1) Drake Maye stares down the most valuable of company
The Patriots sit at 5-2 in sole possession of first place in the AFC East entering Week 8, largely thanks to the play of 2nd-year quarterback Drake Maye. It’s the Patriots’ best start to a season since Tom Brady's final season in New England in 2019, and Maye’s recent string of performances are approaching that of his MVP predecessor.
Maye has thrown for at least 200 yards and posted a passer rating of 100-or-better in each of his last 6 games. That is tied with Hall of Famer Dan Marino, who did so in his 1984 MVP season, for the 2nd-longest streak by any player prior to turning 24 years old. Patrick Mahomes' streak of 7 such games in his 2018 MVP season is the longest by any player under 24, which Maye can tie in Week 8 against the Browns.
Maye can also become just the 5th player, 6th instance, with at least 200 passing yards and a 100 passer rating in at least 7 consecutive games within a season. He would join Aaron Rodgers, who did so in his 2020 and 2011 MVP seasons, Tom Brady in his 2007 MVP season, Hall of Famer Peyton Manning's 2004 MVP season and Mahomes in his 2018 MVP campaign.
2) Myles Garrett: chasing quarterbacks, chasing time and chasing history
Lining up opposite Drake Maye in Week 8, Myles Garrett is looking to ascend in some rarified air of his own. At age 29, Garrett has recorded 107.5 career sacks, which are the 2nd-most by any player prior to turning 30 years old since individual sacks became an official stat in 1982.
Despite not turning 30 years old until Dec. 29, 2025, Garrett needs just one more sack to clear Hall of Famer Reggie White, whose 108.0 sacks stand as the current record by a player prior to their 30th birthday since 1982.
3) Historic backfield versatility for a historic pair of running backs
Alvin Kamara and Christian McCaffrey are two of the most productive running backs in the passing game in NFL history, and the duo can eclipse a pair of milestone receiving marks in Week 8.
Alvin Kamara has racked up 598 receptions in his career, and he needs 2 more to become just the 4th running back in NFL history to reach 600 career receptions. Kamara would join Larry Centers and Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk and LaDainian Tomlinson.
Christian McCaffrey has totaled 6,852 career rushing yards and 4,982 career rushing yards. With 18 receiving yards, McCaffrey will become the 5th player in NFL history to reach both 5,000 career rushing yards and 5,000 career receiving yards, joining Tiki Barber and Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk, Marcus Allen and Lenny Moore.
4) Josh through the air, Allen on the ground
Josh Allen has thrown for 206 touchdowns in his career and rushed for 68 more. Since he entered the NFL in 2018, he is the only player with at least 100 passing touchdowns and 35 rushing touchdowns in that span.
Allen has done both – throw and rush for a touchdown – in the same game 45 times in his career, and with one more such game, Allen will break a tie with Cam Newton for the most such games in NFL history. Aaron Rodgers and Hall of Famer Steve Young are the only other players who have done so even 30 times in a career.
5) Rodgers completes the league
Aaron Rodgers in Week 8 will face the Packers for the first time in his career after spending his first 18 seasons in Green Bay. Rodgers will join Tom Brady – against the Patriots – and Hall of Famer Brett Favre – also against the Packers – as the only quarterbacks to make a start against a team they played at least 15 seasons with.
If Rodgers and the Steelers get the win on Sunday Night Football, he will become just the 5th quarterback to defeat 32 different teams as a starter. Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Hall of Famers Brett Favre and Peyton Manning are the only other starting quarterbacks to complete the feat.
6) Travis Kelce looks to join NFL tight end royalty
Travis Kelce’s 79 career receiving touchdowns are already a Chiefs franchise record, and he ranks 5th among all players since he entered the NFL in 2013, with no other tight end even reaching 65 receiving touchdowns in that span.
If Kelce finds the endzone on Monday Night Football, he will become just 5th tight end in NFL history to reach 80 career receiving touchdowns. Jimmy Graham, Rob Gronkowski and Hall of Famers Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez are the other four to reach the mark.
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