WHAT TO LOOK FOR – WEEK 11

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HOPE IS ALIVE:Since the current playoff format was instituted in 1990, 16 clubs with a losing record after nine games have made the playoffs. 

Most recently in 2011, the Denver Broncos had a 4-5 record through nine games before clinching the AFC West title and advancing to the Divisional Playoffs against the New England Patriots.

The 16 clubs to qualify for the playoffs since 1990 with a sub-.500 record through nine games:

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MANNING MOVING UP:Denver quarterback PEYTON MANNING ranks second in the AFC with 2,705 passing yards this season. With 295 passing yards on Sunday against San Diego, Manning would register his 14th season with at least 3,000 passing yards, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO for the second-most such seasons in NFL history. BRETT FAVRE holds the record with 18 seasons with at least 3,000 passing yards.

The players with the most seasons with at least 3,000 passing yards:

                                               *Active                          

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SOUTHERN COMFORT: MATT RYAN and the Atlanta Falcons will host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday and aim to improve to 5-0 at the Georgia Dome this season. Since entering the NFL in 2008, Ryan has a 30-4 (.882) career regular-season record at home, the best home winning percentage of any NFL quarterback who began their career in the Super Bowl era (minimum 25 starts).

The best records at home among quarterbacks who began their career in the Super Bowl era (minimum 25 starts):

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HEATING UP: Three active quarterbacks – the Dallas Cowboys' TONY ROMO(20-3, .870), New England's TOM BRADY(31-10, .756) and Baltimore's JOE FLACCO (15-5, .750) – are among the best in November and look to improve their winning percentages in the month* *among starting quarterbacks (minimum 20 starts) in the Super Bowl era.

Romo, who ranks first overall among the group, and the Cowboys will host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Brady's (.756) and Flacco's (.750) November winning percentages are currently fourth and fifth, respectively. Brady and the Patriots will host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Flacco will aim to improve his November mark against the divisional rival, Pittsburgh Steelers.

The quarterbacks with the best records in November in the Super Bowl era (minimum 20 starts):

        Note: Ties prior to 1972 did not count in winning percentage.

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MILLER TIME: Denver linebacker VON MILLER has 21.5 sacks and will play in his 25th career game on Sunday against San Diego.

With two sacks this weekend, Miller can tie 49ers linebacker ALDON SMITH (23.5), who played in his 25th game last week, for the second-most sacks through a player's first 25 games since 1982. Miller's 21.5 sacks are currently tied with CLAY MATTHEWS (21.5) for the fourth-most sacks through a player's first 25 games.

The players with the most sacks in their first 25 games since sacks became an official statistic in 1982:

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YOUNG BUC:**Tampa Bay rookie running back DOUG MARTIN has totaled 858 scrimmage yards in his past five games, the most by a rookie in a five-game span since EDGERRIN JAMES (914) in 1999.

With 142 scrimmage yards on Sunday at Carolina, Martin would join Pro Football Hall of Famer ERIC DICKERSON and James as the only rookies in NFL history to total 1,000 scrimmage yards in a six-game span.

The most scrimmage yards by a rookie in a six-game span:

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LEADER OF THE PACK:Green Bay Packers quarterbackAARON RODGERS (19,749) needs 251 passing yards on Sunday at Detroit to reach 20,000 career passing yards. Rodgers will appear in his 79th career game Sunday and can reach 20,000 career passing yards in the fourth-fewest games in NFL history.

The fewest games to reach 20,000 career passing yards in NFL history:

                                                                       *Rodgers will appear in his 79th game this week