Highlighted Year: Marc Bulger, 2003

Quarterback, St. Louis Rams

 Age: 26

3^rd season (2^nd active) in pro football & with Rams

College: West Virginia

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 215

Prelude:

Following a fine college career in which Bulger passed for 8153 yards and 59 touchdowns, he was chosen by the New Orleans Saints in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft. Cut during training camp he spent time on the Atlanta Falcons practice squad in 2000 before moving on to the Rams where he was not activated during the remainder of the year. Due to an injury to starting QB Kurt Warner in 2002 Bulger moved into the starting lineup with good results including wins in his first six starts although he missed time due to injuries as well. A good fit in the team’s high-powered offense, he passed for 1826 yards and 14 TDs. He remained the starter ahead of Warner in 2003.

2003 Season Summary

Appeared and started in 15 of 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 532 [4]

Most attempts, game – 46 at Chicago 11/16

Completions – 336 [3]

Most completions, game – 29 at Chicago 11/16

Yards – 3845 [3, 1^st in NFC]

Most yards, game – 378 at San Francisco 11/2

Completion percentage – 63.2 [6]

Yards per attempt – 7.2 [6]

TD passes – 22 [11]

Most TD passes, game – 3 vs. Green Bay 10/19

Interceptions – 22 [1, tied with Joey Harrington]

Most interceptions, game – 4 at Arizona 11/23

Passer rating – 81.4 [15]

300-yard passing games – 4

200-yard passing games – 13

Rushing

Attempts – 29

Most attempts, game – 6 (for 9 yds.) at Cleveland 12/8

Yards – 75

Most yards, game – 26 yards (on 4 carries) vs. Green Bay 10/19

Average gain – 2.6

TDs – 4

Scoring

TDs – 4

Points – 24

Postseason: 1 G (NFC Divisional playoff vs. Carolina)

Pass attempts – 46

Pass completions – 27

Passing yardage – 332

TD passes – 0

Interceptions – 3

Rushing attempts – 4

Rushing yards – 11

Average gain rushing – 2.8

Rushing TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

Pro Bowl

Rams went 12-4 to finish first in the NFC West. Lost NFC Divisional playoff to Carolina Panthers (29-23).

Aftermath:

Bulger followed up by passing for 3964 yards and 21 TDs while giving up 14 interceptions in 2004. He had another Pro Bowl season in 2006 when he again led the NFC by throwing for 4301 yards. Purely a pocket passer, Bulger spent eight active yeas with the Rams, and after his promising start with the club, his production decreased (and interceptions and sacks increased) in his remaining seasons. Overall Bulger passed for 22,814 yards and 122 TDs against 93 INTs. He was selected to two Pro Bowls.                    

                    

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Ed Danowski, 1935

Tailback/Defensive Back, New York Giants

Age:  24 (Sept. 30)

2^nd season in pro football & with Giants

College: Fordham

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 198

Prelude:

Following a fine college career at Fordham, Danowski signed with the Giants in 1934.After an injury to starting tailback Harry Newman during his rookie season, Danowski led the Giants to the NFL Championship with a stunning win over the Bears in the so-called “Sneaker Game". A precision passer and effective runner and punter who also played well on defense, he continued to direct New York’s single-wing offense in 1935.

1935 Season Summary

Appeared in all 12 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 113 [1]

Completions – 57 [1]

Yards – 794 [1]

Completion percentage – 50.4 [-no qualifiers]

Yards per attempt – 7.0 [-no qualifiers]

TD passes – 10 [1]

Most TD passes, game – 2 at Pittsburgh 9/22, at Boston 10/6, at Brooklyn 11/28

Interceptions – 9 [8]

Passer rating – 69.7 [1]

Rushing

Attempts – 130 [4]

Yards – 335 [8]

Yards per attempt – 2.6

TDs – 2 [11, tied with five others]

Scoring

TDs – 2 [20, tied with sixteen others]

Points – 12

Postseason: 1 G (NFL Championship at Detroit)

Pass attempts – 7

Pass completions – 4

Passing yardage – 88

TD passes – 1

Interceptions – 1

Rushing attempts – 7

Rushing yards – 14

Average gain rushing – 2.0

Rushing TDs – 0

Kickoff returns – 1

Kickoff return yards – 30

Kickoff return TDs – 0

Punt returns – 2

Punt return yards – 21

Average per return – 10.5

Punt return TDs – 0

Punts – 2

Punting yards – 122

Punting average – 61.0

Longest punt – 76 yards

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: League, UPI, Chicago Daily News, Collyers Eye, Green Bay Press-Gazette

Giants went 9-3 to finish first in th NFL Eastern Division. Lost NFL Championship to Detroit Lions (26-7).

Aftermath:

Danowski spent another five seasons with the Giants. He led the NFL in passing one more time and led New York to another league title in 1938. Danowski left the Giants in 1940 and played for the Jersey City Giants of the minor league American Football Association, leading the circuit in passing as he threw for 732 yards and 7 TDs. He saw limited action in a return to the NFL Giants in 1941, his last pro season. Overall in the NFL Danowski passed for 3817 yards  and 37 touchdowns. He received consensus first-team All-NFL honors twice. Danowski served in the Navy during World War II. He returned to become Fordham’s head coach from 1946-54.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Boomer Esiason, 1987

Quarterback, Cincinnati Bengals

Age:  26

4^th season in pro football & with Bengals

College: Maryland

Height: 6’4”   Weight: 220

Prelude:

Taken by the Bengals in the second round of the 1984 NFL draft, the left-handed Esiason replaced Ken Anderson as the starting quarterback in ’85. An accurate passer with a strong arm and good mobility, he led the league in TD percentage (6.3) in 1985 with 27 touchdowns to just 12 interceptions. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in ’86 after passing for 3959 yards and averaging 8.4 yards per attempt as the Bengals improved to 10-6.

1987 Season Summary

Appeared and started in 12 of 15 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 440 [3]

Most pass attempts, game – 53 vs. Pittsburgh 11/22

Completions – 240 [6]

Most pass completions, game – 30 vs. Pittsburgh 11/22

Yards – 3321 [2, 1^st in AFC]

Most passing yards, game – 409 vs. Pittsburgh 11/22

Completion percentage – 54.5

Yards per attempt – 7.5 [10]

TD passes – 16 [11]

Most TD passes, game – 2 on six occasions

Interceptions – 19 [2, tied with Mark Malone]

Most interceptions, game – 3 vs. Pittsburgh 11/22

Passer rating – 73.1

400-yard passing games – 1

300-yard passing games – 5

200-yard passing games – 9

Rushing

Attempts – 52

Most attempts, game – 10 (for 5 yds.) vs. San Francisco 9/20, (for 77 yds.) at Atlanta 11/15

Yards – 241

Most yards, game – 77 yards (on 10 carries) at Atlanta 11/15

Yards per attempt – 4.6

TDs – 0

Punting

Punts – 2

Yards – 68

Average – 34.0

Punts blocked – 0

Bengals went 4-11 in the strike-shortened season (three games were played with replacement players) to finish fourth in the AFC Central.

Aftermath:

Esiason followed up with an MVP season in 1988as he led the league in passing with a 97.4 rating and Cincinnati won the AFC title. He had another Pro Bowl season in 1989, with nearly identical numbers to ’88, although the team’s record dropped to 8-8. After three disappointing seasons in 1990, ’91, and ’92, he was traded to the New York Jets and was selected to a fourth Pro Bowl in 1993, although his performance dropped off in the second half of the year. The next two years with the Jets, a team in flux, were mediocre and Esiason moved on to the Arizona Cardinals, where he threw for 522 yards in one game but otherwise had an inconsequential season. He returned to Cincinnati for one last, good year in a part-time role in 1997 (five starts, but a 106.9 passer rating with 13 TDs and just 2 INTs) before retiring to the broadcast booth. Overall, Esiason passed for 37,920 yards with 247 TDs against 184 interceptions.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Dan Fouts, 1980

Quarterback, San Diego Chargers

Age:  29

8^th season in pro football & with Chargers

College: Oregon

Height: 6’3”   Weight: 210

Prelude:

A third-round draft choice by the Chargers in 1973, Fouts gradually took over the starting job as a rookie while an over-the-hill Johnny Unitas faded from the scene in his last season. He struggled for the next two years but benefited from the presence of Bill Walsh as offensive coordinator in 1976. Fouts missed the first 10 games in ’77 due to a lawsuit against the NFL, although he performed well upon his return. Head Coach Tommy Prothro was replaced by the pass-oriented Don Coryell during the 1978 season, and the sturdy drop-back passer’s career benefited greatly. After leading the NFL in yards per attempt in ’78 (7.9), he set a new passing yardage record in 1979 with 4082, led the league in completion percentage (62.6), and was a consensus first-team All-NFL and Pro Bowl selection.  

1980 Season Summary

Appeared and started in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 589 [1]

Most attempts, game – 45 vs. Denver 11/9

Completions – 348 [1]

Most completions, game – 29 vs. Oakland 9/14, vs. Denver 11/9

Yards – 4715 [1]

Most yards, game – 444 vs. NY Giants 10/19

Completion percentage – 59.1 [10]

Yards per attempt – 8.0 [2]

TD passes – 30 [2, tied with Vince Ferragamo & Brian Sipe, 1^st in AFC]

Most TD passes, game – 4 at Seattle 9/7

Interceptions – 24 [5]

Most interceptions, game – 5 vs. Oakland 9/14

Passer rating – 84.7 [6]

400-yard passing games – 1

300-yard passing games – 8

200-yard passing games – 15

Rushing

Attempts – 23

Most attempts, game – 5 (for -5 yds.) vs. Philadelphia 11/30

Yards – 15

Most yards, game – 12 yards (on 2 carries) at Miami 11/20

Yards per attempt – 0.7

TDs – 2

Scoring

TDs – 2

Points – 12

Postseason: 2 G

Pass attempts – 82

Most pass attempts, game – 45 vs. Oakland, AFC Championship

Pass completions – 44

Most pass completions, game – 22 vs. Buffalo, AFC Divisional playoff; vs. Oakland, AFC Championship

Passing yardage – 650

Most passing yards, game – 336 vs. Oakland, AFC Championship

TD passes – 4

Most TD passes, game – 2 vs. Buffalo, AFC Divisional playoff; vs. Oakland, AFC Championship

Interceptions – 3

Most interceptions, game – 2 vs. Oakland, AFC Championship

Rushing attempts – 3

Most rushing attempts, game – 2 vs. Buffalo, AFC Divisional playoff

Rushing yards – -4

Most rushing yards, game – 2 vs. Oakland, AFC Championship

Average gain rushing – -1.3

Rushing TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFL: AP

2^nd team All-AFC: UPI

Pro Bowl

Chargers went 11-5 to finish first in the AFC West while leading the NFL in total yards (6410) and passing yards (4531). Won AFC Divisional playoff over Buffalo Bills (20-14). Lost AFC Championship to Oakland Raiders (34-27).

Aftermath:

With an outstanding group of receivers to throw to in the Air Coryell passing game, Fouts broke his passing yardage record once again with 4802 yards in 1981 while leading the NFL in attempts (609) and completions (360) as well as TD passes (33). He was a Pro Bowl selection for a third straight year, although the Chargers once again came up short in the playoffs. In the strike-shortened ’82 season Fouts led the NFL in passing yards (2883), TD passes (17), and yards per attempt (8.7) and received MVP honors from the PFWA and NEA as well as Offensive Player of the Year recognition from AP. Playing in just 10 games in 1983, Fouts again achieved Pro Bowl recognition. While he never again passed for 4000 yards in the remaining five years of his career, he did throw for over 3000 three more times, led the league in yards per attempt (8.5) and TD percentage (6.3) in 1985, and was twice more selected to the Pro Bowl (for a total of six). At the time of his retirement, he ranked second all-time in NFL career pass attempts (5604), completions (3297), and yards (43,040) and had a passer rating of 80.2. The Chargers retired his #14 and Fouts was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1993.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Irv Comp, 1944

Tailback/Defensive Back, Green Bay Packers

Age: 25

2^nd season in pro football & with Packers

College: St. Benedict’s (now Benedictine)

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 214

Prelude:

Comp was a fine all-around athlete who lettered in four sports at little St. Benedict’s College and was chosen by the Packers in the third round of the 1943 NFL draft. With the void left at tailback due to the retirement of Cecil Isbell, Comp split time with Tony Canadeo and proved to be a capable passer, completing 46 of 92 attempts for 662 yards and seven touchdowns while giving up four interceptions. He also ran for 182 yards and three TDs and was impressive in the defensive backfield, intercepting a club-record 10 passes, one of which he returned for a score.

1944 Season Summary

Appeared in all 10 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 177 [1]

Completions – 80 [3]

Yards – 1159 [1]

Completion percentage – 45.2 [4]

Yards per attempt – 6.5 [6]

TD passes – 12 [2, tied with Frank Sinkwich]

Most TD passes, game – 2 vs. Chi. Bears 9/24, vs. Chi. Cards 10/8, at Cleveland 11/12, at Chi. Cards 11/26

Interceptions – 21 [1, tied with John Grigas]

Passer rating – 50.0 [6]

Rushing

Attempts – 52

Yards – 134

Yards per attempt – 2.6

TDs – 2 [19, tied with ten others]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 2

Yards – 16

Yards per catch – 8.0

TDs – 1

Interceptions

Interceptions – 6 [3, tied with Ted Fritsch & Ernie Steele]

Return yards – 54 [13, tied with Ted Williams]

TDs – 0

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 2

Yards – 35

Average per return – 17.5

TDs – 0

Longest return – 18 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 2

Yards – 32

Average per return – 16.0

TDs – 0

Longest return – 18 yards

Scoring

TDs – 3         

Points – 18

Postseason: 1 G (NFL Championship at NY Giants)

Pass attempts – 10

Pass completions – 3

Passing yardage – 73

TD passes – 1

Interceptions – 3

Rushing attempts – 10

Rushing yards – 21

Average gain rushing – 2.1

Rushing TDs – 0

Punt returns – 4

Punt return yards – 55

Average per return – 13.8

Punt return TDs – 0

Packers went 8-2 to finish first in the NFL Western Division. Won NFL Championship over New York Giants (14-7).

Aftermath:

Comp followed up in 1945 by passing for 865 yards and 7 touchdowns with 11 interceptions for the 6-4 Packers, but with star end Don Hutson’s retirement, his performance dropped off significantly in ‘46. He spent three more seasons with Green Bay, through 1949, and was largely fazed out of the offense as it transitioned to the T-formation. Comp did continue to play well on defense, however, and accounted for 14 of his 34 career interceptions from 1947 to ’49. Overall on offense, he passed for 3354 yards and 28 touchdowns and rushed for 519 yards and seven TDs. Adding in two pass receiving touchdowns and two more returning interceptions, he scored a total of 11 TDs.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Kerry Collins, 2002

Quarterback, New York Giants

Age: 30 (Dec. 30)

8^th season in pro football, 4^th with Giants

College: Penn State

Height: 6’5”   Weight: 245

Prelude:

Collins won the Maxwell Trophy and finished fourth in Heisman voting as a college senior in 1994 when he threw for 2679 yards and 21 touchdowns while averaging 10.1 yards per attempt. He was chosen by the expansion Carolina Panthers in the first round of the ’95 NFL draft (fifth overall) and moved into the starting lineup during his rookie season, and while the statistics were mediocre, the overall result was promising. Collins followed up with a big year in 1996 in which he passed for 2454 yards and 14 TDs and was named to the Pro Bowl while the team reached the postseason and advanced to the NFC title game. However, both Collins and the club came down to earth in a 1997 season in which the quarterback led the NFL by giving up 21 interceptions. His leadership came into question and when he asked Head Coach Dom Capers to be benched during the ’98 season, he was released. Collins finished out the year with the New Orleans Saints with unimpressive results. Signed by the Giants as a backup in 1999, and having dealt with off-field issues, he took over the starting job during the second half of the season and performed well enough to hold the job through all of 2000. Collins passed for 3610 yards and 22 touchdowns and the Giants reached the Super Bowl, although he gave up four interceptions in a thrashing at the hands of the Ravens. The club had a lesser year in 2001 and while Collins threw for 3764 yards and 19 TDs, he fumbled a league-record 23 times and tossed 16 interceptions. Big, durable, and with a strong arm, he also lacked mobility and was prone to turnovers and inconsistency.

2002 Season Summary

Appeared and started in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 545 [7]

Most attempts, game – 46 vs. Washington 11/17

Completions – 335 [6]

Most completions, game – 28 vs. San Francisco 9/5

Yards – 4073 [4, 1^st in NFC]

Most yards, game – 366 at Indianapolis 12/22

Completion percentage – 61.5 [18]

Yards per attempt – 7.5 [5]

TD passes – 19 [13]

Most TD passes, game – 4 at Indianapolis 12/22

Interceptions – 14 [15, tied with Rodney Peete & Tom Brady]

Most interceptions, game – 3 vs. San Francisco 9/5

Passer rating – 85.4 [15]

300-yard passing games – 4

200-yard passing games – 14

Rushing

Attempts – 44

Most attempts, game – 7 (for 3 yds.) at St. Louis 9/15

Yards – -3

Most yards, game – 11 yards (on 2 carries) vs. Jacksonville 11/3

Average gain – -0.1

TDs – 0

Postseason: 1 G (NFC Wild Card playoff at San Francisco)

Pass attempts – 43

Pass completions – 29

Passing yardage – 342

TD passes – 4

Interceptions – 1

Giants went 10-6 to finish second in the NFC East and qualified for the postseason as a Wild Card. Lost NFC Wild Card playoff to San Francisco 49ers (39-38).

Aftermath:

Collins suffered through a losing season in 2003, tossing more interceptions (16) than TDs (13), and departed to the Oakland Raiders as a free agent. In two years with the Raiders, he passed for over 3000 yards and 20 touchdowns in each but led the NFL with 20 interceptions in 2004 and the team went a combined 7-21 in his starts. He became a quality backup and sometime starter for Tennessee over the next five years, playing well enough in 2008 to earn a spot in the Pro Bowl. Collins finished his long career with the Colts in 2011. Overall, he passed for 40,922 yards and 208 TDs, with 196 interceptions. His most productive years were with the Giants, where he completed 58.5 percent of his passes for 16,875 yards and 81 TDs with 70 interceptions, achieving career highs with his 61.5 completion percentage, 7.5 yards per attempt, and 4073 passing yards in ’02 and 22 TD passes in 2000. Collins was selected to two Pro Bowls.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Sammy Baugh, 1937

Tailback/Defensive Back, Washington Redskins

Age: 23

1^st season in pro football

College: Texas Christian

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 185

Prelude:

The multi-talented Baugh was a two-time All-American at TCU, where he passed for 3439 yards and 39 touchdowns and was also an outstanding punter. While a baseball prospect as well, “Slingin’ Sammy” signed with the Redskins, newly relocated from Boston to Washington, who chose him in the first round of the 1937 NFL draft (sixth overall). A passing tailback in the single-wing offense, he improved as the season progressed and impressed with his poise as well as precision throwing ability.

1937 Season Summary

Appeared in all 11 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 171 [1]

Completions – 81 [1]

Yards – 1127 [1]

Completion percentage – 47.4 [2]

Yards per attempt – 6.6 [2]

TD passes – 8 [2, tied with Bob Monnett & Ed Danowski]

Most TD passes, game – 2 vs. Chi. Cardinals 9/24

Interceptions – 14 [1, tied with Dave Smukler]

Passer rating – 50.5 [2]

Rushing

Attempts – 86 [19]

Yards – 240

Yards per attempt – 2.8

TDs – 1 [17, tied with many others]

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points – 6

Postseason: 1 G (NFL Championship at Chicago Bears)

Pass attempts – 33

Pass completions – 18

Passing yardage – 335

TD passes – 3

Interceptions – 1

Rushing attempts – 4

Rushing yards – 6

Average gain rushing – 1.5

Rushing TDs – 0

Punts – 5

Punting yards – 132

Punting average – 26.4

Longest punt – 43 yards

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: League, INS, UPI, NY Daily News

Redskins went 8-3 to finish first in the NFL Eastern Division. Won NFL Championship over Chicago Bears (28-21).

Aftermath:

Baugh went on to play 16 seasons in the NFL, all with the Redskins. Along the way, utilizing his sidearm passing motion to excellent effect he led the league in numerous statistical categories, including passing yards four times, touchdown passes twice, and overall passing on six occasions. Baugh also excelled on defense and as a punter and in 1943 led the NFL in passing, punting (45.9 avg.), and interceptions (11). The Redskins benefited from his wide-open style and won five Eastern Division titles and two league championships in Baugh’s first nine seasons. After a difficult year of transition to the T-formation in 1944, Baugh came back to set a completion percentage record of 70.3 (that lasted until 1982) as the Redskins topped the Eastern Division, and he continued to excel even as the team went into decline thereafter, up until his retirement in 1952. Overall, he passed for 21,886 yards and 187 TDs with a 56.5 percent completion percentage on 1693 completions in 2995 attempts, all of which were NFL records at the time. Baugh, masterful at the art of the quick-kick, also set league records with a 51.4-yard average in 1940 and a career average of 45.1 yards, leading the league five times. On defense, he intercepted 31 passes. Baugh received first-team All-NFL recognition after seven seasons and second-team honors following two other years. His #33 was retired by the Redskins (the only retired number thus far in franchise history) and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a Charter Member in 1963. He went on to become a head coach in the AFL with the New York Titans and Houston Oilers.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Jay Cutler, 2008

Quarterback, Denver Broncos

Age: 25

3^rd season in pro football & with Broncos

College: Vanderbilt

Height: 6’3”   Weight: 233

Prelude:

Cutler set school records in pass attempts (1242) and completions (710) as well as passing yards (8697) and TD passes (59) and was SEC Player of the Year as a senior in 2005. He was chosen by the Broncos in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft (11^th overall) and replaced Jake Plummer as starting quarterback for the last five games of the season. Mobile and with a strong and accurate arm, Cutler showed enough of his potential, completing 59.1 percent of his passes for 1001 yards and 9 TDs, to take over the starting job in 2007. While he passed for 3497 yards and 20 TDs, he lost weight and was lacking energy as the season progressed. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in the offseason, he was fitted with an insulin pump.

2008 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 616 [2]

Most attempts, game – 50 vs. San Diego 9/14

Completions – 384 [3]

Most completions, game – 36 vs. San Diego 9/14

Yards – 4526 [3, 1^st in AFC]

Most yards, game – 447 at Cleveland 11/6

Completion percentage – 62.3 [15]

Yards per attempt – 7.3 [12]

TD passes – 25 [7]

Most TD passes, game – 4 vs. San Diego 9/14

Interceptions – 18 [2]

Most interceptions, game – 3 vs. Miami 11/2

Passer rating – 86.0 [16]

400-yard passing games – 1

300-yard passing games – 8

200-yard passing games – 13

Rushing

Attempts – 57

Most attempts, game – 8 (for 16 yds.) vs. Kansas City 12/7, (for 30 yds.) vs. Buffalo 12/21

Yards – 200

Most yards, game – 30 yards (on 8 carries) vs. vs. Buffalo 12/21

Average gain – 3.5

TDs – 2

Scoring

TDs – 2

2-pt conversions – 1 [2, tied with many others]

Points – 14

Awards & Honors:

Pro Bowl

Broncos went 8-8 to finish second in the AFC West while leading the conference in total yards (6333) and passing yards (4471).

Aftermath:

After appearing to have established himself in Denver, Cutler, in conflict with newly-hired head coach Josh McDaniels, demanded a trade and was accommodated by being dealt to the Chicago Bears in 2009. He had difficulties, passing for 3666 yards and 27 TDs but giving up a league-leading 26 interceptions. In 2010, although sacked a NFL-high 52 times, he had a better year overall and the Bears went 11-5 and reached the NFC title game, although Cutler was criticized when he left that contest, a loss to the Packers, with a knee sprain. Injuries were a factor in 2011, when he missed six games with a broken thumb, and 2013, missing five contests due to a groin injury. Cutler achieved career highs in 2014 with a 66.0 completion percentage and 28 TD passes, but he again led the league in interceptions with 18 in a losing season for the club. He threw for 3659 yards and 21 TDs in 2015, with just 11 interceptions. Overall, over ten seasons he has passed for 31,408 yards and 204 TDs, with 141 interceptions, for a passer rating of 86.0. Of those totals, 9024 yards and 54 touchdowns, with 37 INTs, came with the Broncos, where he achieved his only Pro Bowl selection to date.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970