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Week 1 in the NFL did not disappoint. Between the Dolphins vs. Titans matchup becoming the longest-ever NFL game (thanks to two weather delays), players like Deshaun Watson, Dalvin Cook and Andrew Luck returning from injury, and the Steelers TYING with the Browns, we were entertained all day long.
To take advantage of that fun, we’re looking at extrapolated statistics based on Week 1 performances. For example, Bills quarterback Nathan Peterman is on pace for 384 passing yards, 32 interceptions and 48 sacks this season based on his Week 1 stat line. Peterman went 5/18 for 24 yards, 2 interceptions, was sacked 3 times and finished with a passer rating of 0.0. Yes, 0.0 is an achievable passer rating in the NFL.
Rookie quarterback Josh Allen ended up entering the game in place of Peterman when the Bills had enough. Allen went 6/15 for 74 yards and was sacked three times. That puts him on pace for 1,184 yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions and 48 sacks.
See, this is fun! Though, probably not for Bills fans. Sorry, Bills fans.
In the opposite regard, Von Miller is on pace for some absolutely ridiculous numbers. In the Broncos’ 27-24 win over the Seahawks, Miller had 7 tackles, 3.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery. Extrapolated, that would be give Miller 112 tackles, 48 sacks, 34 forced fumbles, and 16 fumble recoveries. Miller has never had more than 62 tackles in a season and topped out with 18.5 sacks in 2012. He’s also never had more than 3 fumble recoveries or 6 forced fumbles in a season, and those numbers didn’t come in the same season.
There was a moment in the Packers’ 24-23 win over the Bears where Aaron Rodgers went down with a knee injury and it looked scary. The NFL is not the same without Rodgers and after he missed half of last year with an injury, we weren’t ready to see him go down again. Luckily, he returned to the game, but clearly was hurting. He finished with 286 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions and a 130.7 passer rating; all while playing on one leg. How? He’s Aaron Rodgers! Those numbers over the course of a season would turn into 4,576 passing yards, 48 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. This might be the extrapolation with the most potential to really happen. Other than the interceptions, would you REALLY be surprised by those numbers? Rodgers had 4,643 yards and 45 touchdowns in 2011 and and 4,428 yards and 40 touchdowns in 2016.
Attempting to make life miserable for Rodgers was the Bears’ shiny, new defender, Khalil Mack. He put on a dominating performance, which included three tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and an interception returned for a touchdown. Talk about making a statement! Mack is fresh off being traded away from the Raiders and has been in Chicago for just more than one week. He’ll be a difference maker this year for the Bears, that’s for sure. Over the course of the season, Mack’s Week 1 numbers extrapolate to 48 tackles, 16 sacks, 16 interceptions (all for touchdowns), 16 forced fumbles and 16 fumble recoveries.
How about Ryan Fitzpatrick? Did you know the 35-year-old journeyman quarterback had a 417 yard, 4 touchdown performance in him? Jameis Winston should be worried about getting the starting job back when he returns from his suspension in Week 4. That’s because Fitzpatrick led the Buccaneers to a 48-40 win over the Saints that nobody saw coming. Over the course of a 16 game season, those numbers extrapolate to 6,672 yards, 64 touchdowns and would break just about every NFL record. He wasn’t even sacked! Peyton Manning ranks first in NFL history in single-season passing yards with 5,477.
On the losing side of that game, Saints running back Alvin Kamara had an interesting stat line as he had more catches and receiving yards than rushes and rushing yards. He also notably scored touchdowns both on the ground and through the air. Kamara finished with 8 rushes for 29 yards and 2 touchdowns as well as 9 catches for 112 yards and 1 receiving touchdown. That extrapolates to 464 rushing yards and 32 rushing touchdowns (imagine that!) as well as 144 catches for 1,792 yards and 16 receiving touchdowns. That’s not going to happen, but Kamara made his fantasy owners happy on Sunday while Saints fans were disappointed about going 0-1.
James Conner had a nice performance as Le’Veon Bell’s understudy in the Steelers’ tie with the Browns. He had 135 yards on 35 carries for 2 touchdowns and added five catches for 37 yards. He also lost a fumble. Over the course of a season, those numbers equate to 2,160 yards and 32 touchdowns on the ground, 16 lost fumbles, and 592 receiving yards. Conner’s performance had many questioning how badly the Steelers need Bell. But keep in mind, this game ended without a winner. The Steelers failed to beat the Browns, who are now 1-31-1 in their last 33 games. Browns fans aren’t even mad; they’re laughing.
Jimmy Garoppolo lost for the first time as the 49ers’ starting quarterback on Sunday. His 261 yard, 1 touchdown, 3 interception performance was one he’d probably like to forget. Over the course of a season, those numbers extrapolate to 4,176 yards, 16 touchdowns and 48 interceptions. It’s safe to say those touchdown and interception totals aren’t numbers Garoppolo would like to finish with this year.
In New York, Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley both had more than 100 yards on Sunday. Barkley had 106 yards and 1 touchdown on the ground, while Beckham had 11 catches for 111 yards in the Giants’ loss to the Jaguars. If they can keep that up, the Giants would have both a 1,600+ yard rusher and 1,700+ yard receiver.
None of these extrapolations will come to fruition (well, maybe Rodgers’ will). That’s just not how the NFL works, but it’s fun to consider.
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Adrian Peterson reaches 100 career rushing TDs in his 1st game with Washington
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What Fans are Talking About
Titans lose Marcus Mariota, Delanie Walker and Taylor Lewan to injuries in loss to Dolphins and Walker’s injury is likely season-ending
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Dante Pettis celebrated a TD by imitating a cat cleaning itself
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Panthers TE Greg Olsen suffered a foot injury against the Cowboys
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Tweet of the Day
Jordan Reed, what is this?!
What exactly are we doing here? (h/t @LoveThePuck) pic.twitter.com/JYhkHgdPSA
— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) September 9, 2018