Fansided
Fansided

2018 NFL Season: Crazy stats through the first three weeks

By Erik Lambert

DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 23: Running back Kerryon Johnson #33 of the Detroit Lions runs for yardage against the New England Patriots during the first half at Ford Field on September 23, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 23: Running back Kerryon Johnson #33 of the Detroit Lions runs for yardage against the New England Patriots during the first half at Ford Field on September 23, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 6
Next
ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 23: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints throws a pass during the second quarter against the NAtlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 23, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 23: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints throws a pass during the second quarter against the NAtlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 23, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /

It’s been three weeks and already the 2018 NFL season is proving that it’s not going to play by the rules of previous years. It’s forging its own wacky path.

There are so many weird things happening around the league. The New England Patriots have a losing record for the first time since 2002. A quarterback with four career starts leads the league in touchdown passes. A Super Bowl contender got humbled in their own building by a team that’s favorites for the #1 pick next year. It’s madness. MADNESS I TELL YOU!

So in that context, here are some fun stats that have come to the surface so far this year. Stats that don’t look remotely possible but are undeniably real. One thing they have in common? They reinforce how incredibly fun the NFL still is, and how unpredictable it remains.

Drew Brees has the 3rd most pass attempts and completed 80.6% of them

The man is 39-years old and somehow keeps taking the efficiency of the quarterback position to new heights. Drew Brees will be in the Hall of Fame. That’s not up for debate. Five years after he retires he’ll be getting that gold jacket. Part of the reason is the guy continues to post ungodly numbers at the position. One of the most overlooked records is completion percentage.

Right now Brees holds that single-season mark with 72.0% which he set last season. Now the man is somehow on pace to not only break it, but shatter. Through three games he has connected on 104 of his 129 pass attempts. That’s an 80.6% rate, which is just absurd. That’s over eight percentage points of his previous mark and nine ahead of Sam Bradford who ranks second all-time.

Home/NFL Hot Takes