What To Look For: Week 11

WHAT TO LOOK FOR – WEEK 11

SUCCESS ON THE ROAD:  Four teams have started the 2009 season with 4-0 road records: Arizona, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and New Orleans.  All four of those clubs are in first place in their respective divisions and each will put its undefeated road record on the line in Week 11.

This Sunday, the Cardinals visit St. Louis, the Colts travel to Baltimore, the Bengals head to Oakland and the Saints will take a trip across the Gulf to face Tampa Bay.

If all four 4-0 teams win, 2009 will be the first season in history in which four clubs started 5-0 on the road.  If three of the four win, this season will tie for the most 5-0 road teams ever, which has occurred three times in NFL annals (1983, 2001, 2007).

-- NFL --

DRIVE TIME UPDATE:  Sustaining drives on offense has long been an indicator of NFL success.  When an offense, in the immortal words of Hank Stram, "matriculates the ball down the field," it helps the team win the field-position battle, gives the defense a rest, and, most importantly, can lead to points.

This year, the top five NFL offenses in yards per drive have a combined record of 36-9 (.800).  Four of those five teams currently sit atop their respective divisions – Indianapolis, New England, New Orleans, and Dallas.

The NFL’s two remaining undefeated teams, the Colts (36.8 yards per drive) and Saints (35.2), rank first and third in the category.

The top NFL offenses in average yards per drive in 2009:

-- NFL --

HANDY RANDY:  New England Patriots wide receiver RANDY MOSS leads the NFL with 891 receiving yards this season.  With 109 yards this Sunday against the Jets, Moss can join JERRY RICE as the only players in NFL history with 10 1,000- yard receiving seasons.

Currently in his 12th season, Moss has reached the 1,000-yard mark nine times, while Rice recorded 14 1,000-yard seasons in his 20-year career.

The players with the most 1,000-yard receiving seasons in NFL history:

MOSS GOES LONG:  Moss scored twice against the Colts this past Sunday, including a 63-yard touchdown catch.  Moss has 27 scrimmage touchdowns (rushing or receiving) of 50 yards or more, which ties him for second on the all-time list with Pro Football Hall of Famer LANCE ALWORTH.

With a 50-yard touchdown catch or run this week against the Jets, Moss will take sole possession of second place.  JERRY RICE, who scored 36 such touchdowns in his career, is the all-time leader.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver TERRELL OWENS ranks fifth on the list and can tie Hall of Famer LENNY MOORE (25) for fourth place with a 50-yard score against the Jaguars in Week 11.

The players with the most 50-yard touchdowns from scrimmage (rushing or receiving) in NFL history:

-- NFL --

BE-WARE OF DE MARCUS:  Dallas Cowboys linebacker DE MARCUS WARE has registered a sack in six consecutive games against the Washington Redskins, which ties him for the longest active streak in the NFL.

Ware will put that streak on the line in Week 11 when the Cowboys host the Redskins in a key NFC East game.

The players with the longest current streaks of consecutive games with a sack against a team:

-- NFL --

WHAT A CATCH:  Since joining the New England Patriots in 2007, wide receiver WES WELKER has 287 receptions in his first 39 games with the club.  Welker’s total already ranks as the most catches by any player in his first 40 games with a new team (rookies and veterans) in NFL history.

Welker, who is tied for second in the NFL with 64 receptions this season, can extend his record when he plays in his 40th game with New England as the Patriots host the Jets on Sunday.

The players with the most receptions in their first 40 games with a new team (rookies and veterans):

-- NFL --

COLT COMBO:  Through nine games this season, wide receiver REGGIE WAYNE (69) and tight end DALLAS CLARK (64) of the Indianapolis Colts have combined for 133 receptions.  If Wayne and Clark combine for at least four catches this Sunday against the Ravens, they will have the most receptions by a pair of teammates in the first 10 games of a season in NFL history.

The 1964 Chicago Bears tandem of wide receiver JOHNNY MORRIS (77) and Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end MIKE DITKA (59) currently shares the record of 136 combined catches through the first 10 games of a season with the 1995 Detroit Lions wide receiver duo of HERMAN MOORE (73) and BRETT PERRIMAN (63).

The most combined receptions by teammates in the first 10 games of a season in NFL history:

If both Clark and Wayne maintain their current pace, they will amass 235 combined receptions in 2009, which would be the most by any pair of teammates in NFL history.  Wayne is on pace for 122 catches, while Clark projects to 113.

The most combined receptions by teammates in a season in NFL history: