We’ve thoroughly chronicled the unbelievable rise in passing numbers in 2011 here at TGS. The massive jump in passing yards per game is staggering, and still going up. Six quarterbacks are still on pace to break Dan Marino’s single season passing record. Seven quarterbacks have a 100+ quarterback rating. Aaron Rodgers is at a record 73.6 completion percentage pace. Cam Newton is still lighting up the statsheet as a rookie. But, perhaps the single most amazing stat in not just the NFL this season, but perhaps any season, comes from the Elias Sports Bureau:
“From Elias: Week Four of the 2011 NFL season featured 7,886 passing yards, the second-most in a single-week in NFL history, 60 yards shy of the record which was accomplished in week two of this season (7,946 passing yards). As a matter of fact, the first four weeks of the 2011 NFL season were the four highest single-week passing-yardage totals in NFL history: Week Two (7,946), Week Four (7,886), Week One (7,842), Week Three (7,772).”
The odds of the top four passing weeks in NFL history occurring back-to-back-to-back-to-back are astronomical! The field is narrowed more than you would think because no teams are on a bye and there have been a full 16 games played. Still though, the fact that the last four weeks have been the most prodigious passing weeks in NFL history is incredible. Someone needs to get Stephen Hawking off that silly search for the meaning of the universe and on these numbers. It’s impossible to put this stat into its proper context because it is so ridiculously preposterous. It’s even more incredible considering the absolute abomination that took place on Sunday Night Football. Week 4 is the second best passing week of all-time in spite of Joe Flacco and Mark Sanchez going a combined 21/66 and just 282 yards between them. Heck, Curtis Painter threw 281 yards on his own on Monday Night Football. CURTIS. PAINTER. Tavaris Jackson had a 300 yard passing game on Sunday for God’s sake. Colt McCoy threw 61 passes in Cleveland. There is truly no end in sight… no wonder Jeff George was pushing for a comeback.
Photo via Daylife.com
