NFL Week Three – International Affair

NEW YORK – SPORTS – The 2017 London Series begins in Week 3, with the Jacksonville Jaguars hosting the Baltimore Ravens, at London’s Wembley Stadium (9:30 AM ET, Yahoo). It will be the first of a record four games to be played in London this season. On Sunday, October 1 (9:30 AM ET, FOX), the Miami Dolphins will host the New Orleans Saints at Wembley Stadium. The action will move to Twickenham Stadium for the final two London games, the first of which will feature the Los Angeles Rams and the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, October 22 (1:00 PM ET, FOX). The 2017 London Series will conclude on Sunday, October 29 (9:30 AM ET, NFLN) as the Cleveland Browns take on the Minnesota Vikings.

The London Series has seen some very close contests since its inception in 2007. In the first 17 games, 10 have been decided by one score, including a tie between the Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Redskins on October 30, 2016.

The 17 regular-season games played in London:

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CAREENING KAREEM: Kansas City rookie running back KAREEM HUNT had 109 scrimmage yards (81 rushing, 28 receiving) and two rushing touchdowns in the Chiefs’ 27-20 Week 2 win against Philadelphia.

With 98 scrimmage yards in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Hunt, who has 355 scrimmage yards in his first two games, would surpass SID BLANKS of the 1964 Houston Oilers (452 yards) for the second-most scrimmage yards by a player in his first three career games.

The players with the most scrimmage yards in their first three career games:

With two touchdowns against the Chargers, Hunt would pass BILLY SIMS and DUTCH STERNAMAN for the most touchdowns by a player in his first three career games.

The players with the most career touchdowns in their first three career games:

Hunt is the first player in NFL history with at least three rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns in his first two career games.

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GOLDEN ANNIVERSARIES: Oakland quarterback DEREK CARR threw three touchdown passes in the Raiders’ 45-20 win over the New York Jets in Week 2.

Carr, who has 86 career touchdown passes, will be making his 50th career start on Sunday Night against Washington. With four touchdown passes against the Redskins, Carr would become the sixth quarterback in NFL history to record at least 90 touchdown passes in his first 50 career games.

The players with the most touchdown passes in their first 50 career games:

Pittsburgh running back LE’VEON BELL, who will be playing in his 50th career game on Sunday at Chicago, has 6,188 career scrimmage yards. With 107 scrimmage yards on Sunday, Bell would surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer ERIC DICKERSON for the third-most scrimmage yards in NFL history through his first 50 career games.

The players with the most scrimmage yards through 50 career games:

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PLATINUM ANNIVERSARY: New England tight end ROB GRONKOWSKI and Dallas wide receiver DEZ BRYANT each had a touchdown catch in Week 2. Both players can join some elite company in Week 3.

Gronkowski, who has 69 touchdown catches in 90 career games, and Bryant, who has 68 TD receptions in 99 games, can each join Pro Football Hall of Famers JERRY RICE, DON HUTSON and LANCE ALWORTH and RANDY MOSS as the only players in NFL history with at least 70 touchdown catches in their first 100 career games.

​The players with the most receiving touchdowns in their first 100 career games:

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CATCH IT LIKE BECKHAM: New York Giants wide receiver ODELL BECKHAM, JR. had four catches in his season debut in Week 2.

With eight catches on Sunday at Philadelphia, Beckham, who has 292 receptions in 44 career games, would reach 300 career receptions in the fewest games in NFL history.

The players to reach 300 career receptions in the fewest games:

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DAZZLING DEFENSES: The CAROLINA PANTHERS defeated Buffalo 9-3 in Week 2 to improve to 2-0 on the season. The Panthers have not allowed more than three points in each of their first two games.

With three or fewer points allowed against New Orleans on Sunday, Carolina would become the first team since the 1937 Chicago Bears to allow three or fewer points in each of its first three games of a season.

The BALTIMORE RAVENS defeated Cleveland 24-10 last week behind five total takeaways (four interceptions, one fumble recovery) to improve to 2-0.

Baltimore has recorded five takeaways in each of the team’s first two games of the season. With five takeaways against Jacksonville in London on Sunday, the Ravens would become the first team since the 1962 Green Bay Packers to force at least five turnovers in each of the team’s first three games of a season.

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CLIMBING THE RANKS: Arizona wide receiver LARRY FITZGERALD has 1,134 catches for 14,484 receiving yards and 104 touchdowns in his 14-year career. With 97 receiving yards against Dallas on Monday Night Football, Fitzgerald would pass Pro Football Hall of Famer MARVIN HARRISON (14,580) for the eighth-most receiving yards in NFL history.

The players with the most career receiving yards in NFL history:

Indianapolis running back FRANK GORE has 13,153 rushing yards in his 13-year career. With 107 rushing yards against Cleveland on Sunday, Gore would surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer ERIC DICKERSON (13,259) for the seventh-most rushing yards in NFL history. The seven players ahead of Gore on the NFL’s all-time rushing list are all enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The players with the most career rushing yards in NFL history: