The Box Office Kicker 🎯

The NFL has introduced a phenomenal talent in kicker Cam Little of Jacksonville, whose leg strength seems to defy the norm. Little recently nailed a remarkable 70-yard field goal against the Falcons during the preseason, showcasing his impressive range, consistently clearing 72 yards during warmups.

"CAM LITTLE 70-YARD FIELD GOAL! Stream on @NFLPlus"

Preseason statistics may not count in the official records, but that 70-yard kick against the Falcons certainly deserves special recognition. Little wasn’t merely hitting second-string performers; he was shattering expectations!

At just 22 years old, Little might transform that preseason achievement into genuine success during the regular season. The current record of 66 yards, held by Justin Tucker, appears to be a mere warm-up for Little. The question remains: will new Jags head coach Liam Coen feel at ease calling for a long-distance field goal in a crucial game?

Coen may apply caution with Little’s distance, using it only when necessary for clutch plays. Nevertheless, this kicker provides Jacksonville's offense with a unique advantage. With the recent adjustment to the touchback rule, the Jaguars only need to advance a short distance before being dangerously close to field-goal range. This alters the game plan for opposing defenses, who already need to fan out to cover players like Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter, and Dyami Brown in the passing game. What becomes the threshold for defensive strategies against Little? Could it be second-and-five from the 40-yard line?

A 70-yard conversion from Little this season is within reach, and he might even surpass that distance. Mark December 21 on your calendars! The Jaguars are set to face the Denver Broncos at high altitude, a condition that has been known to empower kickers in breaking records. If the opportunity arises, Little could redefine the standard for field goals.

Patrick Mahomes Watch ⏱️

Every season, Patrick Mahomes adds new records to his impressive resume. Next up: catching Aaron Rodgers’s record for the fastest quarterback to achieve 250 career passing touchdowns (121 games).

Mahomes currently stands at 245 touchdowns after 112 regular-season games, leaving just five touchdowns to tie the record and six to surpass it outright. The expectation is that he’ll likely reach this milestone by September. Throughout 23 games played in September, Mahomes has thrown an astonishing 62 touchdowns, averaging nearly three per game. Based on this performance, he’s on track to break the record by Week 2, when the Chiefs go up against the Eagles at home.

Concerns have surfaced regarding the Chiefs' offense. Last season, the unit was the least productive of Mahomes's career. Despite reaching the Super Bowl, Kansas City's offense struggled, hindered by an offensive line that stunted the vertical passing game. As a result, Mahomes often resorted to moving the ball in small increments. The Chiefs ranked last in the league in explosive play rate, despite bringing in speedster Xavier Worthy during the draft.

Those uncertainties remain as the new season approaches. The revamped offensive line will need time to gel, especially with Rashee Rice facing a six-game suspension.

A rookie left tackle, Josh Simmons, will play a key role. If he can perform at an average level, the Chiefs should regain their dynamic passing attack. However, should he struggle, they might revert to the stagnant offense that plagued them last season.

With Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid at the helm, it’s best to count on a brighter outcome. Beyond the offensive line, Kansas City has also focused on amplifying speed in its lineup, adding former Patriots wideout Tyquan Thornton to the receiving corps. Both Thornton and Worthy posted the fastest times in the preseason, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Additionally, fifth-round pick Brashard Smith, a former wide receiver turned running back, adds extra explosiveness to the offense. The overarching strategy is to situate speedy receivers on the perimeter, allowing Travis Kelce to operate underneath as Mahomes's safety net.

Regardless of any growing pains along the offensive line, surrounding Mahomes with explosive athletes remains a foolproof strategy. The record set by Rodgers will likely be the first to fall, but Mahomes is also pursuing a fourth consecutive Super Bowl appearance—a feat achieved by only Jim Kelly and the Buffalo Bills.

The 500 Club 💯

We’ve seen 22 quarterbacks cross the coveted 500-yard passing mark in a single game. Despite rule changes designed to favor passing plays, none have eclipsed Norm Van Brocklin’s legendary 554 yards set in 1951. Will this be the year someone finally breaks that record?

Achieving this milestone is challenging. The recent touchback rule is likely to result in fewer drives requiring offenses to traverse the length of the field. Breaking Van Brocklin’s record demands a combination of a depleted defense and a team completely abandoning its run game. While possible, Van Brocklin’s record may remain unchallenged.

On the other hand, a record for the most 500-yard games seems more attainable. Currently, Ben Roethlisberger holds this record with three. Unlike most quarterbacks who’ve approached that number, Roethlisberger's games were not merely the result of garbage time. This brings us to Joe Burrow.

Borough has already accumulated two 500-yard games in his career. If the Bengals aim to be competitive in the AFC North, he might need to deliver several more. While the Bengals have retained defensive player Trey Hendrickson, their overall defense appears exposed on paper. Questionable depth in the secondary and the front lines could put pressure on Burrow to excel.

Chasing Thomas 🎯

Speaking of the Bengals’ receiving corps, Michael Thomas’s impressive 149 receptions in 2019 still holds the record. Cooper Kupp trailed closely behind with 145 receptions in 2021.

Ja'Marr Chase is the next contender. If Cincinnati’s defense plays as poorly as anticipated, the team will lean heavily on its aerial game to maintain competitiveness. This challenges their win-loss record but offers opportunities for Chase and his co-star Tee Higgins. Last season, they combined for an astounding 200 receptions and 2,619 yards—the highest tandem total in the league.

The Bengals will need a repeat performance. Historically, only four receiving duos have exceeded a combined total of 3,000 yards. Burrow has multiple weapons at his disposal, yet Chase and Higgins will likely see the highest target shares. In the last season, Higgins averaged 75 receptions, while Chase reached a personal best of 127.

Breaking the combined record of 3,174 yards set in 1995 by Herman Moore and Brett Perriman will be a significant challenge, but surpassing the 3,000-yard mark is feasible. If game scripts necessitate a pass-heavy strategy, Chase could stand a chance at eclipsing Thomas’s record.

The Unwanted Sack Record 🏈

Among the various disappointments of Aaron Rodgers’ tenure with the Jets, one particular moment stings: he surpassed Tom Brady for the most career sacks taken with a staggering total of 571.

While Rodgers currently sits at the top, Russell Wilson isn't far behind, trailing by just 11 sacks. This is remarkable considering Wilson was drafted seven years later and has started 49 fewer games. The narrative around these two seasoned quarterbacks continues to unfold—can Rodgers contain his sack figure long enough for Wilson to potentially surpass him before the Giants pull Wilson for Jaxson Dart?

Go for It, Keisean! 🚀

The NFL’s new kickoff rule has been one of the more under-explored aspects this preseason. Under this revised rule, a touchback will occur at the 35-yard line. This change aims to revitalize the return game while reducing the risk of severe collisions at high speeds.

Last season, with a static start in place, teams only recorded seven return touchdowns. Many teams preferred to take the touchback rather than risk a play. However, with this placement adjustment, teams may reconsider their strategies, leading to more action on the field.

As teams evaluate how best to utilize the new rule, we might witness a surge in exciting return plays. In history, Devin Hester holds the single-season record for non-offensive touchdowns, all achieved through returns. While no one in the current league has come close to his prowess, the rule change creates greater potential for a returner to challenge that record.

One player who might rise to the occasion is Green Bay’s Keisean Nixon. As both a returner and a starting cornerback, he embodies the ideal mix of talent for this unique challenge. Although he expressed reluctance about returning kicks, the landscape has changed, increasing the potential for significant yardage.

Nixon might not want to be a returner, but history is waiting for him, should he choose to embrace the challenge! If he can snag a pick-six or two while on defense, he could very well have a shot at Hester’s legendary crown—as long as the Packers persuade him to embrace kickoff duties once more!