The Week that Was - Week 10

THE WEEK THAT WAS – WEEK 10

TURNAROUND TEAMS I: Through Week 10 of the 2013 season, seven of eight divisions currently have at least one team in first place or tied for first place that did not win the division in 2012.

Four of the teams who currently own at least a share of first place in their respective divisions finished in last place or tied for last in 2012 – Detroit (6-3, NFC North), Kansas City (9-0, AFC West), New Orleans (7-2, NFC South) and Philadelphia (5-5, NFC East).

At least one team has finished in first place in its division the season after finishing in last place for 10 consecutive years, the longest streak in NFL history.

The 2013 division leaders through Week 10:

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TURNAROUND TEAMS II: In Week 10, the ARIZONA CARDINALS (5-4) defeated Houston 27-24 and the NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (7-2) earned a 49-17 victory over Dallas.  Arizona (5-11 in 2012) and New Orleans (7-9 in 2012) each matched their 2012 win totals and joined Detroit (6-3; 4-12 in 2012), Kansas City (9-0; 2-14 in 2012) and Philadelphia (5-5; 4-12 in 2012) as the teams to accomplish the feat this season.

Looking ahead to Week 11, the Cleveland Browns (4-5; 5-11 in 2012) and New York Jets (5-4; 6-10 in 2012), who both had byes this week, can also join the list.

The teams that have matched or exceeded their 2012 win totals:

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LEAGUE TRENDS:A look at some notable trends and milestones through Week 10:

• Close contests remain a staple of the 2013 season as 100 of 147 games (68 percent) have been within seven points in the fourth quarter, the most such games through the first 10 weeks of a season in NFL history (98 in 2004).

• Teams have combined for 6,836 points this season, the most points through 10 weeks in NFL history. The previous high was 6,714 last season.
• Teams have combined to score 762 touchdowns and have thrown 462 touchdown passes, both of which are the most ever through Week 10. The previous highs were 739 TDs and 442 TD passes last season.

• Teams have combined to score 39 interception-return touchdowns through Week 10, tied for the most INT-TD returns through Week 10 of any season (39 in 2012).

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TD GALORE: Denver's PEYTON MANNING and New Orleans' DREW BREESeach threw four touchdowns with zero interceptions in Week 10. It marked Manning's NFL record 27th career game with four or more touchdown passes and Brees tied BRETT FAVRE(23) for the second-most such games in NFL history.

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

Brees and Manning also moved up the ranks for the most games with four or more touchdown passes and zero interceptions. Brees tied TOM BRADY(15) for the most such games and Manning surpassed Favre for the third-most such games in NFL history.

The players with the most four touchdown passes and zero interception games in NFL history:

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3,000 CLUB:Denver quarterback PEYTON MANNING(3,249, nine games) and New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES(3,064, nine games) each reached 3,000 passing yards in Week 10. It is only the second time in NFL history that two quarterbacks have thrown for 3,000 yards through the first 10 weeks of a season.

Brees (3,326, 10 games) and TOM BRADY(3,032, nine games) accomplished the feat in 2011.

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MR. MVP:Minnesota Vikings running back ADRIAN PETERSONrushed for 75 yards and two touchdowns in the Vikings' 34-27 win over Washington on Thursday Night Football.

Peterson, who ranks fourth in the NFL in rushing yards (786) and first in rushing touchdowns (nine), joined Pro Football Hall of Famers JIM BROWNandEMMITT SMITHand LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON as the only running backs to register 750 rushing yards and eight touchdowns or more in seven consecutive seasons to start a career.

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