY BROWN on 10/19/03. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback RON JAWORSKI and wide receiver MIKE QUICK combined on a 99-yard play on 11/10/85. TONY GONZALEZ TE, Kansas City Chiefs Passed SHANNON SHARPE (62) to become the all-time leader in touchdowns by a tight end. Has 66 career touchdown catches. Broke the NFL record for catches by a tight end set by SHANNON SHARPE (815) with 820. JASON HANSON K, Detroit Lions Became the 11th player in NFL history to score 1,600 points, moving past former Lion EDDIE MURRAY for 10th on the career scoring list. MARVIN HARRISON WR, Indianapolis Colts Passed CRIS CARTER for fourth all-time in receiving yards with 13,944. RODNEY HARRISON S, New England Patriots Became the first player in history with 30 interceptions and 30.0 sacks. Now has 33 interceptions and 30.5 sacks DEVIN HESTER KR-PR, Chicago Bears Broke his own NFL record for kick-return touchdowns (5, 2006) in a season with six. SHAUN HILL QB, San Francisco 49ers Completed 22 of 27 (.815) passes against Minnesota on 12/9, moving past SAM WYCHE (20 for 25, .800); 1968) for the highest completion percentage in a quarterback’s first career game with a minimum of 20 attempts. ELLIS HOBBS KR, New England Patriots Returned a kickoff 108 yards for a touchdown against the New York Jets on 9/10, surpassing AL CARMICHAEL, NOLAND SMITH, and ROY GREEN (106) for the longest kickoff return in NFL history TORRY HOLT WR, St. Louis Rams Topped 1,000 yards receiving for the eighth straight year. Only JERRY RICE (11), TIM BROWN (9), CRIS CARTER (8) and MARVIN HARRISON (8) have had such streaks. Had 1,189 receiving yards in 2007. T.J. HOUSHMANDZADEH WR, Cincinnati Bengals Tied for the second-most consecutive games to start a season with a TD reception with BUDDY DIAL (8, 1960). ELROY HIRSCH holds the record with 10 (1951). SHANE LECHLER P, Oakland Raiders Set a single-season record for net punting by averaging 41.1 net yards per punt. The previous record was 39.9 by MIKE HORAN of the New York Giants in 1993. RIAN LINDELL K, Buffalo Bills Has 248 consecutive extra points, the NFL record for longest streak to open a career. Passed TOMMY DAVIS, who hit 234 in a row from 1959-65. PEYTON MANNING QB, Indianapolis Colts Passed JOE MONTANA (40,551) to move into ninth place all-time in passing yards with 41,626 Passed JOHN ELWAY (300) for fourth place on the career passing touchdown list with 306. Passed JOE MONTANA (3,409) for eighth place on the all-time completions list with 3,468. Topped 30 TD passes for the fourth time in his career. Became only the third player in history to throw for at least 20 touchdowns in 10 consecutive seasons. Extended his NFL record for most 4,000-yard seasons to eight. BRANDON MARSHALL WR, Denver Broncos With 102 receptions, became the third second-year player in history to top 100 catches in a season, joining ISAAC BRUCE and LARRY FITZGERALD. KEENAN MC CARDELL WR, Washington Redskins Passed JIMMY SMITH (862) for ninth on the all-time receptions list with 883. MATT MOORE QB, Carolina Panthers By leading the Panthers to a 13-10 win over Seattle on 12/16, became the first undrafted rookie quarterback since 1974 to win his first start. RANDY MOSS WR, New England Patriots Passed JERRY RICE (22, 1987) for the most touchdown receptions in a season with 23. Became the first receiver in history with 100 yards receiving in each of his first four games with a new team. Moved past DON MAYNARD (50) for third place in career 100-yard receiving games with 54. Passed MARVIN HARRISON (123) for third place in career receiving touchdowns with 124. TERRELL OWENS WR, Dallas Cowboys Passed JIMMY SMITH (862) for ninth on the all-time receptions list with 882. Passed IRVING FRYAR (862) for 10th on the career receiving yards list with 13,070. Tied CRIS CARTER (131) for fifth-most touchdowns in history. CARSON PALMER QB, Cincinnati Bengals Reached 100 career touchdown passes in the fifth-fewest games in history (60). Only DAN MARINO (44 games), KURT WARNER (50), JOHNNY UNITAS (53) and PEYTON MANNING (56) did it in fewer games. ADRIAN PETERSON RB, Minnesota Vikings Had 296 yards rushing against San Diego on 11/4, breaking the NFL single-game rushing record of Baltimore’s JAMAL LEWIS, 295 yards against Cleveland on 9/14/03. ED REED S, Baltimore Ravens Became the only player in history to score return touchdowns of a punt, blocked punt, interception, and fumble when he returned a punt for a TD against Cincinnati on 9/10/07 MATT STOVER K, Baltimore Ravens Passed JOHN CARNEY (1,812) to move into fourth place on the all-time scoring list with 1,822 points. FRED TAYLOR RB, Jacksonville Jaguars Became the 21st running back in history with 10,000 yards rushing (10,715). JASON TAYLOR DE, Miami Dolphins Surpassed GEORGE MARTIN (8) for the most touchdowns by a defensive lineman in the modern era. He has 9. VINNY TESTAVERDE QB, Carolina Panthers Passed WARREN MOON (44 years, 8 days old; 11/26/00) as the second-oldest quarterback to start a game He was 44 years, 26 days old when he started against Jacksonville on 12/9. STEVE DE BERG, at 44 years, 279 days, holds the record for oldest QB to start a game (10/25/98). Passed JOE MONTANA (273) for eighth all-time for career touchdown passes with 275. LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON RB, San Diego Chargers Became the 23rd player in history with 10,000 yards rushing. Tied EMMITT SMITH as the player to do so in the fourth-fewest games (106). Passed WALTER PAYTON (110) for third on the all-time career rushing touchdown list with 115. Passed JIM BROWN (126) for seventh on the all-time career touchdown list with 129. Joined ERIC DICKERSON as the only players in history to rush for more than 1,200 yards in each of their first seven seasons. He had 1,474 yards this season. LEON WASHINGTON RB-KR, New York Jets Became the 11th player in history to have at least three kickoff returns in a season for touchdowns and the first since Buffalo's TERRENCE MC GEE in 2004. JEFF WILKINS K, St. Louis Rams Tied the NFL record set by JASON ELAM (1992-02) for consecutive conversion kicks at 371. Team AccomplishmentsBALTIMORE RAVENS Reached the 100th victory in franchise history (10/14). KYLE BOLLER eclipsed VINNY TESTAVERDE (7,148) as the Ravens' career leader in passing yardage with 7,846. DERRICK MASON passed his franchise-record (86) for most receptions in a season with 103. CAROLINA PANTHERS Reached the 100th victory in franchise history (10/14). CINCINNATI BENGALS SHAYNE GRAHAM kicked a team-record seven field goals against Baltimore on 11/11 and was one short of tying the NFL record set earlier in the season by Tennessee's ROB BIRONAS. Connected from 34, 19, 22, 35, 35, 21 and 33 yards. CHAD JOHNSON eclipsed the club mark for career receptions of CARL PICKENS (531) with 559. T.J. HOUSHMANDZADEH passed Carl Pickens (100, 1996) for the most season receptions in franchise history with 112. CHAD JOHNSON set a season team record with 1,440 receiving yards, topping his previous mark of 1,432 yards in 2005. CLEVELAND BROWNS BRAYLON EDWARDS passed GARY COLLINS (13, 1963) for the franchise record for single-season touchdown receptions. Had 15 TD catches this season. BRAYLON EDWARDS set the franchise record for receiving yards in a season with 1,289, passing WEBSTER SLAUGHTER (1,236; 1989). DALLAS COWBOYS TERRELL OWENS passed FRANK CLARKE (14, 1962) for the single-season franchise record for touchdown receptions with 15. TONY ROMO sets the franchise record for most touchdown passes in a season (36), passing DANNY WHITE (29, 1983). GREEN BAY PACKERS Became the second team (Chicago Bears, 693) with 650 victories (661). Tied a franchise record with 13 wins. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS Became the first team in history to post five consecutive 12-win seasons. PEYTON MANNING passed JOHNNY UNITAS (287) for most touchdown passes in Colts history with 306. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS The 10-yard scoring run by KOLBY SMITH against Oakland on 11/25 snapped a string of 36 consecutive rushing touchdowns by LARRY JOHNSON, an NFL record for most consecutive rushing TDs by the same player on the same team. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS Became at 16-0 the first NFL team since the 1972 Dolphins (14-0) to finish a season unbeaten and untied. The other teams to accomplish the feat were the 1934 (13-0) and 1942 (11-0) Chicago Bears; both lost in the NFL title game. Won 16 games, breaking the NFL record of most victories in a season (15) owned by four clubs. Broke their record (18, 2003-04) for most consecutive regular-season victories with their 19th in a row on 12/29. Finished with an NFL record 589 points for the season, moving past the 1998 Vikings (556). Broke the league mark of 70 touchdowns in a season set by Miami in 1984. They finished with 75 for the season. The 56 points they scored on 11/18 at Buffalo were the most by a road team since 1973. Twenty-one different Patriots scored a touchdown this season, tying an NFL record set by the Los Angeles Rams in 1987 and Denver Broncos in 2000. TOM BRADY passed DREW BLEDSOE (4,555; 1994) for most passing yards in a season in franchise history with 4,806 yards. NEW YORK GIANTS OSI UMENYIORA set a team record for most sacks in a game with six against Philadelphia on 9/30. Tied the NFL record for most sacks in a game with 12 against Philadelphia on 9/30. MICHAEL STRAHAN passed LAWRENCE TAYLOR (132.5) for most sacks in club history with 141.5. Head coach TOM COUGHLIN won his 100th career regular-season game. He currently has 107 career wins. Became only the third team in NFL history to amass 600 regular-season victories (606), joining Chicago (677) and Green Bay (637). AMANI TOOMER passed TIKI BARBER (586) for the most receptions in Giants history with 620. AMANI TOOMER passed KYLE ROTE (48) for the most touchdown receptions in Giants history with 50. OAKLAND RAIDERS SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI took sole possession as the Raiders' all-time field-goal leader, passing CHRIS BAHR (162) with 179. Reached 400 regular-season wins. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES DAVID AKERS eclipsed BOBBY WALSTON (881) as the all-time scoring leader in franchise history with 899 points. BRIAN WESTBROOK finished with a team season record 89 receptions this season, one more than IRVING FRYAR had in 1996. BRIAN WESTBROOK set the franchise record for yards from scrimmage (2,104) passing WILBERT MONTGOMERY who had 2,006 total yards in 1979. PITTSBURGH STEELERS Became the first AFC franchise to reach 500 regular-season victories (508). HINES WARD passed Hall of Famer JOHN STALLWORTH (63) for the most touchdown receptions in Steelers history with 65. BEN ROETHLISBERGER threw a season team-record 29 touchdown passes. TERRY BRADSHAW held the Steelers' record with 28 in 1978. ST. LOUIS RAMS Reached 500 regular-season victories. |
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