NFL: WHAT TO LOOK FOR: WEEK 9

NFL: WHAT TO LOOK FOR: WEEK 9

Below are the players that can set historic marks or reach career milestones in Week 9 of the 2025 NFL season, including:

  • QB Josh Allen
  • QB Patrick Mahomes
  • QB Drake Maye
  • QB Aaron Rodgers
  • QB Matthew Stafford
  • RB Jonathan Taylor
  • WR Ja’Marr Chase
  • WR Tee Higgins
  • WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
  • TE Trey McBride
  • TE Travis Kelce
  • LB Byron Young

JOSH ALLEN

Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen had three touchdowns (two rushing, one passing) last week, his 46th career game with both a touchdown pass and rushing touchdown, surpassing Cam Newton (45 games) for the most such games in NFL history.

Allen has five rushing touchdowns in 2025 and on Sunday against Kansas City (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS), can become the first quarterback and fourth player ever with at least six rushing touchdowns in each of his first eight career seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Jim BrownMarshall Faulk and LaDainian Tomlinson.

Additionally, with a rushing touchdown, Allen can become the first quarterback and sixth player ever with at least six rushing touchdowns in eight consecutive seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk (10 consecutive seasons from 1994-2004), LaDainian Tomlinson (10 from 2001-10), Jim Brown (nine from 1957-65) and Thurman Thomas (eight from 1989-96) as well as Derrick Henry (eight from 2018-25).

The players with the most consecutive seasons with at least six rushing touchdowns in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAM(S)SEASONS
Marshall Faulk HOFIndianapolis, St. Louis Rams10 (1994-2004)
LaDainian Tomlinson HOFSan Diego Chargers, N.Y. Jets10 (2001-10)
Jim Brown HOFCleveland9 (1957-65)
Derrick HenryTennessee, Baltimore8 (2018-25)
Thurman Thomas HOFBuffalo8 (1989-96)
Josh AllenBuffalo7* (2018-24)
*has five rushing touchdowns in 2025

PATRICK MAHOMES

Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes passed for 299 yards and three touchdowns with a 104.9 passer rating last week, his third straight game with at least three touchdown passes.

Mahomes has 46 career games with at least three touchdown passes and at Buffalo on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS), can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (46 games) for the most such games by a player in his first nine seasons in NFL history.

With a passer rating of 100-or-higher on Sunday, Mahomes can surpass Matt Ryan (61 games) for the third-most games with a passer rating of 100-or-higher in his first nine career seasons, trailing only Russell Wilson (74 games) and Dak Prescott (63).

The players with the most games with a passer rating of 100-or-higher in their first nine seasons in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMGAMES
Russell WilsonSeattle74
Dak PrescottDallas63
Patrick MahomesKansas City61*
Matt RyanAtlanta61
*in ninth season

Mahomes has 49 career games with at least 300 passing yards, the most by a player in his first nine seasons in NFL history. With his next 300-yard performance, he can become the sixth quarterback all-time with at least 50 such games in his first 12 career seasons.

The players with the most games with at least 300 passing yards in their first 12 seasons in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAM(S)GAMES
Drew BreesSan Diego Chargers, New Orleans67
Matt RyanAtlanta64
Peyton Manning HOFIndianapolis56
Kurt Warner HOFSt. Louis Rams, Arizona52
Kirk CousinsWashington, Minnesota50
Patrick MahomesKansas City49*
*in ninth season

DRAKE MAYE

New England quarterback Drake Maye is the first player in NFL history with at least two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 135-or-higher in five of his team’s first eight games of a season and has at least 200 passing yards and a passer rating of 100-or-higher in each of his past seven starts.

With at least 200 passing yards and a passer rating of 100-or-higher in Week 8, Maye can become the first player under the age of 24 and fourth player in NFL history to record at least 200 passing yards and a passer rating of 100-or-higher in eight consecutive games, joining Aaron Rodgers (12 consecutive games in 2011 and eight in 2020), Tom Brady (eight in 2007) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (eight in 2004)

The players with at least 200 passing yards and a passer rating 100-or-higher in the most consecutive games within a single season in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONGAMES
Aaron RodgersGreen Bay201112
Tom BradyNew England20078
Peyton Manning HOFIndianapolis20048
Aaron RodgersGreen Bay20208
Patrick MahomesKansas City20187
Drake MayeNew England20257*
*active streak

AARON RODGERS

Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers is tied for third in the NFL with 16 touchdown passes, including five games with multiple touchdown passes this season.

With two touchdown passes on Sunday against Indianapolis (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Rodgers can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (165 games) for the third-most games with multiple touchdown passes in NFL history. Only Tom Brady (204 games) and Drew Brees (173) have more.

The players with the most games with at least two touchdown passes in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAM(S)GAMES
Tom BradyNew England, Tampa Bay204
Drew BreesSan Diego Chargers, New Orleans173
Peyton Manning HOFIndianapolis, Denver165
Aaron RodgersGreen Bay, N.Y. Jets, Pittsburgh165

MATTHEW STAFFORD

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, in Week 7 before the team’s Week 8 bye, recorded his fifth career game with five touchdown passes and ranks tied for first with 17 touchdown passes this season.

On Sunday against New Orleans (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX), Stafford – who has only thrown two interceptions in 2025 – can become the fifth different player with at least 20 touchdown passes and three-or-fewer interceptions in his first eight games of a season, joining Tom Brady (2007 and 2015), Patrick Mahomes (2020), Aaron Rodgers (2011 and 2020) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Y.A. Tittle (1963).

The players with at least 20 touchdown passes and three-or-fewer interceptions in their first eight games of a season in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONPASS TDsINTs
Patrick MahomesKansas City2020211
Aaron Rodgers MVPGreen Bay2020242
Tom BradyNew England2015222
Aaron Rodgers MVPGreen Bay2011243
Tom Brady MVPNew England2007302
Y.A. Tittle MVP / HOFN.Y. Giants1963233
Matthew StaffordL.A. Rams202517*2*
*in first seven games

JONATHAN TAYLOR

Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor totaled 174 scrimmage yards (153 rushing, 21 receiving) and three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) last week and joined Gene ‘Choo-Choo’ Roberts (1949 with the New York Giants) as the only players all-time with three touchdowns in four of his first eight games of a season.

Taylor can become the fourth player in NFL history with at least three touchdowns in five games in a single season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers LaDainian Tomlinson (six games in 2006) and Marshall Faulk (five in 2000) as well as Chuck Foreman (five in 1975).

Taylor leads the NFL with 850 rushing yards and 14 scrimmage touchdowns this season and on Sunday at Pittsburgh (1 p.m. ET, CBS), can become the sixth player since 1990 and first since 2006 (Pro Football Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson) with at least 900 rushing yards and 15 scrimmage touchdowns in his first nine games of a season.

The players with at least 900 rushing yards and 15 scrimmage touchdowns in their first nine games of a season since 1990:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONRUSH YARDSSCRIMMAGE TDs
LaDainian Tomlinson HOFSan Diego Chargers200693218
Shaun AlexanderSeattle20051,11417
Priest HolmesKansas City200290816
Terrell Davis HOFDenver19981,21916
Emmitt Smith HOFDallas19951,13716
Jonathan TaylorIndianapolis2025850*14*
*in first eight games

JA’MARR CHASE

Cincinnati wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase leads the NFL with 70 receptions and has 38 receptions in his past three games, tied with Michael Thomas (38 receptions from Weeks 1-3 in 2018 with New Orleans) for the most receptions in a three-game span in NFL history.

On Sunday against Chicago (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Chase – who had 10 receptions in Week 6, 16 receptions in Week 7 and 12 receptions in Week 8 – can join Pro Football Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson (Weeks 13-16, 2012 with Detroit) as the only players in NFL history with at least 10 receptions in four consecutive games.

Additionally, Chase can become the fourth player ever with at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in 20 games in his first five seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Lance Alworth (24 games), Randy Moss (24) and Jerry Rice (21).

Chase has 15 career games with at least 125 receiving yards since entering the NFL in 2021 and with 125 receiving yards in Week 9, can tie Odell Beckham Jr. (16 games) and A.J. Brown (16) for the fourth-most such games by a player in his first five seasons in the Super Bowl era.

The players with the most games with at least 125 receiving yards in their first five seasons in the Super Bowl era:

PLAYERTEAM(S)GAMES
Justin JeffersonMinnesota23
Randy Moss HOFMinnesota17
Julio JonesAtlanta17
Odell Beckham Jr.New York Giants16
A.J. BrownTennessee, Philadelphia16
Ja’Marr ChaseCincinnati15*
*in fifth season

TEE HIGGINS

Cincinnati wide receiver Tee Higgins had his fourth touchdown reception of the season last week and since Week 5 of the 2024 season, has at least one touchdown reception in eight consecutive home games.

On Sunday against Chicago (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Higgins can become the third player all-time with a touchdown reception in nine consecutive home games, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Cris Carter (10 consecutive home games with Minnesota from 2000-01) and Jerry Rice (nine with San Francisco from 1989-90).

JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA

Seattle wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba – at 23 years old – leads the NFL with 819 receiving yards and has at least 75 receiving yards in each of his seven games this season.

With 81 receiving yards on Sunday Night Football at Washington (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), Smith-Njigba can join Pro Football Hall of Famer Isaac Bruce (938 receiving yards in 1995) as the only players under the age of 24 with at least 900 receiving yards in their first eight games of a season in NFL history.

Additionally, with 75 receiving yards in Week 9, Smith-Njigba can become the fifth player in the Super Bowl era with at least 75 receiving yards in each of his first eight games of a season, joining Antonio Brown (first nine games in 2014), Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin (first nine in 1995), Dwight Clark (first eight in 1982) and Adam Thielen (first eight in 2018).

The players with at least 75 receiving yards in the most consecutive games to begin a season in the Super Bowl era:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONGAMES
Antonio BrownPittsburgh20149
Michael Irvin HOFDallas19959
Dwight ClarkSan Francisco19828
Adam ThielenMinnesota20188
Jaxon Smith-NjigbaSeattle20257*
*active streak

TREY MCBRIDE

Arizona tight end Trey McBride, in Week 7 before the team’s Week 8 bye, recorded his sixth career game with at least 10 receptions, the most such games by a tight end in his first four seasons in NFL history. This season, he ranks second among tight ends with 47 receptions and since Week 17 last season, has at least five receptions in nine consecutive games.

On Monday Night Football at Dallas (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC), McBride can become the third tight end in NFL history with at least five receptions in 10 consecutive games, joining Travis Kelce (15 consecutive games in 2018 and 11 from 2020-21) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez (13 from 2008-09),

The tight ends with the most consecutive games with at least five receptions in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAM(S)SEASON(S)GAMES
Travis KelceKansas City201815
Tony Gonzalez HOFKansas City, Atlanta2008-0913
Travis KelceKansas City2020-2111
Trey McBrideArizona2024-259*
Jason WittenDallas20129
*active streak

TRAVIS KELCE

Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce had 99 receiving yards and his 100th career touchdown reception (including the postseason) last week, one of four tight ends all-time with at least 100 career touchdown receptions, including the playoffs.

Kelce ranks second among tight ends with 474 receiving yards this season and with 26 receiving yards at Buffalo in Week 9 (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS), can become the fourth tight end all-time with at least 500 receiving yards in 12 career seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Tony Gonzalez (16 consecutive seasons) and Antonio Gates (13) as well as Jason Witten (15).

The tight ends with the most seasons with at least 500 receiving yards in NFL history:

PLAYERTEAM(S)SEASONS
Tony Gonzalez HOFKansas City, Atlanta16
Jason WittenDallas15
Antonio Gates HOFSan Diego Chargers13
Rob GronkowskiNew England11
Travis KelceKansas City11*
Shannon Sharpe HOFDenver, Baltimore11
*has 474 receiving yards in 2025

BYRON YOUNG

Los Angeles Rams linebacker Byron Young ranks third in the NFL with a career-high nine sacks this season and since Week 17 last season, has at least a half sack in nine consecutive games.

With a half sack on Sunday against New Orleans (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX), Young can become the sixth player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, with at least half a sack in each of his first eight games of a season.

The players with at least half a sack in the most consecutive games to begin a season since 1982:

PLAYERTEAMSEASONGAMES
Jared Allen HOFMinnesota20119
Everson GriffenMinnesota20178
Dwight Freeney HOFIndianapolis20098
Robert MathisIndianapolis20058
Shaun EllisN.Y. Jets20038
Byron YoungL.A. Rams20257*
*active streak

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