ESPN More Sports

Stats & Information gets you ready for the NFL Draft at the end of the month with a look at the biggest need for each team. Today, we take a look at the NFC West.

Arizona Cardinals
Needs: Offensive line, wide receiver

The Cardinals used only five different offensive line combinations last season, yet allowed a league-high 32 sacks facing four or fewer pass rushers.

Larry Fitzgerald had 28 catches on throws traveling at least 15 air yards, while no other Cardinal receiver had more than six.

Kiper’s 1st-Round Prediction: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
McShay’s 1st-Round Prediction: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

St. Louis Rams
Needs: Offensive line, defensive tackle, defensive back, quarterback, wide receiver

The St. Louis Rams need to fill multiple positions under first-year head coach Jeff Fisher.

The Rams’ most used offensive line unit played 26 percent of plays together last season (29th in the NFL), and no team allowed more than the Rams’ 55 sacks.

Staying on the line, but this time defensively, the Rams allowed a league-worst 5.7 yards per rush and 3.2 yards before contact up the middle last season. In the backfield, St. Louis cornerbacks only intercepted one pass on throws outside the numbers in 2011.

Rams’ receivers combined for only 39 receptions on throws traveling at least 15 yards downfield last season (27th in NFL), and Brandon Lloyd (who signed a free agent deal with the New England Patriots) led the team with 13.

Getting those receivers the ball is quarterback Sam Bradford, who is the only player to finish in the bottom five in Total QBR rankings each of the last two seasons.

Kiper’s 1st-Round Prediction: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma St.
McShay’s 1st-Round Prediction: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Seattle Seahawks
Needs: Tight end, defensive line

The Seahawks had 12 of their 33 sacks last season with four or fewer pass rushers, despite sending such pressure 70 percent of the time.

Chris Clemons led the team with 6.5 sacks when Seattle sent four or fewer rushers, but no other defensive lineman contributed more than one.

Seahawks’ tight ends accumulated 453 receiving yards, fourth-fewest in the league, including only six receptions on throws at least 15 yards downfield.

Kiper’s 1st-Round Prediction: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina
McShay’s 1st-Round Prediction: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

San Francisco 49ers
Needs: Wide receiver, running back

The 49ers added Randy Moss and Mario Manningham, but lost Josh Morgan to free agency.

Vernon Davis caught 60 percent of his targets on throws traveling at least 15 air yards, but other San Francisco receivers hauled in 41 percent of their targets and accounted for just half of Alex Smith's touchdowns on throws of that distance.

The 49ers were one of eight teams without a receiving touchdown by a running back last season, and led the league in drops despite having the second-fewest targets.

Kiper’s 1st-Round Prediction: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech
McShay’s 1st-Round Prediction: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

Only three players have had at least 1,000 yards receiving each of the last five seasons: Larry Fitzgerald, Roddy White and Brandon Marshall.

For Marshall, his first two 1,000-yard seasons came when he was paired with QB Jay Cutler with the Denver Broncos. From 2007-08, Marshall had 206 receptions (only Wes Welker had more) and his 2,590 yards ranked third behind Fitzgerald and Reggie Wayne.

In 2008, Cutler targeted Marshall a league-high 179 times, 33 more than any other QB-receiver combination. That’s the most times a QB has targeted a player in a single season in the last four years.

Marshall and Cutler have been reunited with the Chicago Bears, a team that hasn't had a 1,000-yard receiver since Marty Booker in 2002.

In fact, since the 1970 merger, the Bears have had a total of seven 1,000-yard seasons posted by receivers. (Booker and Curtis Conway are tied for the most with two.)

In his three seasons in Chicago, Cutler's leader in receptions among wide receivers is Johnny Knox with 133, which ranks 43rd in the NFL among wide receivers. (The Bears leader in receptions the last three seasons is running back Matt Forte with 160.)

However, one area that Knox has proven to be Marshall's equal is on deep routes. On throws over 20 yards, Marshall has been targeted 68 times, with 24 receptions (and three drops) and four touchdowns over the last three seasons. (In 2008 with Cutler, Marshall was targeted 25 times on throws more than 20 yards downfield, with seven receptions, 235 yards and one TD.)

Knox has been targeted 18 fewer times than Marshall on throws over 20 yards, and still has 22 receptions (and only one drop) and six touchdowns.

One flaw in Marshall's game is drops. Since 2008, his 26 on-target drops are third most in the NFL behind Dwayne Bowe (37) and White (31).

Marshall also has caught only 12 of his 64 end zone targets the last four seasons. That’s the second-worst rate in the NFL behind Braylon Edwards. (Marshall caught five of 15 attempts from Cutler in 2008.)

After having the best season of his career, Alex Smith is expected to re-sign with the San Francisco 49ers.

One question about the former No. 1 overall pick is whether Smith can replicate what he did in 2011 on an annual basis. The question facing Matt Flynn, another quarterback about to hit the open market, is can he perform at a high level from week-to-week.

Aaron Rodgers' backup the last four seasons, Flynn has made only two starts. However, he threw for 731 yards in those two starts -- only Cam Newton threw for more yards in his first two starts in NFL history.

From 2008-10, Flynn completed less than half of his passes outside the field numbers (17-36). In 2011, Flynn was 14-of-19 on throws outside the numbers.

There are several big-name receivers in this year’s free agent class. Reggie Wayne is one of them, and while he’s been linked to whatever team Peyton Manning signs with, he will be a valuable addition wherever he goes.

Not only does Wayne lead the NFL in receptions, yards and touchdowns since 2003, but he’s started 145 consecutive regular-season games, the third-longest active streak by an offensive player.

Marques Colston and Vincent Jackson are big targets who are reliable and can stretch the field.

Since his rookie season in 2006, Colston ranks among the NFL’s top 10 in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. He’s also had at least 1,000 yards receiving in five of his six seasons. (Randy Moss is the only player in NFL history with 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first six seasons.)

Jackson became one of the best deep threats in seven seasons with the San Diego Chargers. Since 2008, Jackson’s 18.0 yards per reception is third in the NFL (minimum 100 receptions), and his 37 receptions on throws longer than 20 yards downfield ranks fourth in the NFL.

Colston caught nearly 77 percent of his targets last season, the best percentage among any wide receiver in the league (minimum 50 targets).

Jackson’s teammate with the Chargers, Mike Tolbert, is one of a handful of running backs who might be looking elsewhere in order to find more playing time.

Sharing time with Ryan Mathews, Tolbert has 19 rushing touchdowns the last two seasons, including a league-high 10 one-yard scores. And in 2011, no player had more rushing touchdowns up the middle than Tolbert’s six (Newton and Ray Rice also had six).

If Colston goes elsewhere, he might not even be the Saints biggest loss this offseason. Free agent Carl Nicks played every offensive snap last season, including playoffs, all at left guard. The Saints averaged 6.6 yards per rush to the left last season, second-best in the NFL.

The San Francisco 49ers have agreed to a one-year deal with six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Randy Moss.

Moss has always been known as a deep threat -- his 29 career touchdowns of at least 50 yards are the second-most in NFL history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau (Jerry Rice is first with 36).

Despite having the fourth-best completion percentage on throws more than 20 yards downfield, only three teams attempted fewer such passes than the Niners did last season.

Are Moss’ days as a true deep threat behind him?

Over the past four seasons, he’s caught just 22.7 percent of the passes thrown to him more than 20 yards downfield.

Among players with more than 35 such targets (top 60), only four players have a lower catch-to-target percentage than Moss and nobody has more drops on such throws.

San Francisco hasn't had a 1,000-yard receiver since Terrell Owens in 2003. Elias tells us that's the second-longest active drought in the NFL -- the Chicago Bears last had a 1,000-yard receiver in 2002. Moss has gone over 1,000 yards in 10 of his 13 NFL seasons.

Moss is in the top five in NFL history in receiving yards (fifth with 14,858), receiving touchdowns (tied for second with 153) and 100-yard receiving games (second with 64, according to the Elias Sports Bureau). Moss, Rice and Owens are the only players to rank in the top five in each of those categories and the 49ers have now employed them all.

Moss was the 1998 Offensive Rookie of the Year and has been a first-team All-Pro four times in his career. His 154 total touchdowns are the fifth-most in NFL history -- he’s just two behind Owens for fourth and five behind LaDainian Tomlinson for third.

Among the 24 players with at least 800 career receptions, Moss’ average of 15.6 yards per reception is the third-highest, behind only Henry Ellard and Steve Largent.

Moss struggled in 2010, finishing with career lows in receptions and receiving yards and was traded and cut within the span of a month. He had five games without a reception that season, more than the rest of his career combined.

According to Elias, in 2010, he became just the third first-round draft pick in NFL history to play for three different teams in the same season.

Moss' regular-season success didn't translate to the postseason. His teams were 6-6 in playoff games he appeared in, including a 1-3 mark in conference championship games and Super Bowls.

Moss had 5 catches for 62 yards and a TD in the Patriots loss in Super Bowl XLII, his only Super Bowl appearance.

Randy Moss decided to celebrate his 35th birthday with a present to himself. Moss announced that he intends to return to the NFL after a year away from the league.

He did not play in 2011. On Aug. 1, 2011, his agent said that Moss was considering offers from several teams, but made the decision to retire.

Moss finished 2010 with career lows in receptions (28) and receiving yards (393). He was traded from the New England Patriots to the Minnesota Vikings in midseason and then cut by Minnesota, ultimately finishing the year with the Tennessee Titans. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Moss was just the third first-round draft pick to play for three teams in a single season.

His 2010 numbers looked more like those of a backup wide receiver than a six-time Pro Bowl participant. Despite starting 11 games, Moss ranked 117th in receiving yards and tied for 149th in receptions

Moss ranks in the top five in NFL history in receiving yards (fifth with 14,858), receiving TD (tied for second with 153) and 100-yard receiving games (second with 64). Moss, Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens are the only players to rank in the top five in each of those categories.

He owns the league's single-season record for receiving TD, recording 23 as the Patriots posted the first 16-0 regular season in league history in 2007. He also has the single-season rookie record for receiving TD, registering 17 with the 1998 Vikings.

One of the best deep threats in league history, he has 29 touchdowns of at least 50 yards. Only Jerry Rice, with 36, has more.

Regular-season success hasn't translated to the postseason. His teams were 6-6 in playoff games he appeared in, including a 1-3 mark in conference championship games and Super Bowls. Moss had five catches for 62 yards and a TD in the Patriots loss in Super Bowl XLII, his only Super Bowl appearance.

Moss isn't the only high-profile player to attempt to return to the NFL after retiring. Recent retiree Ricky Williams ran for nearly 3,000 yards after initially retiring in 2004. Hall of Famers Reggie White and Deion Sanders each resumed careers after taking time off.

Not everyone who hopes to return is as successful. Last summer, former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber attempted to return to the NFL after missing four seasons. He failed to sign with any team.

The 2007 New England Patriots finished the regular season 16-0, a feat the Green Bay Packers may be trying to accomplish in 2011. Both Tom Brady in 2007 and Aaron Rodgers in 2011 got out to fast starts, completing over 71.0 percent of their passes, throwing for over 3,400 yards and over 30 touchdowns.

The Patriots kept winning even though Brady’s production eventually dipped. Over his last five games Brady completed 61.3 percent of his passes while averaging 1.5 yards per attempt fewer and throwing just as many interceptions as he did in his first 11 games.

It is yet to be seen if Rodgers will be able to keep pace or even exceed Brady’s production and winning, but there are distinguishing factors at play that could give Rodgers an edge over Brady.

Maybe the biggest difference between Brady and Rodgers is mobility. During the entire 2007 campaign, Brady attempted only 16 of his 578 passes from outside the pocket, completing four of them. Rodgers has three games this season with four completions from outside the pocket.

The lack of mobility may have hurt Brady in 2007. Brady attempted a pass under duress 34 times over his last five games after attempting a pass under duress 43 times prior. On the season, Brady was able to get outside the pocket on five of his attempts under duress. Rodgers has 51 attempts under duress this season, but 30 have come outside the pocket.

Rodgers also has an edge on Brady with the deep ball. Rodgers is completing 67.6 percent of his throws at least 21 yards downfield this season, best in the NFL. Brady completed 52.6 percent of such throws in his first 11 games of 2007, but finished the season going 8 of 24 (33.3 percent), in large part due to teams honing in on Randy Moss.

Over half of Brady’s throws of 21 yards or more were to Moss and in the first 11 games, the duo connected on 11 of 20 attempts for seven scores and no picks. Over the last five games though, Brady and Moss connected on just three of 15 attempts, two of which going for touchdowns and two getting intercepted.

Rodgers has the luxury of multiple deep threats. Greg Jennings (2), Jordy Nelson (3) and James Jones (4) have brought in Rodgers’ nine touchdowns on 21-plus yard throws, and all three, as well as Jermichael Finley, have at least four receptions on such throws. Three Patriots finished 2007 with four such receptions from Brady.

The Packers are just the second defending champion to start the season 11-0, joining the 1998 Broncos. The Broncos first loss that season came on the road against the Giants in Week 15. The Packers play the Giants this week in New York.

Randy Moss has called it a career after 13 seasons that saw him catch 954 passes for 14,858 yards and 153 touchdowns. Moss, Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens are the only players to rank in the top five in NFL history in receiving yards, touchdown receptions and 100-yard games.

The six-time Pro Bowler finished his career with 29 touchdowns of at least 50 yards. Only Rice (36) had more.

However, Moss’ regular-season success didn’t translate in the postseason. His teams were a combined 6-6 in playoff games he appeared in, including 1-3 in conference championship games and the Super Bowl. He recorded 47 receptions for 865 yards and 10 TD in 12 postseason games, including five catches for 62 yards and a touchdown in the Patriots' loss to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII -- his only Super Bowl appearance.

One of the lasting memories of Moss will be his final season. Playing for the New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans in 2010, Moss finished with career lows in receptions (28) and receiving yards (393). Last season also was the only year in his career that he did not have a single 100-yard receiving game. He had no receptions in five games last season, compared to just four from 1998-2009.

Some other Moss memories:
• Owns the league’s single-season record for receiving touchdowns with 23 in 2007.

• Has the single-season rookie record for receiving TD, 17 in 1998.

• Only players in NFL history who have scored more touchdowns than Moss’ 154: Rice (205), Emmitt Smith (175), LaDainian Tomlinson (159) and Owens (156).

After playing for the New York Giants from 2005-08, Plaxico Burress will continue to call the Meadowlands home after signing a one-year deal with the New York Jets.

During his four seasons with the Giants (2005-08), Burress caught 33 touchdowns from Eli Manning. The only quarterback-receiver tandem with more touchdowns over that span was Tony Romo and Terrell Owens, with 34.

Burress is one of 10 players in NFL history with 500 receptions, 7,500 receiving yards and 50 receiving TD while averaging 15 yards per reception in his first nine seasons. Despite his high level of production, Burress has never been selected to a Pro Bowl.

At 6 feet, 5 inches, Burress is as tall as any starting wide receiver in the NFL. His height could help a Jets red zone passing attack this season. In 2010, the Jets ranked 28th in red zone completion (49.3) and were tied for 30th in yards per attempt (2.7).

A big target in the red zone, Burress also was one of the better downfield receivers. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2001, Burress had 56 receptions that were at least 30 yards. Only Terrell Owens, Marvin Harrison, Randy Moss and Torry Holt had more from 2001-08.

Despite playing just 10 games in 2008, Burress was one of the most productive receivers in the league during his first tenure in New York. In his four seasons with the Giants, Burress, Owens and Moss were the only receivers who averaged 15 yards per reception and had at least 30 touchdown receptions.

Burress turns 34 on Aug. 12, but that doesn’t mean he can’t still be productive. In 1996 at the age of 34, Jerry Rice led the NFL with 108 receptions. In 2006, Marvin Harrison had more than 1,300 receiving yards after turning 34, and Owens caught 15 touchdowns at that age in 2007.

Finally, only two players have scored a touchdown with both the Jets and Giants – Chuck Mercein and Chad Morton. Assuming he catches one TD pass, Burress would be the first player to have a touchdown reception for both New York teams.

Nnamdi Asomugha is the biggest name on the free-agent market, but the New England Patriots made one of the biggest moves -- thus far -- by trading for Albert Haynesworth, the No. 1 free agent in 2009.

The Patriots are hoping Haynesworth will help a defensive line that since 2008 has registered 50 sacks -- only the Steelers (31.5), Chargers (35.5) and Ravens (41.0) had fewer. In that three-year span, Haynesworth alone had 15 sacks in 34 games.

Last season, the Patriots couldn't get off the field on third down. They ranked last defensively in third-down efficiency, allowing teams to covert 47.1 percent of the time.

They also had only eight sacks on third down, tied for the third-fewest in the NFL. That inability to pressure the quarterback reared its ugly head in the postseason. In the Jets' win over the Patriots in the AFC Divisional Playoffs, Mark Sanchez on third down completed 6-of-9 attempts for 74 yards and two touchdowns.

Although Haynesworth had just 6.5 sacks in his two seasons in Washington, 5.5 of them came on third down.

Last season, Haynesworth made it known that he did not like the way he was used in the Redskins' 3-4 scheme. Like the Redskins, the Patriots also run a 3-4 defense although they lined up in that front less frequently. The Patriots used a 3-4 defense on 40.1 percent of their snaps last season, 11th-most among 15 teams that lined up in a 3-4 defense on at least 200 snaps. Washington lined up 50.6 percent of the time in a 3-4.

The Patriots used Haynesworth's preferred 4-3 scheme on just three of 1,056 defensive snaps last season (0.3 percent), and 127 of 2,917 snaps since 2008 (4.4 percent).

And it's purely coincidental, is there something about 30-year-olds that the Patriots like? Some notable Patriots transactions in recent years involved players who were 30. In 2004, the Patriots traded for running back Corey Dillon, who turned 30 during the season. In 2007, New England signed 30-year-old linebacker Adalius Thomas and traded for 30-year-old wide receiver Randy Moss.

And now Haynesworth, who turned 30 in June.

The Jacksonville Jaguars can clinch the AFC South with a win Sunday at Indianapolis. The Jaguars, who beat the Colts in Week 4, are looking to sweep their divisional rival for the first time ever.

Peyton Manning has struggled this season throwing more than 10 yards downfield, highlighted by a league-high 13 interceptions. In that Week 4 loss at Jacksonville, Manning completed just 52.9 percent of his passes that were more than 10 yards. On short throws (10 yards or fewer), Manning completed 82.8 percent of his throws with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

In the past two seasons, the Colts have sent four pass rushers or fewer after Jaguars QB David Garrard 68.8 percent of the time. If that trend continues, then Garrard might have a big day. He has completed a league-high 71.7 percent of his passes (minimum 60 attempts) when facing four pass rushers or fewer this season.

While Garrard has been good, the Jaguars ground game has been even better with Maurice Jones-Drew rushing for 100 yards in six straight games. Not only have the Colts struggled to contain Jones-Drew the past three seasons, but they actually have done worse against the Jaguars running back when putting extra defenders in the box. Jones-Drew has averaged 4.9 yards per rush when the Colts have eight players or more in the box pre-snap, compared to 3.8 yards per rush against all other NFL teams.

Packers at Patriots
Tom Brady has the best passer rating this season and will be tested against the best pass defense on Sunday night. It’s no secret that the Patriots passing game has relied heavily -- and had great success -- on the short pass since the departure of Randy Moss. It just so happens that Brady’s specialty is also the strength of the Packers’ defense.

The Packers have also been stout when facing multiple tight end sets -- no touchdown passes in 78 attempts against that formation. That could change against the Patriots, who have used multiple tight ends on 527 plays this season, and Brady has thrown a league-high 15 touchdowns out of multiple tight end sets.

Jets at Steelers
The New York Jets have used at least one member of the secondary on a league-high 161 pass rushes this year, that’s more than double the NFL average of 74. However, the Jets will be going up against a quarterback who has thrived under those circumstances.

Among quarterbacks with at least 50 attempts against added pressure, Ben Roethlisberger has the third-best passer rating since the start of last season. Roethlisberger also is one of three quarterbacks, along with Joe Flacco and Peyton Manning, who have not thrown an interception against the secondary blitz over that span.

If it seems like NFL receivers are dropping more passes this season, there’s a good reason. Our video analysis of every NFL play shows that there have been 700 drops through 14 weeks, an average of 50 per week across the league. That puts receivers on pace to drop 850 passes this season, up from 813 last year and 780 in 2008. Two seasons ago there were only four weeks league-wide with 50 or more dropped passes, and there were seven such weeks last season.

There have already been nine weeks this year with at least 50 drops across the NFL, including 58 this past weekend. The Houston Texans dropped six passes alone this week, the third team to “accomplish” that feat this season. Not surprisingly the Texans, Arizona Cardinals (Week 11 at KC) and Green Bay Packers (Week 6 at WAS) all lost when dropping six passes in a game.

There are more costly dropped passes this season than in years past as well. Santonio Holmes dropped a wide-open pass in the end zone Sunday in a game the New York Jets lost by four points. And everyone remembers the Buffalo Bills taking the Pittsburgh Steelers to overtime where Steve Johnson got behind two defenders and dropped what would have been a game-winning 40-yard TD catch.

In fact, there have been 47 dropped passes in the end zone this season which matches the total from all of last season! There have already been three weeks this season where there were five or more dropped touchdown passes, equaling the total from the previous two seasons combined. That includes the six end-zone drops in Week 1 of this season, the most in one week over the last three years.

Making matters worse, 18 of those end-zone drops have come in the fourth quarter or overtime, the same number there were all of last season and 50 percent more than in 2008. And shockingly, 11 of those drops have come on third or fourth down after there were just 12 such drops in 2008 and 2009 combined. And the three fourth-down, fourth-quarter and OT, end-zone drops this season are more than the two we’ve seen in the previous two seasons combined.

If you’re looking for a culprit, look no further than Randy Moss. He has played for three different teams this season, perhaps a result of his league-leading three dropped passes in the end zone.

No player in the league has had that many in one season since 2008, and his total of six in the last three years is also tops in the NFL.

Peyton Manning entered Thursday night’s game against the Tennessee Titans on one of the worst stretches in his surefire NFL career.

He had thrown four interceptions in each of his last two games, and 11 over his last three. Those 11 picks are more than he had in any season from 2003-06. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he became the only active player to throw more than 10 picks over a three-game span. The last player to do it at all was Aaron Brooks in 2001.

Not strangely, his Indianapolis Colts lost all three of those games, dropping them to 6-6 on the season.

Thursday was a change of pace for Manning and the Colts. Their win moves them back over .500, with Manning going 25-35 for 319 yards and two touchdowns. And he didn’t throw any picks.

It was Manning’s 63rd career 300-yard passing game, tying Dan Marino for the NFL record. Manning also surpasses 4,000 passing yards for the 11th time in his illustrious career, five more times than any other player in NFL history.

Manning has now thrown for 26 touchdowns this season, his NFL-record 13th season with at least 25 touchdown passes. The only other player in NFL history with double digit seasons throwing 25 touchdowns is Brett Favre, who has done it 11 times.

The key to Manning’s success against the Titans was being able to throw the deep ball successfully. During Manning’s three-game slump, Manning completed 37.5 percent of his passes 15 or more yards downfield, with a 50.7 passer rating.

Thursday night, Manning completed all five passes he threw 15 or more yards downfield, with a perfect 158.3 passer rating, including a 19-yard strike to Pierre Garcon which gave the Colts a 21-0 lead late in the second quarter.

For the Titans, the news was mixed on their superstars. Chris Johnson was back in form against the Colts, who are now 29th in the NFL in rushing defense.

Johnson had 111 rushing yards and 68 more receiving with a touchdown. Over his previous two games, Johnson had just 74 total yards and failed to find the end zone.

Kenny Britt caught four balls in his first game back from injury, but Randy Moss was not targeted with a pass for just the second time in his career. The other time was in Week 7 of the 2004 season, his final season with the Minnesota Vikings. Daunte Culpepper didn’t look Moss’ way, but the Vikings still won 20-3 over Moss’ current team, the Titans.

In 2008-09, no player dropped more passes than the Kansas City Chiefs’ Dwayne Bowe. He dropped 12 passes in 2008, and 10 more in 2009.

This season, he’s catching everything thrown his way.

Following his first career three-touchdown game on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, Bowe has 14 TD receptions, a franchise record … with five games still to play.

Since the merger in 1970, the only player who had more TD receptions in the first 11 games of the season was Randy Moss in 2007, who had 16.

Bowe is just the third Chief since the merger with three touchdown receptions in a game, along with Tony Gonzalez (2002) and Sylvester Morris (2000).

He leads the NFL with five multi-TD games this season, and has caught a touchdown pass in seven straight games, which extends his own franchise record. From the Elias Sports Bureau: The last player with a TD reception in eight straight games in one season is T.J. Houshmandzadeh in 2007.

On the throwing end of all those touchdowns is Matt Cassel. Sunday was his second straight four-touchdown performance in a road game. After throwing no touchdowns and two interceptions in his first two road games of the season, Cassel has 13 touchdowns and just one interception in his last four road starts.

From the Elias Sports Bureau: Cassel has thrown four TD passes in each of his last two road games, the first QB to do that since Tom Brady in 2007.

Staying in the state of Missouri, rookie Sam Bradford threw for 308 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in the St. Louis Rams' 36-33 win over the Broncos in Denver. From the Elias Sports Bureau: Bradford is the first rookie in NFL history throw for at least 300 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in a road win.

One week after a 20-point loss at Cleveland, the New England Patriots bounced back on the road with a 13-point win against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday night. New England's 39-26 victory was its seventh in its last nine games against the Steelers including the playoffs. It was also the most points the Steelers have allowed at Heinz Field since it opened in 2001.

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski came up big with five receptions for 72 yards and three touchdowns. The rookie out the University of Arizona who had three touchdowns entering Sunday, is the sixth rookie tight end to have three touchdown receptions in a single game since 1960.

Gronkowski is also the fifth different rookie at any position with three touchdown receptions in a single game in the last 15 seasons joining former teammate Randy Moss who did it twice with the Vikings in 1998.

The Patriots don't suffer back-to-back losses often and Sunday was no exception. They are now 23-2 following a loss since 2003.

Tom Brady improves to 6-1 in his career vs the Steelers. Brady who threw for 350 yards and three touchdowns Sunday joins Brian Sipe as the only players to throw for 300 yards in three straight games vs Pittsburgh.

It was Brady's sixth game with 350 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions tying him with Peyton Manning for second most all-time behind Brett Favre who has eight.

Let's take a look at some of the notes, stats and trends from the Pittsburgh Steelers' 27-21 win over the Cincinnati Bengals...

• The win makes the Steelers 6-2 at the halfway point of the season for the fourth straight season.

• Mike Tomlin is now 6-0 on Monday Night Football as the Steelers head coach. He's the sixth different head coach to win his first six Monday games.

• Hines Ward caught a pass for the 186th consecutive game. That is the third-longest streak in NFL history. However, he has quite a ways to go to catch the all-time leader. Jerry Rice caught a pass in 274 straight games from 1985 to 2004.

• The Steelers have now allowed 123 points this season. Incredibly, over half of them (63) have been in the fourth quarter. On Monday, 14 of the Bengals' 21 points came in the final frame.

• Terrell Owens had two TD receptions as he became the third player in NFL history with at least 150 career TD receptions. The others are Jerry Rice and Randy Moss.

• It's his 32nd career game with at least two TD receptions. Again, only Rice and Moss have more.

• It's also Owens' 51st career game with at least 100 receiving yards. That is the fourth-most in NFL history. Rice, Moss and Marvin Harrison are the three players in front of him in this category.

• Owens is the third player since the merger to post 10 receptions and a pair of receiving touchdowns against the Steelers. The others are Don Beebe and Ben Coates.

• Antwaan Randle El threw his fifth career TD pass to Mike Wallace. Wallace caught two passes of at least 35 yards and now has caught seven such balls this season. That is tied with Brandon Lloyd for the NFL lead.

• The Steelers led 27-7 in the fourth quarter, yet almost lost the game. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last team to lose a game in which they had a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter was the New York Giants on November 26, 2006. That day they lost to the Tennessee Titans after leading 21-0 in the fourth.