​THE WEEK THAT WAS – WEEK 10

BACK AND FORTH: Sunday marked the first day in NFL history with multiple games that had at least seven lead changes.

The DALLAS COWBOYS and PITTSBURGH STEELERS saw seven lead changes, including four in the fourth quarter and two in the final minute of play, in Dallas’ 35-30 victory at Pittsburgh. Steelers quarterback BEN ROETHLISBERGER threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver ANTONIO BROWN with 42 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter giving Pittsburgh a 30-29 lead. Five plays later, Dallas running back EZEKIEL ELLIOTT sprinted up the middle for the game-winning 32-yard touchdown with nine seconds remaining.

Elliott, who also had a go-ahead 14-yard touchdown run with 1:55 remaining in the fourth quarter, is the first NFL player since AHMAD RASHAD on September 16, 1974 to score two go-ahead touchdowns in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter of the same game. Rashad had two go-ahead touchdown catches in the final two minutes of the Buffalo Bills’ 21-20 victory against the Oakland Raiders on Monday Night Football. 

The lead changes from Sunday’s Dallas-Pittsburgh game:

On Sunday night, the SEATTLE SEAHAWKS defeated the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, 31-24, in a game that featured seven lead changes. Seattle kicker STEVEN HAUSCHKA converted a 23-yard field goal – his fourth field goal of the game – for the deciding score with 8:56 left in the fourth quarter. With 43 seconds remaining in the contest, the Seahawks’ defense stopped the Patriots on four-consecutive plays starting at the Seattle 2-yard line to secure the victory.

The lead changes from Sunday’s Seattle-New England game:

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FOURTH-QUARTER COMEBACKS: Through Week 10, there have been 44 games in which a team that trailed in the fourth quarter came back to win, tied for the most such games in the first 10 weeks of a season in NFL history. Seven teams – DALLAS, DENVER, KANSAS CITY, MIAMI, the NEW YORK GIANTS, PHILADELPHIA and SEATTLE – overcame a fourth-quarter deficit to win in Week 10.

The most games won by a team that trailed in the fourth quarter through Week 10:

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CLOSE GAMES: There have been 110 games within one score in the fourth quarter through Week 10, the most such games in the first 10 weeks of a season in NFL history. Three teams – DETROIT, the NEW YORK GIANTS and WASHINGTON – have had all of their games within one score in the fourth quarter this season.

The most games within one score in the fourth quarter through Week 10:

Additionally, there have been 87 games decided by eight points or fewer and 81 games decided by seven points or fewer through Week 10, both the most such games in the first 10 weeks of a season in league annals.

The most games decided by eight points or fewer through Week 10:

The most games decided by seven points or fewer through Week 10:

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ALL-PURPOSE BACK: Arizona running back DAVID JOHNSON had 101 scrimmage yards (55 rushing, 46 receiving) and two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) in the Cardinals’ 23-20 win over San Francisco.

In his career, Johnson has 17 rushing touchdowns, five receiving touchdowns and one kickoff-return touchdown. He is one of three players in NFL history – Pro Football Hall of Famer GALE SAYERS and ABNER HAYNES – to have at least 15 rushing touchdowns, five receiving touchdowns and a kickoff-return touchdown in a player’s first two seasons.

The players with 15+ rushing TDs, 5+ receiving TDs and a kickoff-return TD in their first two seasons:

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ROOKIE CONNECTION: Dallas rookie quarterback DAK PRESCOTT passed for 319 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 121.7 passer rating in the Cowboys’ 35-30 win at Pittsburgh. Rookie running back EZEKIEL ELLIOTT had 114 yards rushing with two touchdowns and a career-long 83-yard touchdown reception in the victory.

The 83-yard score was the longest touchdown pass from a rookie passer to a rookie teammate since October 5, 1986, when Indianapolis Colts quarterback JACK TRUDEAU threw an 84-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver BILL BROOKS.

The longest touchdown passes from a rookie passer to a rookie teammate since 1970:

Prescott (2,339 passing yards) and Elliott (1,005 rushing yards) became the second rookie quarterback and rookie running back teammates with at least 2,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a season, joining ROBERT GRIFFIN III (3,200 passing yards) and ALFRED MORRIS (1,613 rushing yards) who accomplished the feat with Washington in 2012. ​

Prescott and Elliott are the first pair of rookie teammates in NFL history to accomplish the feat in the team’s first nine games.

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DUAL-THREAT DE MARCO: Tennessee running back DE MARCO MURRAY rushed for a 75-yard touchdown and threw a 10-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter of the Titans’ 47-25 win over Green Bay. Murray is the first non-quarterback since Pro Football Hall of Famer JOHN HENRY JOHNSON in 1960 (December 11, 1960) to have a 75+ yard touchdown run and a touchdown pass in the same game.

Murray is the first player to record a touchdown run of at least 75 yards and a touchdown pass in the first quarter of the same game since Pro Football Hall of Famer JIM THORPE accomplished the feat for the Cleveland Indians in 1921 against the Columbus Panhandles.

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