BRADY SETS NFL MARK FOR MOST YARDS IN THE FIRST THREE GAMES OF THE SEASON
Tom Brady finished with 387 passing yards and has 1,327 yards (517, 423 and 387) through the first three games to set numerous records with the performance.
- Brady set the NFL mark for the most passing yards ever in a three-game stretch. Drew Brees (1,257 - 398, 510, 349) set the NFL mark in 2006.
- Brady surpassed Kurt Warner (1,221 in 2000) for the most passing yards in NFL history through a team's first three games.
- Brady set the New England team mark for the most passing yards through the team's first three games. Drew Bledsoe (1,166 - 421, 380, 365) set the record in 1994.
- Brady set a personal career-high in a three-game stretch. His best previous three-game stretch was 1,048 yards passing in 2007 (388, 354, 306).
BRADY ON A GOOD PACE
Tom Brady is on pace to finish the season with 7,077 passing yards. Only two NFL players have thrown for 5,000 or more yards in a season with Dan Marino's NFL record 5,804 in 1984 and Drew Brees' 5,069 in 2008.The most yards Brady has ever thrown in a season is 4,806 in 2007.
BRADY ON A GOOD PACE PART 2
Brady has 11 touchdown passes through three games and is on pace for 59 touchdown passes. Brady has led the league in touchdowns passes three times in his career and can tie Len Dawson, Brett Favre , Johnny Unitas and Steve Young (4) for the most seasons leading the league in touchdown passes.
Last season, Brady led the NFL with 36 touchdowns. He also led the NFL with a record 50 touchdowns in 2007.
KYLE ARRINGTON ENDS BUFFALO'S FIRST TWO DRIVES WITH INTERCEPTIONS
Kyle Arrington ended Buffalo's first two drives with the first two-interception game of his career. Arrington increased his 2011 numbers to three interceptions. He had his first of the year at Miami (9/12). It is the first two-interception game for a Patriots player since Devin McCourty at Detroit (11/25/10).
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WELKER SETS FRANCHISE RECORDS FOR RECEIVING YARDS AND TIED RECEPTION MARK**
Welker had a career-high 217 receiving yards to set a franchise record. The previous record was set by Terry Glenn when he had 214 at Cleveland on Oct. 3, 1999. It is the second 200-yard performance in franchise history. Welker's previous best was 192 yards vs. the New York Jets (11/22/09). Welker's 16 receptions are a personal best and are tied with Troy Brown for the franchise mark. Brown had 16 vs. Kansas City on September 22, 2001. Welker previous best were the 15 he had vs. the New York Jets (11/22/09).
WELKER ON A GOOD PACE
Welker finished with 16 receptions vs. Buffalo and has 31 receptions in 2011. He is on pace for 165 receptions. Welker needs 100 receptions in 2011 to become the third player in NFL history with four 100-catch seasons. Welker can join Marvin Harrison and Jerry Rice has the only players with four 100-reception seasons. In 2009, Welker finished with a career-high 123 receptions. The 123 receptions are a Patriots record and match Herman Moore (Detroit in 1995) for the second most receptions in a single season in NFL history, behind Marvin Harrison's NFL record of 143 receptions with Indianapolis in 2002.
WELKER HAS 17TH 100-YARD RECEIVING GAME
Wes Welker registered his 17th NFL 100-yard receiving game and his second of the season after finishing with 217 receiving yards. He had 8 receptions for 160 yards at Miami (9/12) in the 2011 season opener.
WELKER GOES OVER 100 YARDS IN THE FIRST HALF
Welker finished the first half with 7 receptions for 119 yards. It is the fifth time that he has entered halftime with at least 100 yards receiving and the seventh time that he has had at least 100 yards receiving in a half.
WELKER HAS 12TH GAME WITH 10 OR MORE RECEPTIONS
Welker had his 12th game with 10 or more receptions and his first since catching 13 passes vs. Jacksonville on December 27, 2010.
ELEVEN STRAIGHT GAMES WITH 30 POINTS RANKS SECOND IN NFL HISTORY
The Patriots scored 31 points for their 11th straight game with 30 or more points.The Patriots' current streak of 11 straight games with 30 or more points is second in NFL history to the 14 straight games by the St. Louis Rams (1999-2000).
BRADY NEARING CHILDHOOD IDOL IN TOUCHDOWN PASSES
Tom Brady threw four touchdown passes today to increase his career total to 272 touchdown passes. Brady is in 10th place on the NFL's all-time passing touchdown list. Brady's child idol Joe Montana is in ninth place in league history with 273 career touchdown passes.
BRADY HAS 12th STRAIGHT GAME WITH TWO OR MORE TDS DATING BACK TO 2010
With four touchdown passes against the Bills, Brady had his 12th straight regular-season game with two or more touchdown passes. The NFL record for most consecutive games with two or more touchdowns is 13 by Peyton Manning in 2004. Johnny Unitas (1959), Don Meredith (1965-66), Dan Marino (1986-87) and Brett Favre (1994-95) each had 12 straight games with 2 or more touchdown passes.
The Patriots are 72-13 when Brady throws for two or more touchdowns in a game.
12 STRAIGHT GAMES WITH 2 TD PASSES
13 Peyton Manning, 2004
12 Tom Bray, 2010-11
12 Johnny Unitas, 1959
12 Don Meredith, 1965-66
12 Dan Marino, 1986-87
12 Brett Favre, 1994-95
BRADY GOES OVER 300 YARDS FOR THE 37th TIME IN HIS CAREER
Tom Brady threw for 387 yards today for his 37th 300-yard passing game. Brady's total of 37 career 300-yard passing games ranks third among active NFL quarterbacks, behind NFL-leader Peyton Manning (63) and Drew Brees (46). The Patriots are now 32-5 when Brady throws for 300 or more yards.
CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH AT LEAST ONE TOUCHDOWN PASS CONTINUES FOR BRADY
Brady has now thrown at least one touchdown pass in 19 straight regular season games to tie a team mark he set (12/17/06-12/09/07). Brady's current streak started when he threw a touchdown pass in all 16 games in 2010.
WELKER IS STREAKING
Wes Welker extended his streak to 64 straight regular-season games with at least one reception as a member of the Patriots to set a franchise record for most consecutive games with at least one reception. He was tied with TE Ben Coates for the franchise record. Welker has an overall streak of 81 straight regular-season games with at least one reception, including his time with the Miami Dolphins. Welker has caught at least one pass in each of his 68 games with the Patriots, including four postseason games. The last time that Welker did not catch a pass in a game was December 24, 2005 when he was with Miami.
BRADY ECLIPSES 30 COMPLETION MARK FOR THIRD STRAIGHT WEEK
Tom Brady finished with 30 completions today for the third straight week. This week's game marks the 17th time Brady has had 30 or more completions in a game.
GRONKOWSKI SCORES IN HIS FIFTH STRAIGHT REGULAR SEASON GAME TIE TEAM MARK
TE Rob Gronkowski tied a Patriots record by catching a touchdown pass in his fifth straight regular season game with a 1-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. Randy Moss, Daniel Graham, Michael Timpson and Jimmy Colclough also caught touchdown passes in five straight games.
GRONKOWSKI HAS FOURTH GAME WITH 2 OR MORE TOUCHDOWNS
Gronkowski scored on a 1-yard touchdown in the first quarter and a 26-yard touchdown in the second quarter for his fourth game with two or more touchdowns and his second straight game with two or more touchdowns. Gronkowski scored on a 10-yard pass in the second quarter and 17-yard pass in the fourth quarter vs. San Diego (9/18). He had a career-high three at Pittsburgh (11/14/10) and then had two at Buffalo (12/26/10).
GRONKOWSKI'S ON A GOOD PACE
Gronkowski has five touchdowns so far in 2011. His 10 touchdowns as a rookie in 2010 were the second most ever by a rookie tight end in NFL history. Only Mike Ditka had more with 12 as a rookie.
GRONKOWSKI SETS CAREER HIGH IN RECEPTIONS AND YARDS
Gronkowski set a career high with seven receptions for 109 yards. His previous best was six receptions vs. Miami (1/2/11) and at Miami (9/12/11). His previous best in receiving yards was 102 yards vs. Miami (1/2/11)
