American Football
SPORTS
FIRST NFL PLAYER TO SCORE POSTSEASON
TOUCHDOWNS BY RUSHING, RECEIVING AND
KICK-RETURNING IN ONE GAME
On 14 Jan 2017, Dion Lewis scored three different
kinds of touchdown during the New England
Patriots’ 31‑16 win over the Houston Texans.
Gale Sayers (1965) and Tyreek Hill (2016) have
also done this, but only in the regular season.Betting on the annual Super Bowl coin toss is a popular
tradition in the USA. After 51 games, tails led heads 27–24.Highest field goal percentage
in an NFL career
As of 31 Dec 2016, Justin Tucker had converted
168 of 187 field goals for the Baltimore Ravens,
giving him a success rate of 89.8%.Most pass completions by a rookie
in an NFL season
Carson Wentz completed 379 passes for the
Philadelphia Eagles in 2016. Wentz beat the
previous best of 354, set by Sam Bradford
for the St Louis Rams in 2010.Most seasons passing for 5,000 yards
in an NFL career
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees
has passed for more than 5,000 yards in
a season five times: in 2008, 2011–13 and 2016.First NFL quarterback to pass for
4,000 yards in his first two seasons
Jameis Winston passed for more than
4,000 yards for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
during the 2015 and 2016 seasons.Most fourth-quarter comebacks
by a quarterback in an NFL season
Matthew Stafford registered eight fourth-
quarter come-from-behind victories for the
Detroit Lions during the 2016 season.MOST PENALTIES BY A TEAM
IN AN NFL GAME
The Oakland Raiders gave away 23 penalties
for a total of 200 yards against the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers on 30 Oct 2016. Three sides had
previously given away 22 penalties: the Brooklyn
Tigers and the Chicago Bears in 1944, and the
San Francisco 49ers in 1998. Despite the penalty
count, the Raiders won in overtime, 30–24.MOST CONSECUTIVE FIELD GOALS
BY AN NFL KICKER
Adam Vinatieri converted 44 consecutive field
goals while playing for the Indianapolis Colts
during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Vinatieri
surpassed the previous mark of 42, set by Mike
Vanderjagt (CAN) in the 2002–04 seasons.
The most consecutive extra points by an
NFL kicker is 52 3, achieved by the New England
Patriots’ Stephen Gostkowski in 2006–16.LARGEST POINTS COMEBACK
IN A SUPER BOWL MATCH
On 5 Feb 2017, the New England Patriots recovered
from a deficit of 25 points to win Super Bowl LI at the
NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, USA. They had trailed
opponents the Atlanta Falcons 28–3 in the third quarter
before coming back to win 34–28 in overtime.
Quarterback Tom Brady (pictured left and right) achieved
the most passes completed in a Super Bowl game – 43 –
and the most yards gained passing in a Super Bowl game
- It was Brady’s fifth Super Bowl victory, equalling Charles
Haley’s record for the most Super Bowl wins by an individual
player. Brady was also voted Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the
fourth time – the most Super Bowl MVP awards.
- It was Brady’s fifth Super Bowl victory, equalling Charles
Youngest NFL coach
On 12 Jan 2017, Sean McVay (b. 24 Jan 1986)
became the youngest NFL head coach of the
modern era when he was appointed by the
Los Angeles Rams aged 30 years 354 days.Most times passing and running
for touchdowns in one NFL game
On 8 Sep 2016, Cam Newton threw a
touchdown pass and ran for one touchdown
for the Carolina Panthers against the Denver
Broncos. It was the 32nd time in Newton’s career
that he had done so – one more than Steve
Young (1985–99).Heaviest NFL player to throw
a touchdown pass
On 26 Dec 2016, Dontari Poe threw a touchdown
pass for the Kansas City Chiefs during their
33–10 victory against the Denver Broncos.
He weighs 346 lb (156.94 kg; 24 st 10 lb).
Poe’s 1‑yard scoring run in the Chiefs’
33–3 win against the San Diego Chargers on
22 Nov 2015 also makes him the heaviest NFL
player to score a rushing touchdown.All teams and players USA, unless otherwise indicated.Highest completion percentage
in an NFL season
Quarterback Sam Bradford of the Minnesota
Vikings achieved a completion percentage
of 71.6% in 2016, eclipsing the mark of 71.2%
set by Drew Brees in 2011.