WHAT TO LOOK FOR – A LOOK BACK - Ingles

NFL KICKOFF 2009

RESILIENT FAVRE:
Minnesota quarterback BRETT FAVRE started his 270th consecutive game in the Vikings’ 34-20 win over the Cleveland Browns, tying JIM MARSHALL for the longest starting streak in NFL history. Marshall started 270 games in a row for Minnesota from 1961-1979. He played 12 games with Cleveland in 1960, but official records of starters were not kept before 1961. However, the Browns’ internal records – including highlight films, score sheets, game-day programs, newspaper clips and conversations with former players – indicate that Marshall started the first game in 1960, but did not start the final 11 games of that season while playing a significant back-up role.

A look at the longest starting streaks on record, as published in team media guides:

PLAYER/TEAMS - YEARS - CONSECUTIVE STARTS
Jim Marshall, Vikings - 1961-1979 - 270
Brett Favre, Packers, Jets, Vikings - 1992-Present - 270
Mick Tingelhoff, Vikings - 1962-1978 - 240
Bruce Matthews, Oilers/Titans - 1987-2001 - 229
Will Shields, Chiefs - 1993-2006 - 223


OFF TO A GREAT START:
Minnesota running back ADRIAN PETERSON rushed for 180 yards in the Vikings’ 34-20 victory over the Cleveland Browns. Peterson has reached the 100-yard mark in three consecutive games on Kickoff Weekend (103 in 2007; 103 in 2008; 180 in 2009;) and joined WILLIE PARKER (four consecutive, 2005-2008) and EDGERRIN JAMES (three consecutive, 1999-2001) as only the third player in NFL history to rush for 100 yards in each of the first three Kickoff Weekend games in which they appeared.

Peterson also became the first player in NFL history to rush for at least 180 yards and three touchdowns on Kickoff Weekend.

The running backs to rush for at least 100 yards in each of the first three Kickoff Weekend games in which they appeared:

PLAYER/TEAM - YEARS - STREAK
Willie Parker, Pittsburgh Steelers - 2005-2008 - 4
Edgerrin James, Indianapolis Colts - 1999-2001 - 3
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings - 2007-Present - 3*
*Current Streak


FITZ REACHES 6,000:
At 26 years, 13 days old, Arizona wide receiver LARRY FITZGERALD (6,046) became the second-youngest player in NFL history to reach 6,000 receiving yards. Fitzgerald, who had six receptions for 71 yards against the San Francisco 49ers, trails only RANDY MOSS, who reached the milestone at 25 years, 270 days old.

The youngest players to reach 6,000 receiving yards:

PLAYER/TEAM - AGE TO REACH 6,000 RECEIVING YARDS
Randy Moss, Minnesota Vikings - 25 years, 270 days
Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals - 26 years, 13 days
Jerry Rice, San Francisco 49ers - 27 years, 37 days
Herman Moore, Detroit Lions - 27 years, 49 days
Lance Alworth, San Diego Chargers - 27 years, 73 days


RUN STOPPERS:
The Baltimore Ravens defense extended the NFL’s longest current streak – 36 games – of not allowing a 100-yard rusher in a 38-24 win over the Chiefs. Kansas City running back LARRY JOHNSON, who was the last player to gain 100 yards against the Ravens (120 yards on December 10, 2006) posted a team-high 20 rushing yards against Baltimore.

The longest current streaks without allowing a 100-yard rusher:

TEAM - STREAK - LAST 100-YARD RUSHER
Baltimore Ravens - 36 - Larry Johnson, Chiefs, 120 yards (12/10/06)
Minnesota Vikings - 24 - Ryan Grant, Packers, 102 yards (11/11/07)
Pittsburgh Steelers - 19 - Fred Taylor, Jaguars 147 yards (12/16/07)


STREAK HALTED:
MARK SANCHEZ became the first New York Jets rookie quarterback to start a game since MATT ROBINSON on November 13, 1977 against the Seattle Seahawks. Sanchez ended the Jets’ streak of 491 consecutive games without starting a rookie quarterback (previously the longest in the NFL).

Sanchez also became the first rookie quarterback since Pro Football Hall of Famer ROGER STAUBACH of the Dallas Cowboys (1969) to start on Kickoff Weekend for a team that finished the previous season with a winning record. The Jets posted a 9-7 (.563) record in 2008. Sanchez completed 18 of 31 passes (58.1 percent) for 272 yards and one touchdown in the Jets’ 24-7 victory.