Tacleando la NFL: Week 9 de la NFL 2021-2022

 

Seven From Sunday - Week 9

A look at seven statistical highlights from games played at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 7, the ninth week of the 2021 season. With two games remaining in Week 9, there have been 34 games with a game-winning score in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime this season, the most such games through Week 9 all-time. With two games remaining this week, there have been 40 games – including three in Week 9 – that have been won by a team that trailed in the fourth quarter, tied with the 2011, 1999 and 1987 seasons for the third-most such games at this point of a season. Only 2012 (41 games) and 1989 (41) had more. Baltimore overcame a 14-point deficit to defeat Minnesota, 34-31, in overtime. There have been 13 overtime games this season, tied with the 2002 and 2003 seasons for the fourth-most overtime games at this point of a season all-time. Only 1995 (17 overtime games), 2015 (14) and 1983 (14) had more. Four teams – DENVER, JACKSONVILLE, KANSAS CITY and the NEW YORK GIANTS – each entered Week 9 with a .500-or-below winning percentage and defeated a team that began today in first place in their division. It marks the first time since December 18, 2011 that four teams with a .500-or-below record entering Week 9 or later each defeated a division leader on the same day. Baltimore quarterback LAMAR JACKSON passed for 266 yards and three touchdowns and registered 120 rushing yards in the Ravens' 34-31 overtime victory over Minnesota. Jackson is the first quarterback in NFL history to record multiple career games with at least three touchdown passes and 100 rushing yards. He also accomplished the feat in Week 16 of the 2019 season (three touchdown passes and 103 rushing yards). Jackson recorded his 10th career game with at least with 100 rushing yards, tied with MICHAEL VICK (10 games) for the most such games by a quarterback in NFL history. Jackson, who has 600 rushing yards this season, is the first quarterback in NFL history with at least 600 rushing yards in each of his first four seasons and he joins CAM NEWTON (four seasons) and MICHAEL VICK (four) as the only quarterbacks all-time with four career seasons with at least 600 rushing yards. Los Angeles Chargers quarterback JUSTIN HERBERT completed 32 of 38 pass attempts (84.2 percent) for 356 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions for a 123.2 rating and added a rushing touchdown, while wide receiver KEENAN ALLEN recorded 12 receptions for 104 yards in the team's 27-24 win over Philadelphia. At 23 years and 242 days old, Herbert's 84.2 completion percentage is the second-highest single-game completion percentage (minimum 30 attempts) by a player age 23 or younger, trailing only DAK PRESCOTT (88.9 percent on December 18, 2016 at 23 years and 143 days old). Herbert has 12 career games with at least 300 passing yards, the most such games by a quarterback in his first two seasons in NFL history. Allen has nine career games with at least 12 receptions and 100 receiving yards, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer MARVIN HARRISON (eight games) and WES WELKER (eight) for the most such games in league annals. Cleveland cornerback DENZEL WARD (99-yard interception return), running back NICK CHUBB (70-yard run) and wide receiver DONOVAN PEOPLES-JONES (60-yard catch) each recorded touchdowns and defensive end MYLES GARRETT registered 1.5 sacks in the Browns' 41-16 win at Cincinnati. Cleveland became the first team in 54 years and the fourth team all-time to record a touchdown pass, rushing touchdown and defensive touchdown each of at least 60 yards in a single game, joining Kansas City (October 30, 1966) and Washington in 1966 (November 27, 1966), and the San Diego Chargers in 1967 (October 15, 1967). Garrett, appearing in his 60th career game, has 54.5 sacks, the third-most sacks by a player in his first 60 career games since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers REGGIE WHITE (72.5) and DERRICK THOMAS (55) had more. Atlanta quarterback MATT RYAN passed for 343 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions for a 135.8 rating in the Falcons' 27-25 win at New Orleans. Ryan has 73 career games with at least 300 passing yards, tied with PHILIP RIVERS (73) for the fourth-most such games all-time. Only DREW BREES (123), TOM BRADY (103) and Pro Football Hall of Famer PEYTON MANNING (93) have more. New England rookie quarterback MAC JONES recorded one touchdown pass with an 85.2 passer rating in the Patriots' 24-6 win at Carolina. Jones improved to 4-0 as a starting quarterback on the road this season and joins DAK PRESCOTT (2016) and BEN ROETHLISBERGER (2004) as the only rookie quarterbacks to win each of their first four road starts in league annals. The JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS defeated Buffalo, 9-6, as they held the league's top scoring offense (32.7 points per game entering Week 9) out of the end zone. It marked the fourth time since 1970 that a team has held an opponent that entered Week 9 or later averaging at least 32 points per game without a touchdown, joining CHICAGO (vs. Los Angles Rams in Week 14, 2018), PHILADELPHIA (at Dallas in Week 15, 2007) and CAROLINA (vs. St. Louis Rams in Week 14, 2000). Other notable performances from Sunday include: Appearing in his 24th career game, Minnesota wide receiver JUSTIN JEFFERSON had 69 receiving yards, including a 50-yard touchdown reception, against Baltimore. Jefferson, who has 2,032 receiving yards, became the second-fastest player in the Super Bowl era to reach 2,000 career receiving yards, trailing only ODELL BECKHAM JR. (21 games). New Orleans running back ALVIN KAMARA recorded four receptions with 104 scrimmage yards (54 receiving, 50 rushing) and one rushing touchdown on Sunday. Kamara has 358 career receptions, tied with ROGER CRAIG (358) for the most receptions by a running back in his first five seasons all-time. Carolina running back CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY totaled 106 scrimmage yards (54 receiving, 52 rushing) on Sunday. McCaffrey has 20 career games with at least 50 rushing yards and 50 receiving yards, surpassing LE'VEON BELL (19 games) for the most such games by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history. On Sunday, there were three return touchdowns of at least 85 yards – Minnesota's KENE NWANGWU (98-yard kickoff return), New England's J.C. JACKSON (88-yard interception return) and Cleveland's DENZEL WARD (99-yard interception return). Week 9 marks the first time since Week 1 of the 2018 season to feature three return touchdowns of at least 85 yards.

For more from NFL Communication​s, visit NFLCommunications.com and follow @NFL345. Preview of NFL Network's 2021 Week 9 Saturday and Sunday Programming ​ Saturday on NFL Network – 'Around the NFL' at 7:00 AM ET 'Good Morning Football: Weekend' at 9:00 AM ET   'NFL GameDay Morning' Sunday at 9:00 AM ET – Kurt Warner 1-on-1 w/ Los Angeles Rams DT Aaron Donald Kay Adams 1-on-1 w/ New Orleans Saints RB Mark Ingram   Each and every weekend, NFL Network provides extensive programming on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, coverage begins at 7:00 AM ET with Around the NFL, hosted by Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal and Marc Sessler. Coverage continues at 9:00 AM ET with Good Morning Football: Weekend, hosted by Mike Garafolo, Michael Robinson, Stacey Dales and James Palmer. On Sunday, NFL Network's GameDay programming kicks off at 9:00 AM ET with the Emmy-nominated NFL GameDay Morning. Rich Eisen anchors the most comprehensive pregame show on television, joined by Pro Football Hall of Famers Michael Irvin and Kurt Warner, former head coach Steve Mariucci, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, analytics expert Cynthia Frelund, contributors Kay Adams, Rachel Bonnetta and Nate Burleson, and various NFL Network reporters stationed across the league. NFL Network's GameDay coverage continues at 1:00 PM ET with NFL GameDay Live – the ONLY show on television providing in-progress NFL highlights and analysis of the day's games – and at 7:30 PM ET with NFL GameDay Highlights, which recaps the entire afternoon. At 11:30 PM ET, NFL GameDay Final recaps the weekend's games. Sunday at 8:00 AM ET, NFL GameDay View airs on NFL Network with Rachel Bonnetta, Andrew Hawkins, Cynthia Frelund and Gregg Rosenthal providing analysis and predictions for the day's games. NFL RedZone hosted by Scott Hanson whips around the league providing all of the exciting plays and touchdowns as they happen starting at 1:00 PM ET.    Saturday, November 6 on Good Morning Football: Weekend – 9:00 AM ET Hosts: Mike Garafolo, Michael Robinson, Stacey Dales & James Palmer Judy Battista previews Raiders-Giants, Tom Pelissero previews Broncos-Cowboys and Jim Trotter previews Titans-Rams Michael Robinson answers viewer questions in the Real Mike Rob Report Mike Garafolo has news and notes from around the league in Mike Drop With Aaron Rodgers out, will Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love be able to outduel quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in his first career start? Good Morning Football: Weekend has the latest on Odell Beckham Jr., including the teams most likely to land the wide receiver What can the Dallas Cowboys expect from quarterback Dak Prescott when he returns from a calf injury? How will the Tennessee Titans make up for the loss of running back Derrick Henry? Fantasy expert Adam Rank provides fantasy advice you need to hear before you set your lineup   Sunday, November 7 on NFL GameDay Morning – 9:00 AM ET Kurt Warner 1-on-1 w/ Los Angeles Rams DT Aaron Donald Host: Rich Eisen Analysts: Kurt Warner, Michael Irvin & Steve Mariucci NFL Media Insider: Ian Rapoport Analytics Expert: Cynthia Frelund Contributors: Kay Adams, Rachel Bonnetta & Nate Burleson Kurt Warner sits down with Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald to discuss the addition of outside linebacker Von Miller and the team's upcoming game against the Tennessee Titans Q & Kay – Kay Adams sits down with New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram NFL GameDay Morning remembers the late Chris Wesseling who passed away from cancer earlier this year with a piece produced by his wife Lakisha Wesseling telling his story Warner's Corner – Kurt Warner breaks down the matchup between Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow Mooch's Minute – Steve Mariucci breaks down why New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones is having success in his rookie season Football 101 – Kurt Warner and Michael Irvin examine how the New Orleans Saints defense can keep them in contention with quarterback Jameis Winston out for the season On the Field – Kurt Warner, Michael Irvin and Steve Mariucci show how the Tennessee Titans can overcome the loss of running back Derrick Henry, with the help from the Carnegie Middle School football team from Carson, CA Players Only – Based on Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley's recent struggles with mental health, Nate Burleson joins Kurt Warner and Michael Irvin to discuss the pressures of playing in the NFL Receiving Attention – Michael Irvin and Nate Burleson discuss what's next for wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. GameDay Notebook – Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo discuss all of the latest NFL news Did Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers let his team down by missing this week's game? Will quarterback Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers be able to keep up with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs? Will Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott be rusty after a three-week layoff? Are the revitalized New England Patriots a threat in the AFC? Cynthia Frelund provides game picks and player projections for Week 9 matchups Kay Adams provides her Under the Kay-Dar fantasy plays of the day Rachel Bonnetta hosts "Pick Six presented by DraftKings Sportsbook" along with Cynthia Frelund Live reports Stacey Dales from Kansas City for Packers-Chiefs Mike Garafolo from Baltimore for Vikings-Ravens Mike Giardi from Charlotte for Patriots-Panthers Kim Jones from East Rutherford for Raiders-Giants Aditi Kinkhabwala from Cincinnati for Browns-Bengals James Palmer from New Orleans for Falcons-Saints Tom Pelissero from Dallas for Broncos-Cowboys   NFL GameDay Live, NFL GameDay Highlights and NFL GameDay Final Conclude Sunday Coverage At 1:00 PM ET, NFL GameDay Live provides in-progress highlights and analysis, as well as live fantasy football updates for all of the 1:00 and 4:00 PM ET games. Hosts Rhett Lewis and Patrick Claybon are joined by analysts Scott Pioli and LaDainian Tomlinson providing 6.5 hours of coverage. NFL GameDay Live is the ONLY in-progress NFL highlights show on television. At 7:30 PM ET, Chris Rose hosts NFL GameDay Highlights, providing a recap of the day's action thus far with highlights, postgame press conferences and commentary leading up to kickoff of the Sunday night matchup. At 11:30 PM ET, NFL GameDay Final airs with host Chris Rose and analyst Maurice Jones-Drew recapping the weekend's games.   NFL GameDay View Join Rachel Bonnetta, Andrew Hawkins, Cynthia Frelund and Gregg Rosenthal on NFL GameDay View for analysis and predictions of each week's slate of games. Editions of NFL GameDay View air at the following times and on the following platforms: Friday at 6:00 PM ET – NFL.com and the NFL App Friday at 8:00 PM ET – NFL Network Saturday at 12 Midnight ET – NFL Network Sunday at 8:00 AM ET – NFL Network     NFL RedZone Hosted by Scott Hanson Every Sunday starting at 1:00 PM ET, NFL RedZone hosted by Scott Hanson whips around the league, providing all of the touchdowns and exciting action from the day's games. To order NFL RedZone, visit NFL.com/redzone.   INTERCONFERENCE MATCHUPS HIGHLIGHT WEEK 9; FOURTH-QUARTER COMEBACKS, LATE-GAME DRAMA CONTINUE AS NFL APPROACHES HALFWAY POINT As the NFL approaches the halfway marker of its 2021 regular season, teams are proving again and again that what matters most is not how you start. It’s how you finish. On 37 occasions this season, a team has trailed in the fourth quarter and come back to win, including eight of 15 games this past weekend. The eight teams – Dallas, Kansas City, New England, New Orleans, the New York Jets, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Tennessee – to accomplish the feat in Week 8 mark the most in a single week since nine teams did it in Week 1 of 2016. Three teams – Baltimore, Tennessee and the Los Angeles Chargers – have three wins this season after trailing in the fourth quarter. Through eight weeks of any previous NFL season, only the 2012 campaign (38) had more fourth-quarter comebacks. The most victories by teams that trailed in the fourth quarter through Week 8 in NFL history: SEASON FOURTH-QUARTER COMEBACKS 2012 38 2021 37 1989 37 1999 36   This season, 31 games have been decided with a score in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime, tied with 2012 for the most such late-game thrillers in NFL history through Week 8. Through eight weeks, 26 games have featured a game-winning score in the final minute of the fourth quarter or in overtime, tied with 2015 for the most ever at this point in a season. Also in Week 8, five games were decided by three-or-fewer points. Two teams overcame deficits of at least 10 points to win: Tennessee trailed by 14 points before defeating Indianapolis, 34-31, in overtime, while the New York Jets erased an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Cincinnati, 34-31. Including that Titans victory, there have been 12 overtime games this season, tied with the 2002 and 2003 seasons for the third-most overtime games at this point of a season all-time. Only 1995 (14 overtime games) and 1983 (13) had more. INTERCONFERENCE MATCHUPS HIGHLIGHT WEEK 9: Week 9 features eight interconference matchups, the first time since Week 3 of the 2018 season (eight) that there have been at least eight games in a single week featuring both an AFC and NFC team. Three of the interconference matchups feature two teams that were each in the postseason last year: GREEN BAY (7-1) at KANSAS CITY (4-4): Green Bay enters Week 9 on a seven-game winning streak while Kansas City is coming off a Monday Night Football victory over the New York Giants. Since 2018, when PATRICK MAHOMES took over as the Chiefs’ starting quarterback, Kansas City (42-14, .750) and Green Bay (39-16-1, .705) are two of the four teams with a winning percentage above .700. Mahomes (2018 NFL MVP) and Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS (2020 NFL MVP) have been two of the best players in the NFL over the past four seasons. PLAYER PASS YARDS PASS TD RATING Patrick Mahomes 16,236 (1st) 133 (1st) 106.9 (3rd) Aaron Rodgers 14,637 (5th) 116 (t-3rd) 104.5 (5th) Totals and ranks among quarterbacks since 2018 TENNESSEE (6-2) at L.A. RAMS (7-1) on Sunday Night Football: Both Tennessee and Los Angeles enter Week 9 on four-game winning streaks. Both teams have scored at least 25 points in their combined 13 wins this season. The Titans are looking to continue their success without the league’s leading rusher, DERRICK HENRY, who was placed on injured reserve this week. Quarterback RYAN TANNEHILL has a passer rating of 90-or-higher in three of his four road starts this season while wide receiver A.J. BROWN aims for his third game in a row with at least 125 receiving yards and a touchdown catch. This week, the Rams acquired linebacker VON MILLER from Denver. Since 2014, defensive tackle AARON DONALD (90.5 sacks) and Miller (75.5) rank first and fourth, respectively, in sacks. Quarterback MATTHEW STAFFORD ranks second in the league this season in passing yards (2,447), touchdown passes (22) and passer rating (118.0) while wide receiver COOPER KUPP became the first player in the Super Bowl era with at least 900 receiving yards (924) and 10 touchdown receptions (10) in his team’s first 10 games of a season. CHICAGO (3-5) at PITTSBURGH (4-3) on Monday Night Football: Last week, Chicago’s JUSTIN FIELDS became the third rookie quarterback in NFL history to record a passing touchdown, rushing touchdown and at least 100 rushing yards in a single game, joining ROBERT GRIFFIN III (Oct. 14, 2012) and MARCUS MARIOTA (Dec. 6, 2015). Steelers quarterback BEN ROETHLISBERGER has a 16-6 record in 22 career starts on Monday and has at least two touchdown passes in six of his past seven games on Monday Night Football. UNPRECEDENTED WEEKEND FOR QUARTERBACKS IN FIRST STARTS: This past weekend, both MIKE WHITE of the Jets and COOPER RUSH of the Cowboys led their teams to dramatic, fourth-quarter comeback wins. It marked the first NFL weekend since at least 1950 in which multiple quarterbacks making their first NFL starts won their games while each passing for 300-or-more yards. Rush is the only quarterback since the league merger in 1970 to pass for at least 300 yards and throw a game-winning touchdown pass in the final minute of his first career NFL start. White completed 37 of 45 pass attempts (82.2 percent) for 405 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions for a 107.9 rating in the Jets' win. His 37 completions are the most by a quarterback all-time in his first career start. He also joined CAM NEWTON (422 yards on Sept. 11, 2011) as the only quarterbacks since 1950 to pass for at least 400 yards in their first career starts. JUST CAN’T WAIT TO GET BACK OUT ON THAT ROAD AGAIN: NFL teams were 9-6 on the road last week and this season are 63-59 (.516) overall away from home. That’s the fourth-best road winning percentage at this point of any season since the league merger in 1970, trailing 1983 (.558), 2019 (.525) and 1972 (.519). The ARIZONA CARDINALS (7-1), who are tied with the Rams for the league’s best road record (4-0), travel to meet the SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (3-4) on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, FOX). Arizona has road victories this year over the Titans, Jaguars, Rams and Browns, and each of those road victories has been by at least 12 points. Arizona is the first team to win its first four road contests by 12-or-more points since the 2007 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS. This week, the Cardinals are bidding to become the first team to win its first five road games with a margin of victory of at least 12 in each contest since the 2005 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS. Meanwhile, San Francisco wide receiver DEEBO SAMUEL ranks second in the league with 819 receiving yards, the most through seven games ever by a 49ers player. Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE established the previous mark, 781 through the team’s first seven games in 1986. PACKERS WINNING TURNOVER MARGINS, TOO: The GREEN BAY PACKERS (7-1) face a road test against the KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (4-4) on Sunday (4:25 ET, FOX). The Packers enter the game with a share of the league’s best record (7-1), the league’s longest active winning streak (seven) and a few other impressive feats. Green Bay has won the turnover margin in each of its seven consecutive wins, the longest such streak of victories with a positive turnover ratio since Seattle’s eight-game stretch from 2012-13. The teams with the longest streaks of regular-season wins and positive turnover margins in NFL history: TEAM SEASON(S) STREAK New England 2011-12 9 Seattle 2012-13 8 New England 2010 8 Denver 1984 8 Washington 1983 8       Green Bay 2021 7* *Active streak   Since MATT LAFLEUR took the reins as Packers head coach in 2019, Green Bay is 33-7 over his first 40 regular-season games. In NFL history, only Pro Football Hall of Famer GUY CHAMBERLIN (34) had more wins as a head coach over his first 40 regular-season games. The head coaches with the most wins over their first 40 regular-season NFL games: COACH TEAM(S) YEARS WINS Guy ChamberlinHOF Canton/Cleveland Bulldogs, Frankford Yellow Jackets 1922-25 34 Matt LaFleur Green Bay Packers 2019-21 33 Paul BrownHOF Cleveland Browns 1950-53 33 George Seifert San Francisco 49ers 1989-91 32 Chuck Knox Los Angeles Rams 1973-75 32   The Chiefs, meanwhile, are coming off a Monday night victory. NFL teams this season are 7-0 in games following a win on Monday. Over a longer stretch, dating to Week 14 of last season, clubs are 12-0 in games following a Monday win. KUPP BIDS TO JOIN ELITE COMPANY: When the LOS ANGELES RAMS (7-1) host the TENNESSEE TITANS (6-2) on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC), keep your eyes on COOPER KUPP. The Rams’ wide receiver has an opportunity to join four Pro Football Hall of Famers (DON HUTSON in 1942, ELROY “CRAZY LEGS” HIRSCH in 1951, RAYMOND BERRY in 1960 and JERRY RICE in 1990) as the only players to reach 1,000 receiving yards and 10 touchdown catches over the first nine games of a team’s season in NFL history. Last week, Kupp recorded seven receptions for 115 yards and one touchdown in the Rams' win. Kupp, who has 63 receptions for 924 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, is the first player in the Super Bowl era with at least 900 receiving yards and 10 touchdown receptions in his team's first eight games of a season. Kupp is also the third player all-time with at least seven receptions in seven of his team's first eight games of a season, joining ADAM THIELEN (2018) and MICHAEL THOMAS (2019). Los Angeles quarterback MATTHEW STAFFORD passed for 305 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 127.7 rating last week. Stafford now has 28 career games with at least 300 passing yards and three touchdown passes, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer PEYTON MANNING (27) for the fifth-most such games by a player in his first 13 seasons in NFL history. Since SEAN MCVAY became Rams head coach in 2017, the team is 43-0 when leading at halftime, including the postseason. That’s the second-longest such streak in NFL history, trailing only the GREEN BAY PACKERS, who won 49 consecutive games in which they led at halftime, from 1926-33 under Pro Football Hall of Famer CURLY LAMBEAU. The Titans have played three overtime games this season and are on pace to break the single-season NFL record held by the 1983 GREEN BAY PACKERS, who played five overtime contests. Tennessee is 3-1 (.750) in games decided by three points or fewer. With a minimum of three such games, only the Packers (3-0) have a better record in those situations this season. BIG O IN BIG D: The DALLAS COWBOYS (6-1) return home to face the DENVER BRONCOS (4-4) on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX). The last time the teams met in Dallas, Oct. 6, 2013, Cowboys quarterback TONY ROMO and Pro Football Hall of Famer PEYTON MANNING combined to throw for 920 yards and nine touchdown passes. Each team erased a deficit of at least 14 points before Denver prevailed, 51-48, on a field goal by MATT PRATER as time expired. Dallas running back EZEKIEL ELLIOTT leads the NFC with 571 rushing yards. He enters this week with 6,955 career rushing yards, needing 45 on Sunday to become the third player in franchise history to reach 7,000, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers EMMITT SMITH (17,162) and TONY DORSETT (12,036). This year, the Cowboys lead the NFL with 454.9 yards per game. Through eight weeks, that’s the fifth-best figure at this point of a season since the league merger in 1970. The teams to average the most yards per game through Week 8 since 1970: TEAM SEASON YARDS/GAME SEASON RESULT St. Louis Rams 2000 497.7 Advanced to Wild Card playoffs Tampa Bay 2018 467.6 Missed postseason Denver 2013 466.4 Advanced to Super Bowl San Francisco 1998 455.1 Advanced to Divisional playoffs Dallas 2021 454.9 ???   CHASING HISTORY: When the CINCINNATI BENGALS (5-3) host the CLEVELAND BROWNS (4-4) on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), rookie wide receiver JA'MARR CHASE looks to continue his impressive start. Chase has 786 receiving yards, the second-highest total by a player in his first eight career games all-time, trailing HARLON HILL (802). On Sunday, Chase needs 84 receiving yards to surpass MARQUES COLSTON (869) for the most by a player ever over his first nine NFL games. Last week, Chase recorded his seventh touchdown reception to become the fifth player in the Super Bowl era with a touchdown catch in six of his first eight career games, joining CHARLIE BROWN (1982), MARQUES COLSTON (2006), WILLIE GREEN (1991) and DONTE' STALLWORTH (2002). VIVA LAS VEGAS: The LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (5-2), who share the AFC’s second-best record, come off their bye for a road game against the NEW YORK GIANTS (2-6) on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS). In Week 7, Raiders quarterback DEREK CARR completed 31 of 34 pass attempts (91.2 percent) for 323 yards and two touchdowns with one interception for a 113.6 rating in the team’s win. Carr's 91.2 completion percentage ranks as the second-highest single-game mark all-time in games in which a quarterback attempted at least 30 passes. Only DREW BREES (96.7 percent on Dec. 16, 2019) had a higher single-game completion percentage. Among head coaches that took over their teams during a season, the Raiders’ RICH BISACCIA has an opportunity to become the first head coach to win his first three games since GARY MOELLER took over in midseason and led the Lions to three straight wins in 2000. SAINTS HAVE FARED WELL AGAINST ALL-TIME LEADERS: Fresh off a win over Tampa Bay, the NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-2) host another divisional game against MATT RYAN and the ATLANTA FALCONS (3-4) on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX). Since SEAN PAYTON became head coach in 2006, including wins over reigning Super Bowl MVP TOM BRADY and reigning league MVP AARON RODGERS this season, the Saints have faced eight quarterbacks currently ranked among the top 10 all-time leaders in passing yards, Including the postseason, the Saints are 38-20 (.655) since 2006 in games against those eight quarterbacks. In that group, the only player against whom the Saints have a losing record is Pro Football Hall of Famer PEYTON MANNING. Their lone win against Manning was a victory over the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. The Saints’ record against quarterbacks currently ranked in the top 10 of the NFL’s all-time leaders in passing yards, including the postseason, since 2006:   SAINTS RECORD QUARTERBACK W L PCT Brett FavreHOF 3 0 1.000 Philip Rivers 3 0 1.000 Ben Roethlisberger 3 1 .750 Eli Manning 5 2 .714 Matt Ryan 16 9 .640 Tom Brady 4 3 .571 Aaron Rodgers 3 3 .500 Peyton ManningHOF 1 2 .333 Totals 38 20 .655   BILLS LEAD LEAGUE ON BOTH SIDES OF BALL: The BUFFALO BILLS (5-2) lead the NFL in both points scored per game (32.7) and fewest points allowed per game (15.6). Only two teams since the league merger in 1970 have finished a season leading the NFL in both categories: the 1972 MIAMI DOLPHINS and 1996 GREEN BAY PACKERS. Bills quarterback JOSH ALLEN leads his team into TIAA Bank Field against the JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-6) on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS). Last week, Allen made his 50th career start and passed for 249 yards and two touchdowns while adding 55 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in the Bills' win. Allen has 28 career rushing touchdowns, tied with CAM NEWTON (28) for the most by a quarterback in his first 50 career starts all-time. SUPER BOWL REMATCH WEEKEND: Five games on the Week 9 slate pair franchises that met in Super Bowls: TEAMS, RESULT SUPER BOWL DATE SITE MVP Green Bay 35, Kansas City 10 I Jan. 15, 1967 Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles Bart StarrHOF N.Y. Jets 16, Baltimore Colts 7 III Jan. 12, 1969 Orange Bowl, Miami Joe NamathHOF Dallas 27, Denver 10 XII Jan. 15, 1978 Superdome, New Orleans Harvey Martin/ Randy WhiteHOF St. Louis Rams 23, Tennessee 16 XXXIV Jan. 30, 2000 Georgia Dome, Atlanta Kurt WarnerHOF New England 32, Carolina 29 XXXVIII Feb. 1, 2004 Reliant Stadium, Houston Tom Brady   WEEK 9 NFL SCHEDULE (All times Eastern)   Thursday, November 4 New York Jets at Indianapolis FOX/NFLN/Amazon 8:20         Sunday, November 7 Minnesota at Baltimore FOX 1:00 New England at Carolina CBS 1:00 Cleveland at Cincinnati CBS 1:00 Denver at Dallas FOX 1:00 Buffalo at Jacksonville CBS 1:00 Houston at Miami FOX 1:00 Atlanta at New Orleans FOX 1:00 Las Vegas at New York Giants CBS 1:00 Los Angeles Chargers at Philadelphia CBS 4:05 Green Bay at Kansas City FOX 4:25 Arizona at San Francisco FOX 4:25 Tennessee at Los Angeles Rams NBC* 8:20         Monday, November 8 Chicago at Pittsburgh ESPN 8:15 Byes: Detroit, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Washington   For more from NFL Communication​s, visit NFLCommunications.com and follow @NFL345. NFC Players of the Week - Week 8 ​49ERS WR DEEBO SAMUEL, COWBOYS LB MICAH PARSONS & PANTHERS K ZANE GONZALEZ NAMED NFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 8 Wide receiver DEEBO SAMUEL of the San Francisco 49ers, linebacker MICAH PARSONS of the Dallas Cowboys and kicker ZANE GONZALEZ of the Carolina Panthers are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 8 (October 28, October 31-November 1). OFFENSE: WR DEEBO SAMUEL, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS Samuel recorded six catches for 171 yards (28.5 avg.) in San Francisco’s 33-22 victory at Chicago, the most receiving yards by any player in Week 8. This is the first Offensive Player of the Week award for Samuel and he becomes the first 49ers wide receiver to earn the honor since Anquan Boldin (Week 1, 2013). Samuel is the first former South Carolina player to win Offensive Player of the Week since wide receiver Sidney Rice (Week 10, 2009). DEFENSE: LB MICAH PARSONS, DALLAS COWBOYS Parsons registered 11 tackles, including four tackles for loss, in Dallas’ 20-16 Sunday Night Football victory at Minnesota. His four tackles for loss were tied for the most in the league in Week 8 and are tied for the most by a rookie in any game this season. He becomes the first Cowboys linebacker to win Defensive Player of the Week since Leighton Vander Esch (Week 10, 2018) and he joins Vander Esch, Sean Lee (Week 13, 2010) and DeMarcus Ware (Week 16, 2005) as the only Dallas rookie linebackers to earn the honor. Parsons is the seventh former Penn State linebacker to win Defensive Player of the Week and joins Odafe Oweh (Week 2, 2021) and Sean Lee (Week 13, 2010) as the only rookies to do so. He becomes the third rookie to win Defensive Player of the Week this season, joining Oweh (Week 2) and Buffalo defensive end Greg Rousseau (Week 5). SPECIAL TEAMS: K ZANE GONZALEZ, CAROLINA PANTHERS Gonzalez converted all four of his field goals – from 23, 29, 51 and 57 yards – and his only point after attempt for a total of 13 points in the Panthers’ 19-13 victory over Atlanta. This is the first Special Teams Player of the Week Award for Gonzalez and he becomes the first Carolina kicker to earn the honor since Joey Slye (Week 4, 2019). He becomes the first former Arizona State kicker to win Special Teams Player of the Week.    2021 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Offense Defense Special Teams Wk 1 QB Matthew Stafford, L.A. Rams LB Chandler Jones, Arizona P Bradley Pinion, Tampa Bay Wk 2 QB Kyler Murray, Arizona S Mike Edwards, Tampa Bay P Mitch Wishnowsky, San Francisco Wk 3 QB Matthew Stafford, L.A. Rams CB Byron Murphy, Arizona K Mason Crosby, Green Bay Wk 4 QB Daniel Jones, N.Y. Giants CB Trevon Diggs, Dallas KR DeAndre Carter, Washington Wk 5 QB Tom Brady, Tampa Bay CB Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans LB T.J. Edwards, Philadelphia Wk 6 QB Dak Prescott, Dallas S Taylor Rapp, L.A. Rams K Matt Prater, Arizona Wk 7 RB Alvin Kamara, New Orleans LB Deion Jones, Atlanta K Graham Gano, N.Y. Giants Wk 8 WR Deebo Samuel, San Francisco LB Micah Parsons, Dallas K Zane Gonzalez, Carolina For more from NFL Communication​s, visit NFLCommunications.com and follow @NFL345. AFC Players of the Week - Week 8 ​JETS QB MIKE WHITE, PATRIOTS DB ADRIAN PHILLIPS & TITANS K RANDY BULLOCK NAMED AFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 8 Quarterback MIKE WHITE of the New York Jets, defensive back ADRIAN PHILLIPS of the New England Patriots and kicker RANDY BULLOCK of the Tennessee Titans are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 8 (October 28, October 31-November 1). OFFENSE: QB MIKE WHITE, NEW YORK JETS In his first career start, White completed 37 of 45 pass attempts (82.2 percent) for 405 yards and three touchdowns in the Jets’ 34-31 comeback win over Cincinnati.   It marked the most-ever completions by a player in his first career start and he joined Cam Newton (422 yards on September 11, 2011) as the only quarterbacks since 1950 to pass for at least 400 yards in their first career start. He becomes the 11th different Jets quarterback to earn the honor and the first since Sam Darnold (Week 6, 2019).   White joins running back/punt returner Bobby Rainey (Week 11, 2013 and Week 5, 2015) as the only former Western Kentucky players to win a Player of the Week award. DEFENSE: DB ADRIAN PHILLIPS, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS In New England’s 27-24 victory over the Chargers, Phillips recorded three tackles and a career-high two interceptions, including a 26-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to give the Patriots the lead.      This is the first Defensive Player of the Week award for Phillips. He becomes the first New England defensive back to earn the honor since James Sanders (Week 10, 2010). Phillips is the first former Texas Longhorns defensive back to win Defensive Player of the Week since Earl Thomas (Week 5, 2017). SPECIAL TEAMS: K RANDY BULLOCK, TENNESSEE TITANS In Tennessee’s comeback victory over Indianapolis, Bullock converted both of his field goal attempts – a 46-yarder to tie the game in the fourth quarter and a 44-yard game-winner in overtime – and all four of his point after attempts. This is the second Special Teams Player of the Week award for Bullock (Week 16, 2014 with Houston). He becomes the seventh different Titans kicker to earn the honor and first since Stephen Gostkowski (Week 3, 2020). 2021 AFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Offense Defense Special Teams Wk 1 QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City DE Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas K Evan McPherson, Cincinnati Wk 2 RB Derrick Henry, Tennessee LB Odafe Oweh, Baltimore K Daniel Carlson, Las Vegas Wk 3 QB Josh Allen, Buffalo DE Myles Garrett, Cleveland K Justin Tucker, Baltimore Wk 4 QB Joe Burrow, Cincinnati LB Tremaine Edmunds, Buffalo P Rigoberto Sanchez, Indianapolis Wk 5 QB Lamar Jackson, Baltimore DE Greg Rousseau, Buffalo K Nick Folk, New England Wk 6 RB Derrick Henry, Tennessee LB T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh K Matthew Wright, Jacksonville Wk 7 WR Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati DE Yannick Ngakoue, Las Vegas P Rigoberto Sanchez, Indianapolis Wk 8 QB Mike White, N.Y. Jets DB Adrian Phillips, New England K Randy Bullock, Tennessee For more from NFL Communication​s, visit NFLCommunications.com and follow @NFL345. The National Football League and Aristocrat Gaming Announce Exclusive Slot Machine Licensing Agreement ​Under multi-year, global license, Aristocrat Gaming to build NFL-themed slot machines, bringing new gaming experiences to NFL fans on casino floors NEW YORK, NY and LAS VEGAS, NV (November 3, 2021) – The National Football League (NFL) and Aristocrat Gaming™ have announced an exclusive multi-year slot machine licensing agreement. Under the terms of this agreement, Aristocrat will have an exclusive global license to build land-based NFL-themed slot machines as well as a non-exclusive license for virtual sports games, marking the first deal of its kind for the NFL. The partnership will provide the NFL an opportunity to further drive fan engagement through a new gaming experience. "The world of casino gaming is transforming, and the NFL is thrilled to be teaming up with industry leader, Aristocrat Gaming, with their proven track record in slot machine innovation and commitment to responsible gaming," said Rachel Hoagland, Vice President, Gaming and Partnership Management, NFL. "Today's slot machines offer engaging experiences akin to popular video game consoles that our fans adore, and we believe with Aristocrat's vision, we can bring that exciting gaming experience to fans on the casino floor looking to show their love of football." "At Aristocrat, we are changing the game. In that spirit, we are thrilled to enter this agreement with the NFL, whose similar mission made this a natural partnership," said Hector Fernandez, president of Aristocrat Americas and EMEA. "Fans worldwide love watching the NFL, and casino players worldwide enjoy Aristocrat games. This agreement presents a new opportunity to reach tens of millions of NFL and Aristocrat fans with exciting new entertainment options on the casino floor and beyond." The NFL-themed slot machines, which will offer fans the ability to customize their experiences based on their favorite teams, are expected to hit casino floors during the 2023 NFL season. To learn more, please click here. The NFL recently announced the launch of an extensive, integrated league-wide responsible betting public awareness program. For more information about responsible betting tools and resources, visit responsibleplay.org. ABOUT ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES INC. Aristocrat Technologies Inc. is a subsidiary of Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL), a global games leader with more than 6,500 employees. The company is licensed in over 300 gaming jurisdictions, operates in more than 90 countries, and offers a unique blend of products and services. The company is the leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of Class III games as well as Class II Innovations for Native American casinos and emerging markets. The company's mission is to bring joy to life through the power of play. Its values are rooted in creativity and technology, and the company has a rich history of innovation that has shaped the gaming industry over many decades. For more information on all the ways Aristocrat supports responsible gaming, please click here. For further information, visit the company's website at www.aristocratgaming.com. NFL Set to Launch Players Podcast with Current Player and Legend Hosts ​Beginning November 3, the NFL Players Podcast, an evolution of the NFL Legends Podcast, will launch with new episodes every Wednesday. Hosted by New York Giants captain Logan Ryan, Legend and Walter Payton Man of the Year recipient Charles “Peanut” Tillman and Pro Football Hall of Famer Aeneas Williams, the NFL Players Podcast is a candid, unscripted podcast sharing the stories and personal journeys of NFL players – as told by the players. Earlier this year, iHeartMedia, the number one podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac and the NFL announced an exclusive podcast partnership to launch the NFL's podcast network, which included the distribution of NFL Media's existing podcasts. “In an effort to further elevate the voices of players and tell their stories on and off the field, we’re excited to provide them with a platform through the NFL Players Podcast,” said TRACY PERLMAN, NFL Senior Vice President of Player Operations. “This series was developed in collaboration with players and Legends, with some of our best, acting as hosts of the show. It’s truly for the players, by the players.”   The NFL Players Podcast will be the trusted source for the NFL’s players’ community to share their personal journeys. Through sharing stories about their career and life after their playing days, this podcast will present a true portrait of the players’ community. “Over the years, I’ve learned a lot and I have a story to tell,” Ryan said. “I want to share my experience with other players and legends, along with the fans. I hope this is going to be a voice for the players to tell their stories about their families, the grind, and the realities of playing in the NFL About the hosts: Logan Ryan is a nine-year NFL veteran who has spent the last two seasons (2020-21) with the New York Giants after four seasons in New England (2013-16) and three in Tennessee (2017-19). A two-time Super Bowl champion (XLIX and LI), he has 18 interceptions and 12 sacks in 133 career games. Ryan founded the Ryan Animal Rescue Foundation (RARF), which works with animal welfare organizations to promote adoption and provide grants and educational opportunities. Charles Tillman, who spent his 13-year NFL career as a cornerback with Chicago (2003-14) and Carolina (2015), recorded 44 forced fumbles and 38 interceptions in 168 career games. A two-time Pro Bowl (2011-12) and 2012 first-team All-Pro selection, he was named the 2013 Walter Payton Man of the Year. Aeneas Williams spent his 14-year NFL career with Cardinals (1991-2000) and Rams (2001-04) and was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014. An eight-time Pro Bowl selection (seven as a cornerback, one as a safety) and HBCU Alumna (Southern University), he recorded 55 interceptions in 211 regular-season games and added six interceptions in six career postseason contests. To listen to the NFL Players Podcast, please visit https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nfl-players-podcast/id1435355943. Indianapolis Colts Host New York Jets on 'Thursday Night Football' ​ Jets-Colts Thursday at 8:20 PM ET on FOX, NFL Network & Amazon Prime Video NFL Network Pregame Coverage Includes 'TNF First Look' at 3:00 PM ET & 'NFL GameDay Kickoff' at 6:00 PM ET 'FOX NFL Thursday' Airs at 7:30 PM ET 'NFL Next' on Prime Video Streams at 7:00 PM ET The 2021 Thursday Night Football Presented by Bud Light Platinum season continues Thursday, November 4 when the Indianapolis Colts host the New York Jets at 8:20 PM ET on FOX, NFL Network, Amazon Prime Video and Twitch. FOX Sports' lead play-by-play announcer Joe Buck, and Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback and FOX Sports' lead analyst Troy Aikman, along with sideline reporters Erin Andrews and Kristina Pink call the action from Lucas Oil Stadium. Additionally, FOX's NFL Rules expert Mike Pereira joins to give explanations on officiating and rules throughout the game. Alongside the FOX broadcast, award-winning journalists Hannah Storm and Andrea Kremer call the game on Amazon Prime Video for the fourth consecutive season. Additionally, Prime members can also tune-in to the 'Scout's Feed' which features Bucky Brooks, Daniel Jeremiah and Joy Taylor, or watch the 'NFL Next Live' livestream on Twitch with Andrew Hawkins and Kimmi Chex, along with a rotation of analysts each week including Aqib Talib, Nick Mangold and New Orleans Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins. NFL Network's on-location pregame coverage begins at 3:00 PM ET with TNF First Look hosted by Andrew Siciliano, along with reporter Kim Jones. At 6:00 PM ET on NFL Network, NFL GameDay Kickoff previews the Jets-Colts matchup with host Colleen Wolfe and analysts Joe Thomas, Steve Smith Sr. and Michael Irvin. Among the topics discussed this week on NFL GameDay Kickoff include: Joe Thomas discusses whether the Indianapolis Colts should consider sitting quarterback Carson Wentz to save their first-round pick Steve Smith Sr. explains why the New York Jets' offense was more efficient with Mike White at quarterback last week   Michael Irvin discusses why Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. is breaking out in his second season At 7:00 PM ET on Prime Video, fans can watch NFL Next hosted by Kay Adams alongside Chris Long, Hawkins and Jeremiah. NFL Next provides an in-depth preview of Jets-Colts utilizing the power of Next Gen Stats powered by AWS. At 7:30 PM ET on FOX, NFL Network and Amazon Prime Video, the FOX NFL Thursday pregame show airs with host Curt Menefee, analysts Michael Strahan, Greg Olsen and Mark Sanchez, and FOX NFL Insider Jay Glazer providing the final say leading up to Jets-Colts. At halftime on FOX, NFL Network and Amazon Prime Video, Menefee, Strahan, Olsen and Sanchez break down the first half. Following the game, Wolfe, Thomas, Smith Sr. and Irvin host the postgame show on NFL Network and are joined by a star of the game. Additional postgame coverage continues at 12 Midnight ET on NFL Network. In addition to television availability of Jets-Colts on FOX and NFL Network, fans may also stream the game across devices through NFL, FOX and FOX Deportes digital properties, Amazon Prime Video and Twitch. The game is also available to all fans on mobile through the Jets and Colts mobile properties, and Yahoo Sports properties. Live game audio of Thursday Night Football will be broadcast nationally by Westwood One, and carried on SiriusXM and TuneIn. For a full listing of Thursday Night Football viewing options, fans can visit NFL.com/watch. FOX Deportes' coverage kicks off at 7:30 PM ET. Award-winning broadcaster Jessi Losada helms studio coverage alongside Pablo Alsina, while renowned play-by-play announcer Jorge Pérez Navarro joins former NFL offensive lineman Rolando Cantu for coverage of Jets-Colts. Last week's Thursday Night Football game featuring the [/Pages/Packers-Cardinals-Draws-Viewership-of-20.4-Million-Across-All-Platforms.aspx]Green Bay Packers' 24-21 win over the Arizona Cardinals was seen by an average audience of 20.4 million across all platforms (TV+Digital), making it the third highest Thursday Night Football viewership in the history of the FOX package behind New Orleans Saints vs. Dallas Cowboys in 2018 (22.2 million) and Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints on Christmas Day in 2020 (20.5 million). Season-to-date, Thursday Night Football tri-cast games on FOX, NFL Network and Amazon Prime Video are averaging 15.8 million viewers across all platforms – up +24% vs. the comparable point last season (12.7 million). Notas de la NFL de la novena semana DUELOS INTERCONFERENCIA DOMINAN LA SEMANA 9; CONTINÚAN LOS RESURGIMIENTOS Y EL DRAMA DE CIERRE DE PARTIDO CUANDO LA NFL SE APROXIMA A SU PUNTO MEDIO Mientras la NFL se aproxima al punto medio de su 2021 temporada regular, los equipos dan muestras una y otra vez de que lo más importante no es cómo arrancas. Es cómo terminas. En 37 ocasiones esta temporada, un equipo estaba perdiendo en el último período y resurgió para ganar, incluyendo ocho de 15 partidos el pasado fin de semana. Los ocho equipos –Dallas, Kansas City, New England, New Orleans, los New York Jets, Pittsburgh, San Francisco y Tennessee– que lograron tal hazaña en la octava semana marca la mayor cantidad en una misma semana desde los nueve equipos en la primera semana de 2016. Tres equipos –Baltimore, Tennessee y los Los Angeles Chargers– tienen tres victorias esta temporada tras haber estado en desventaja en el último período.  A lo largo de ocho semanas de cualquier temporada de NFL anterior, solamente la campaña 2012 (38) tuvo más remontadas de cuarto periodo. La mayor cantidad de victorias por equipos que iban debajo en el marcador en el último período a lo largo de la octava semana en la historia de la NFL: TEMPORADA RESURGIMIENTOS EN EL CUARTO PERIODO 2012 38 2021 37 1989 37 1999 36   Esta temporada, 31 partidos fueron decididos con alguna anotación en los últimos dos minutos del tiempo regular o en la prórroga, empatados con 2012 para la mayor cantidad de tales desenlaces en la historia de la NFL a lo largo de la octava semana.  A lo largo de ocho semanas, 26 partidos tuvieron una anotación que definió el pleito en el último minuto del cuarto período o en la prórroga, empatados con 2015 para la mayor cantidad en la historia en este punto en una temporada. También en la octava semana, cinco partidos fueron decididos por tres o menos puntos. Dos equipos se sobrepusieron a déficits de al menos 10 puntos para ganar: Tennessee perdía por 14 puntos antes de vencer a Indianapolis 34-31 en la prórroga, mientras los New York Jets borraron una desventaja de 11 puntos en el cuarto periodo para derrotar a Cincinnati 34-31. Incluyendo ese triunfo de los Titans, esta temporada han habido 12 partidos definidos en la prórroga, empatando con 2002 y 2003 para la tercera mayor cantidad de juegos definidos en la prórroga en este punto de una temporada en la historia. Solamente 1995 (14 partidos en la prórroga) y 1983 (13) tuvieron más. DUELOS INTERCONFERENCIA SE DESTACAN EN LA NOVENA SEMANA. La novena semana tiene ocho enfrentamientos interconferencia, la primera vez desde la tercera semana de la temporada 2018 (ocho) que en una misma semana han habido al menos ocho partidos protagonizados por equipos de la AFC y de la NFC. Tres de los enfrentamientos interconferencia tienen dos equipos que el año anterior estuvieron en la postemporada: GREEN BAY (7-1) en KANSAS CITY (4-4): Green Bay ingresa en la novena semana disfrutando de una racha ganadora de siete partidos, mientras Kansas City se alzó con un triunfo viniendo desde atrás en Monday Night Football sobre los New York Giants. Desde 2018, cuando PATRICK MAHOMES tomó las riendas como mariscal de campo titular de los Chiefs, Kansas City (42-14, .750) y Green Bay (39-16-1, .705) son dos de los cuatro equipos con un porcentaje de victorias por encima de .700. Mahomes (Jugador más valioso de la NFL 2018) y el mariscal de campo de Green Bay AARON RODGERS (Jugador más valioso de la NFL 2020) fue dos de los mejores jugadores en la NFL en las últimas cuatro temporadas. JUGADOR YARDAS AÉREAS ANOTACIONES AÉREAS ÍNDICE DE PASADOR Patrick Mahomes 16,236 (1°) 133 (1°) 106.9 (3°) Aaron Rodgers 14,637 (5°) 116 (t-3°) 104.5 (5°) Totales y ubicaciones entre mariscales de campo desde 2018 TENNESSEE (6-2) en L.A. RAMS (7-1) en el clásico de domingo en la noche Sunday Night Football. Tanto Tennessee como Los Angeles llegan a la novena semana en rachas ganadoras de cuatro partidos. Ambos equipos han anotado al menos 25 puntos en sus 13 victorias combinadas esta temporada. Los Titans están procurando continuar su éxito sin el líder acarreador de la NFL, DERRICK HENRY, que fue colocado en la lista de lesionados esta semana. El mariscal de campo RYAN TANNEHILL tiene un índice de pasador de 90 o superior en tres de sus cuatro titularidades fuera de casa esta temporada, mientras el receptor A.J. BROWN busca su tercer partido en línea con al menos 125 yardas recibiendo y alguna recepción anotadora. Esta semana los Rams adquirieron de Denver al apoyador VON MILLER . Desde 2014, el tackle defensivo AARON DONALD (90.5 capturas) y Miller (75.5) se ubican primero y cuarto, respectivamente, en capturas. El mariscal de campo MATTHEW STAFFORD se ubica segundo en la liga esta temporada en yardas aéreas (2,447), pases anotadores (22) e índice de pasador (118.0), mientras receptor COOPER KUPP se convirtió en el primer jugador en la era del Super Bowl con al menos 900 yardas recibiendo (924) y 10 recepciones anotadoras (10) en los primeros 10 partidos de su equipo en una temporada. CHICAGO (3-5) en PITTSBURGH (4-3) en el clásico de lunes en le noche Monday Night Football. La semana pasada, el de Chicago JUSTIN FIELDS se convirtió en el tercer mariscal de campo novato en la historia de la NFL en registrar un pase anotador, un acarreo anotador y al menos 100 yardas por tierra en un mismo partido, uniéndose a ROBERT GRIFFIN III (14 de octubre de 2012) y a MARCUS MARIOTA (6 de diciembre de 2015). El mariscal de campo de los Steelers BEN ROETHLISBERGER tiene marca de 16-6 en las 22 titularidades de una carrera en día lunes y tiene al menos dos pases anotadores en seis de sus últimos siete partidos en Monday Night Football. FIN DE SEMANA SIN PRECEDENTES PARA MARISCALES DE CAMPO EN SUS PRIMERAS TITULARIDADES. El pasado fin de semana, tanto MIKE WHITE, de los Jets, como COOPER RUSH, de los Cowboys, lideraron a sus equipos en dramáticos triunfos resurgiendo en el cuarto periodo. Marcó el primer fin de semana de la NFL desde al menos 1950 en el que múltiples mariscales de campo que están haciendo su primera titularidad en la NFL ganan sus partidos mientras que lanzan 300 o más yardas. Rush es el único mariscal de campo desde la fusión de la liga, en 1970, en lanzar al menos 300 yardas y el pase anotador que define el pleito en el último minuto de la primera titularidad de su carrera en la NFL. White completó 37 de 45 intentos de pase (82.2 por ciento) para 405 yardas, con tres anotaciones, dos intercepciones y un índice de 107.9 en el triunfo de los Jets. Sus 37 pases completos significan la mayor cantidad por un mariscal de campo en la historia en la primera titularidad de su carrera. También se unió a CAM NEWTON (422 yardas el 11 de septiembre de 2011) como los únicos mariscales de campo desde 1950 que lanzan al menos 400 yardas en sus primeras titularidades en una carrera. NO PUEDO ESPERAR PARA VOLVER A SALIR DE GIRA. Los equipos de la NFL estuvieron 9-6 fuera de casa la semana pasada y esta temporada están 63-59 (.516) jugando de gira. Es el cuarto mejor porcentaje de triunfos en este punto de cualquier temporada desde la fusión de la liga en 1970, por detrás de 1983 (.558), 2019 (.525) y 1972 (.519). Los ARIZONA CARDINALS (7-1), que están empatados con los Rams con la mejor marca de la liga jugando fuera de casa (4-0), viajan para enfrentar a los SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (3-4) el domingo (4:25 PM, hora de New York, FOX). Arizona tiene triunfos de visitante este año sobre los Titans, Jaguars, Rams y Browns, y cada de esos triunfos de visitante ha sido por al menos 12 puntos. Arizona es el primer equipo en ganar sus primeros cuatro duelos de visitante por 12 o más puntos desde los NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS de 2007. Esta semana los Cardinals buscan convertirse en el primer equipo en ganar sus primeros cinco partidos fuera de casa con un margen de victoria de al menos 12 en cada duelo desde los INDIANAPOLIS COLTS de 2005. Mientras tanto, el receptor de San Francisco DEEBO SAMUEL se ubica segundo en la liga con 819 yardas recibiendo, la mayor cantidad a lo largo de siete partidos en la historia por un jugador de los 49ers. El miembro del Salón de la Fama JERRY RICE estableció la marca previa con 781 yardas a lo largo de los primeros siete partidos del equipo en 1986. LOS PACKERS GANAN EN TODA FACETA. Los GREEN BAY PACKERS (7-1) tienen una dura prueba contra los KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (4-4) el domingo (4:25 ET, FOX). Los Packers llegan al partido con la mejor marca de la liga (7-1, compartida con Arizona), la racha ganadora activa más larga de la liga (siete) y algunos otros hitos destacados. Green Bay ganó el margen de entrega de balón en cada una de sus siete victorias consecutivas, la racha más larga de ese tipo de victorias con índice positivo de entrega de balón desde la racha de ocho partidos de Seattle en el lapso 2012-13.  Los equipos con las rachas más largas de victorias en temporada regular e índice de entrega de balón positivo en la historia de la NFL: EQUIPO TEMPORADA(S) RACHA New England 2011-12 9 Seattle 2012-13 8 New England 2010 8 Denver 1984 8 Washington 1983 8       Green Bay 2021 7* *Racha activa Desde que MATT LAFLEUR se hizo cargo del puesto de entrenador en jefe de los Packers, en 2019, Green Bay está 33-7 en los primeros 40 partidos de temporada regular de su carrera. En la historia de la NFL, solamente el miembro del Salón de la Fama GUY CHAMBERLIN (34) tuvo más victorias como entrenador en jefe a lo largo de sus primeros 40 partidos de temporada regular. Los entrenadores en jefe con las mayores cantidades de victorias a lo largo de sus primeros 40 juegos de temporada regular en la NFL: ENTRENADOR EQUIPO(S) AÑOS TRIUNFOS Guy ChamberlinHOF Canton/Cleveland Bulldogs, Frankford Yellow Jackets 1922-25 34 Matt LaFleur Green Bay Packers 2019-21 33 Paul BrownHOF Cleveland Browns 1950-53 33 George Seifert San Francisco 49ers 1989-91 32 Chuck Knox Los Angeles Rams 1973-75 32 Los Chiefs, en tanto, están viniendo de un triunfo de lunes en la noche. Los equipos de la NFL esta temporada están 7-0 en partidos posteriores a una victoria en Monday Night Football. A lo largo de un lapso más largo, remontándonos a la semana 14 de la pasada temporada, los clubes están 12-0 en partidos posteriores a un triunfo en lunes en la noche. KUPP QUIERE UNIRSE A LA ELITE. Cuando los LOS ANGELES RAMS (7-1) reciban a los TENNESSEE TITANS (6-2) en el clásico de domingo en la noche Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM, hora de New York, NBC), posen sus ojos en COOPER KUPP. El receptor de los Rams tiene la oportunidad de unirse a cuatro miembros del Salón de la Fama (DON HUTSON en 1942, ELROY "CRAZY LEGS" HIRSCH en 1951, RAYMOND BERRY en 1960 y JERRY RICE en 1990) como los únicos jugadores que llegan a 1,000 yardas recibiendo y 10 recepciones anotadoras a lo largo de los primeros nueve partidos de la temporada de un equipo en la historia de la NFL. La semana pasada, Kupp registró siete recepciones para 115 yardas y una anotación en el triunfo de los Rams. Kupp, que tiene 63 recepciones para 924 yardas y 10 anotaciones esta temporada, es el primer jugador en la era del Super Bowl con al menos 900 yardas recibiendo y 10 recepciones anotadoras en los primeros ocho partidos de su equipo en una temporada. Kupp es también el tercer jugador en la historia con al menos siete recepciones en siete de los primeros ocho partidos de su equipo en una temporada, uniéndose a ADAM THIELEN (2018) y MICHAEL THOMAS (2019). Elmariscal de campo de los Los Angeles MATTHEW STAFFORD la semana pasada lanzó 305 yardas, con tres anotaciones, ninguna intercepción e índice de 127.7. Stafford ahora tiene 28 partidos en su carrera con al menos 300 yardas aéreas y tres pases anotadores, superando al miembro del Salón de la Fama PEYTON MANNING (27) para la quinta mayor cantidad de tales partidos por un jugador en sus primeras 13 temporadas en la historia de la NFL. Desde que SEAN MCVAY se convirtió en entrenador en jefe de los Rams en 2017, el equipo está 43-0 cuando tienen la ventaja en el medio tiempo, incluyendo la postemporada. Esa es la segunda racha más larga de ese tipo en la historia de la NFL, solamente detrás de los GREEN BAY PACKERS, que ganaron 49 partidos consecutivos en los que lideraban el marcador llegado el medio tiempo, en el lapso 1926-33 bajo el mando del miembro del Salón de la Fama CURLY LAMBEAU. Los Titans jugaron tres partidos definidos en la prórroga esta temporada y están a ritmo de quebrar la marca de temporada de la NFL, ostentada por los GREEN BAY PACKERS de 1983, que jugaron cinco partidos definidos en la prórroga. Tennessee está 3-1 (.750) en partidos decididos por tres puntos o menos. Con un mínimo de tres de esos partidos, solamente los Packers (3-0) tienen mejor marca en esas situaciones esta temporada. GRANDES OFENSIVA Y DEFENSIVA. Los DALLAS COWBOYS (6-1) regresan a casa para enfrentar a los DENVER BRONCOS (4-4) el domingo (1:00 PM, hora de New York, FOX). La última vez que estos equipos se enfrentaron en Dallas, el 6 de octubre de 2013, el mariscal de campo de los Cowboys TONY ROMO y el miembro del Salón de la Fama PEYTON MANNING se combinaron para lanzar 920 yardas y nueve pases anotadores. Cada equipo borró una desventaja de al menos 14 puntos antes de que Denver prevaleciera 51-48 con un gol de campo de MATT PRATER cuando el reloj expiraba. El corredor de Dallas EZEKIEL ELLIOTT lidera la NFC con 571 yardas por tierra. Ingresa a esta semana con 6,955 yardas por tierra en su carrera, necesitando 45 el domingo para convertirse en el tercer jugador en la historia de la franquicia que alcanza las 7,000, uniéndose a los miembros del Salón de la Fama EMMITT SMITH (17,162) y TONY DORSETT (12,036).  Este año, los Cowboys lideran la NFL con 454.9 yardas por partido. A lo largo de ocho semanas, es la quinta mejor cifra en este punto de una temporada desde la fusión de la liga en 1970. Los equipos que promediaron la mayor cantidad de yardas por partido a lo largo de la octava semana, desde 1970: EQUIPO TEMPORADA YARDAS/PARTIDO RESULTADO DE LA TEMPORADA St. Louis Rams 2000 497.7 Avanzaron hasta la vuelta de Comodines Tampa Bay 2018 467.6 No clasificaron a postemporada Denver 2013 466.4 Avanzaron hasta el Super Bowl San Francisco 1998 455.1 Avanzaron hasta la vuelta Divisional Dallas 2021 454.9 ??? EN PROCURA DE LA HISTORIA. Cuando los CINCINNATI BENGALS (5-3) reciban a los CLEVELAND BROWNS (4-4) el domingo (1:00 PM, hora de New York, CBS), el receptor novato JA'MARR CHASE busca continuar su gran arranque de temporada. Chase tiene 786 yardas recibiendo, el segundo total más alto por un jugador en los primeros ocho partidos en su carrera en la historia, detrás de HARLON HILL (802). El domingo, Chase necesita 84 yardas recibiendo para superar a MARQUES COLSTON (869) para la mayor cantidad por un jugador en la historia a lo largo de sus primeros nueve partidos en la NFL. La semana pasada, Chase registró su séptima recepción anotadora para convertirse en el quinto jugador en la era del Super Bowl con alguna recepción anotadora en seis de los primeros ocho partidos en su carrera, uniéndose a CHARLIE BROWN (1982), MARQUES COLSTON (2006), WILLIE GREEN (1991) y DONTE' STALLWORTH (2002). VIVA LAS VEGAS. Los LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (5-2), que comparten la mejor marca de la AFC, vienen de su descanso para un partido de visitante contra los NEW YORK GIANTS (2-6) el domingo (1:00 PM, hora de New York, CBS).  En la séptima semana, el mariscal de campo de los Raiders DEREK CARR completó 31 de 34 intentos de pase (91.2 por ciento) para 323 yardas, con dos anotaciones, una intercepción y un índice de 113.6 en el triunfo de su equipo. El porcentaje de pases completos de Carr, de 91.2, es el segundo más alto en un solo partido en la historia en partidos en los que un mariscal de campo intentó al menos 30 pases. Solamente DREW BREES (96.7 por ciento el 16 de diciembre de 2019) tuvo un porcentaje superior de pases completos en un solo partido. Entre los entrenadores en jefe que se hicieron cargo de sus equipos durante una temporada, el de los Raiders RICH BISACCIA tiene la oportunidad de convertirse en el primer entrenador en jefe en ganar sus primeros tres partidos desde que GARY MOELLER se hizo cargo a mitad de temporada y lideró a los Lions a tres victorias consecutivas en 2000. LOS SAINTS CONTRA LOS MEJORES DE LA HISTORIA. Viniendo de una victoria sobre Tampa Bay, los NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-2) reciben otro partido divisional contra MATT RYAN y los ATLANTA FALCONS (3-4) el domingo (1:00 PM, hora de New York, FOX). Desde que SEAN PAYTON se convirtió en entrenador en jefe, en 2006, incluyendo victorias sobre TOM BRADY, Jugador más valioso del Super Bowl reinante, y AARON RODGERS, Jugador más valioso de la liga, esta temporada los Saints han enfrentado ocho mariscales de campo actualmente ubicados entre los 10 mejores en la historia en yardas aéreas,  Incluyendo la postemporada, los Saints están 38-20 (.655) desde 2006 en partidos contra esos ocho mariscales de campo. En ese grupo, el único jugador contra quien los Saints tienen marca perdedora es el miembro del Salón de la Fama PEYTON MANNING. Su único triunfo contra Manning fue una victoria sobre los Colts en el Super Bowl XLIV. La marca de los Saints contra mariscales de campo actualmente ubicados entre los 10 mejores de la NFL en la historia en yardas aéreas, incluyendo postemporada, desde 2006:   MARCA DE LOS SAINTS MARISCAL DE CAMPO G P % Brett FavreHOF 3 0 1.000 Philip Rivers 3 0 1.000 Ben Roethlisberger 3 1 .750 Eli Manning 5 2 .714 Matt Ryan 16 9 .640 Tom Brady 4 3 .571 Aaron Rodgers 3 3 .500 Peyton ManningHOF 1 2 .333 Totales 38 20 .655 LOS BILLS LIDERAN EN AMBOS COSTADOS. Los BUFFALO BILLS (5-2) lideran la NFL tanto en puntos anotados por partido (32.7) como en menor cantidad de puntos permitidos por partido (15.6). Solamente dos equipos, desde la fusión de la liga en 1970, terminaron la temporada liderando la NFL en ambas categorías: los MIAMI DOLPHINS de 1972 y los GREEN BAY PACKERS de 1996.  El mariscal de campo de los Bills JOSH ALLEN lidera su equipo en su viaje al TIAA Bank Field para vérselas con los JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-6) el domingo (1:00 PM, hora de New York, CBS). La semana pasada, Allen tuvo la 50ma titularidad de su carrera y lanzó 249 yardas y dos anotaciones, al tiempo que agregó 55 yardas por tierra y un acarreo anotador en el triunfo de los Bills. Allen tiene 28 acarreos anotadores en su carrera, empatando con CAM NEWTON (28) para la mayor cantidad por un mariscal de campo en sus primeras 50 titularidades en una carrera en la historia. REVANCHAS DEL SUPER BOWL REDITADAS. Cinco partidos en la novena semana tienen como protagonistas a franquicias que se encontraron en algún Super Bowl: EQUIPOS, RESULTADO SUPER BOWL FECHA SEDE MVP Green Bay 35, Kansas City 10 I 15 enero 1967 Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles Bart StarrHOF N.Y. Jets 16, Baltimore Colts 7 III 12 enero 1969 Orange Bowl, Miami Joe NamathHOF Dallas 27, Denver 10 XII 15 enero 1978 Superdome, New Orleans Harvey Martin/ Randy WhiteHOF St. Louis Rams 23, Tennessee 16 XXXIV 30 enero 2000 Georgia Dome, Atlanta Kurt WarnerHOF New England 32, Carolina 29 XXXVIII 1 febrero 2004 Reliant Stadium, Houston Tom Brady   Nota: HOF indica que es miembro del Salón de la fama. What To Look For - Week 9 ​ WHAT TO LOOK FOR – WEEK 9 TOP BILLING: The BUFFALO BILLS (5-2) enter Week 9 leading the league in scoring offense (32.7 points per game) and scoring defense (15.6 points allowed per game). They have scored at least 25 points in six consecutive games and have allowed 20 points or fewer in four of their past six games, including two shutouts. They are the fourth team since 1970 to lead the league in both scoring offense and scoring defense through the first eight weeks of a season. Two of the previous three teams to accomplish the feat advanced to the Super Bowl. The teams to lead the league in scoring offense and scoring defense through Week 8: TEAM SEASON POINTS PER GAME POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME SEASON RESULT Buffalo Bills 2021 32.7 15.6 ??? New England Patriots 2019 31.3 7.6 Advanced to Wild Card Chicago Bears 2006 31.6 9.9 Advanced to Super Bowl Chicago Bears 1985 29.9 14.3 Won Super Bowl Since 1970, only two teams finished the season leading the league in both categories: the 1996 Green Bay Packers and 1972 Miami Dolphins. Each of those teams advanced to the Super Bowl. Last week, quarterback JOSH ALLEN totaled three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing), his 19th career game with both a passing and rushing touchdown and third this season. With both a passing and rushing touchdown on Sunday at Jacksonville (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Allen can join CAM NEWTON (24 games) as the only players ever with both a passing and rushing touchdown in at least 20 games in their first four seasons. -- NFL -- OFFENSE IS BIGGER IN DALLAS: The DALLAS COWBOYS lead the league in total offense through eight weeks, averaging 454.9 yards per game. That marks the fifth-most by a team through Week 8 since 1970. They have totaled at least 375 total yards of offense in each of their seven games this season and have reached 400 total yards in six of seven contests. With at least 400 yards of offense on Sunday against Denver (1:00 PM ET, FOX), they will become the sixth team ever to total at least 400 yards in seven of their first eight games of a season. The teams with the most games with at least 400 yards of offense in their first eight games of a season in NFL history: TEAM SEASON GAMES   Denver Broncos# 2013 8   New England Patriots# 2007 8   Indianapolis Colts 2014 7   St. Louis Rams 2000 7   San Diego Chargers 1983 7           Dallas Cowboys 2021 6*   *In first seven games   #Advanced to Super Bowl -- NFL -- MURRAY MAGIC: Arizona quarterback KYLER MURRAY ranks fourth in the league with 2,276 passing yards and a 110.4 rating, and is tied for fifth with 17 touchdown passes this season. He is also one of two players (MATTHEW STAFFORD) with at least 225 passing yards in eight games this season. The 2019 No. 1 overall pick has 9,969 career passing yards. With 31 passing yards on Sunday at San Francisco (4:25 PM ET, FOX), Murray will become the fourth-youngest player (24 years, 92 days) to reach 10,000 passing yards in NFL history, surpassing CAM NEWTON (24 years, 191 days). The youngest players to reach 10,000 career passing yards in NFL history: PLAYER TEAM AGE Drew Bledsoe New England 23 years, 299 days Jameis Winston Tampa Bay 23 years, 303 days Dan MarinoHOF Miami 24 years, 63 days Cam Newton Carolina 24 years, 191 days       Kyler Murray Arizona 24 years, 92 days* *On Sunday     -- NFL -- SOPHOMORE STARS: Last season, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback JUSTIN HERBERT, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, recorded the most touchdown passes (31) and second-most passing yards (4,336) by a rookie in NFL history. This season, Herbert has 16 touchdown passes and 1,994 passing yards, while totaling at least three touchdown passes in three games this season.  With three touchdown passes on Sunday at Philadelphia (4:05 PM ET, CBS), Herbert, appearing in his 23rd career game, will become the fourth-fastest player to reach 50 career touchdown passes in NFL history. Only PATRICK MAHOMES (17 games), and Pro Football Hall of Famers KURT WARNER (21) and DAN MARINO (22) reached the mark in fewer games.  The players to reach 50 career touchdown passes in the fewest games in NFL history: PLAYER TEAM GAMES   Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 17   Kurt WarnerHOF St. Louis Rams 21   Dan MarinoHOF Miami 22           Justin Herbert L.A. Chargers 22*   *Has 47 career touchdown passes in 22 games   Herbert can also join Mahomes, Marino and Warner as the only players ever with 10 games with at least three touchdown passes in their first 25 career games. The players with the most games with at least three touchdown passes in their first 25 career games in NFL history: PLAYER TEAM GAMES Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 15 Kurt WarnerHOF St. Louis Rams 13 Dan MarinoHOF Miami 11 Justin Herbert L.A. Chargers 9* *In 22 games     Minnesota wide receiver JUSTIN JEFFERSON, the No. 22 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, set the all-time rookie record with 1,400 receiving yards last season. In 2021, he has 563 receiving yards and has eclipsed the 100-yard mark twice. With 37 receiving yards on Sunday at Baltimore (1:00 PM ET, FOX), Jefferson, appearing in his 24th career game, will become the second-fastest player in the Super Bowl era to reach 2,000 career receiving yards, surpassing VICTOR CRUZ (25 games). Only ODELL BECKHAM JR. (21) reached the mark in fewer games. The players to reach 2,000 career receiving yards in the fewest games in the Super Bowl era: PLAYER TEAM GAMES Odell Beckham Jr. N.Y. Giants 21 Victor Cruz N.Y. Giants 25 Many tied - 26       Justin Jefferson Minnesota 23* *Has 1,963 receiving yards in 23 games     Jefferson also has nine career games with at least 100 receiving yards and can join Beckham (15 games) as the only players with 10 such performances in their first 25 career games in the Super Bowl era. -- NFL -- HISTORY IN HOLLYWOOD: Los Angeles Rams wide receiver COOPER KUPP leads the league with 924 receiving yards and 10 touchdown receptions and ranks second with 63 catches. He became the first player in the Super Bowl era with at least 900 receiving yards and 10 touchdown receptions in his team's first eight games of a season. With 76 receiving yards against Tennessee on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC), Kupp will become the fifth player ever with at least 1,000 receiving yards and 10 touchdown receptions in his team’s first nine games of a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers RAYMOND BERRY (1951), ELROY “CRAZY LEGS” HIRSCH (1960), DON HUTSON (1942) and JERRY RICE (1990). The players with at least 1,000 receiving yards and 10 touchdown receptions in their team’s first nine games of a season in NFL history: PLAYER TEAM SEASON RECEIVING YARDS RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS Jerry RiceHOF San Francisco 1990 1,006 11 Elroy HirschHOF L.A. Rams 1960 1,162 13 Raymond BerryHOF Baltimore Colts 1951 1,147 10 Don HutsonHOF Green Bay 1942 1,166 16           Cooper Kupp L.A. Rams 2021 924* 10* *Through first eight games         Kupp enters Week 9 having totaled at least five receptions, 115 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in each of the past three games. If he accomplishes the feat again on Sunday night, he will become the sixth player ever to record at least five receptions, 115 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in four straight games. The players with at least five receptions, 115 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in the most consecutive games in NFL history: PLAYER TEAM SEASON GAMES Odell Beckham Jr. N.Y. Giants 2014 4 Josh Gordon Cleveland 2013 4 Calvin JohnsonHOF Detroit 2012 4 Patrick Jeffers Carolina 1999 4 Cris CarterHOF Minnesota 1999 4         Cooper Kupp L.A. Rams 2021 3* *Active streak     -- NFL -- STEEL OF THE DRAFT: Pittsburgh running back NAJEE HARRIS ranks second among rookies this season with 752 scrimmage yards (479 rushing, 273 receiving) and five touchdowns (three rushing, two receiving). He has recorded a touchdown in four consecutive games and at least 115 scrimmage yards in each of the past three. With at least 115 scrimmage yards and a touchdown against Chicago on Monday Night Football (8:15 PM ET, ESPN), Harris will become the fifth rookie running back to accomplish the feat in at least four consecutive games in NFL history. Each of the previous four rookie running backs to do so were named Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year. The rookie running backs with at least 115 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in the most consecutive games in NFL history: PLAYER TEAM SEASON GAMES Franco Harris#HOF Pittsburgh 1972 6 Alvin Kamara# New Orleans 2017 5 Eric Dickerson#HOF L.A. Rams 1983 4 Curtis Martin#HOF New England 1995 4         Najee Harris Pittsburgh 2021 3* *Active streak       #Named AP Offensive Rookie of the Year       -- NFL -- For more from NFL Communication​s, visit NFLCommunications.com and follow @NFL345. De interés – Novena semana ​LOS MEJORES POR DONDE LOS MIRES. Los BUFFALO BILLS (5-2) llegan a la novena semana encabezando la liga en puntos anotados (32.7 por partido) y puntos permitidos (15.6 por partido). Han anotado al menos 25 puntos en seis partidos consecutivos y permitieron 20 puntos o menos en cuatro de sus últimos seis partidos, incluyendo dos blanqueadas.  Son el cuarto equipo desde 1970 en encabezar la liga tanto en puntos anotados como puntos recibidos a lo largo de las primeras ocho semanas de una temporada. Dos de los anteriores tres equipos en lograr tal hazaña avanzaron hasta el Super Bowl.  Los equipos que encabezaron la liga en puntos anotados y en puntos permitidos a lo largo de la octava semana: EQUIPO TEMPORADA PUNTOS ANOTADOS POR PARTIDO PUNTOS PEERMITIDOS POR PARTIDO RESULTADO DE LA TEMPORADA Buffalo Bills 2021 32.7 15.6 ??? New England Patriots 2019 31.3 7.6 Avanzaron hasta la vuelta de Comodines Chicago Bears 2006 31.6 9.9 Avanzaron hasta el Super Bowl Chicago Bears 1985 29.9 14.3 Ganó el Super Bowl   Desde 1970, solamente dos equipos terminaron la temporada encabezando la liga en ambas categorías: los Green Bay Packers de 1996 y los Miami Dolphins de 1972. Cada uno de esos equipos avanzaron hasta el Super Bowl. La semana pasada, el mariscal de campo JOSH ALLEN totalizó tres anotaciones (dos pasando, una acarreando), el 19no partido de su carrera, y tercero esta temporada, con tanto alguna una anotación pasando como con algún acarreo anotador.  Teniendo alguna anotación aérea y algún acarreo anotador el domingo en Jacksonville (1:00 PM, hora de New York, CBS), Allen puede sumarse a CAM NEWTON (24 partidos) como los únicos jugadores en la historia con tanto algún pase anotador como algún acarreo anotador en al menos 20 partidos en sus primeras cuatro temporadas.  -- NFL -- LA OFENSIVA ES MÁS GRANDE EN DALLAS. Los DALLAS COWBOYS lideran la liga en ofensiva total a lo largo de ocho semanas, promediando 454.9 yardas por partido. Eso marca la quinta mayor cantidad por un equipo a lo largo de la octava semana desde 1970. Totalizaron al menos 375 yardas totales de ofensiva en cada uno de sus siete partidos esta temporada y alcanzaron 400 yardas totales en seis de siete duelos.  Con al menos 400 yardas de ofensiva el domingo contra Denver (1:00 PM, hora de New York, FOX), se convertirán en el sexto equipo en la historia con al menos 400 yardas en siete de sus primeros ocho partidos de una temporada. Los equipos con las mayores cantidades de partidos con al menos 400 yardas de ofensiva en sus primeros ocho partidos de una temporada en la historia de la NFL: EQUIPO TEMPORADA PARTIDOS   Denver Broncos# 2013 8   New England Patriots# 2007 8   Indianapolis Colts 2014 7   St. Louis Rams 2000 7   San Diego Chargers 1983 7           Dallas Cowboys 2021 6*   *En los primeros siete partidos    #Avanzó hasta el Super Bowl -- NFL -- EL MÁGICO MURRAY. El mariscal de campo de Arizona KYLER MURRAY se ubica cuarto en la liga con 2,276 yardas aéreas y un índice de pasador de 110.4, y está empatado en el quinto puesto con 17 pases anotadores esta temporada. Es también uno de los dos jugadores (MATTHEW STAFFORD) con al menos 225 yardas aéreas en ocho partidos esta temporada.  Primerísima selección global en el Draft 2019, tiene 9,969 yardas aéreas en su carrera. Con 31 yardas aéreas el domingo en San Francisco (4:25 PM, hora de New York, FOX), Murray se convertirá en el cuarto jugador más joven (24 años, 92 días) que alcanza las 10,000 yardas aéreas en la historia de la NFL, superando a CAM NEWTON (24 años, 191 días). Los jugadores más jóvenes en alcanzar las 10,000 yardas aéreas en sus carreras en la historia de la NFL: JUGADOR EQUIPO EDAD Drew Bledsoe New England 23 años, 299 días Jameis Winston Tampa Bay 23 años, 303 días Dan MarinoHOF Miami 24 años, 63 días Cam Newton Carolina 24 años, 191 días       Kyler Murray Arizona 24 años, 92 días* *El domingo -- NFL -- ESTRELLAS DE SEGUNDO AÑO. La temporada pasada, el mariscal de campo de Los Angeles Chargers JUSTIN HERBERT, sexta selección global en el Sorteo Universitario de la NFL 2020, registró la mayor cantidad de pases anotadores (31) y segunda mayor cantidad de yardas aéreas (4,336) por un novato en la historia de la NFL. Esta temporada, Herbert tiene 16 pases anotadores y 1,994 yardas aéreas, mientras que registró al menos tres pases anotadores en tres partidos esta temporada.   Con tres pases anotadores el domingo en Philadelphia (4:05 PM, hora de New York, CBS), Herbert, que estará jugando el 23er partido de su carrera, se convertirá en el cuarto jugador que más rápido alcanza los 50 pases anotadores en su carrera en la historia de la NFL. Solamente PATRICK MAHOMES (17 partidos), y los miembros del Salón de la Fama KURT WARNER (21) y DAN MARINO (22) alcanzaron la marca en menos partidos.   Los jugadores que alcanzaron los 50 pases anotadores en sus carreras en las menores cantidades de partidos en la historia de la NFL: JUGADOR EQUIPO PARTIDOS   Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 17   Kurt WarnerHOF St. Louis Rams 21   Dan MarinoHOF Miami 22           Justin Herbert L.A. Chargers 22*   *Tiene 47 pases anotadores en su carrera en 22 partidos   Herbert puede también unirse a Mahomes, Marino y Warner como los únicos jugadores en la historia con 10 partidos con al menos tres pases anotadores en los primeros 25 partidos en su carrera.  Los jugadores con las mayores cantidades de partidos con al menos tres pases anotadores en los primeros 25 partidos en su carrera en la historia de la NFL: JUGADOR EQUIPO PARTIDOS Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 15 Kurt WarnerHOF St. Louis Rams 13 Dan MarinoHOF Miami 11 Justin Herbert L.A. Chargers 9* *En 22 partidos      El receptor de Minnesota JUSTIN JEFFERSON, selección Nº 22 global en el Sorteo Universitario de la NFL 2020, la temporada pasada estableció la marca de novato histórica con 1,400 yardas recibiendo. En 2021, tiene 563 yardas recibiendo y eclipsó la marca de 100 yardas dos veces.  Con 37 yardas recibiendo el domingo en Baltimore (1:00 PM, hora de New York, FOX), Jefferson, que estará apareciendo en el 24to partido de su carrera, se convertirá en el segundo jugador en la era del Super Bowl que alcanza las 2,000 yardas recibiendo en su carrera, superando a VÍCTOR CRUZ (25 partidos). Solamente ODELL BECKHAM JR. (21) alcanzó la marca en menos partidos.  Los jugadores que alcanzan las 2,000 yardas recibiendo en sus carreras en las menores cantidades de partidos en la era del Super Bowl: JUGADOR EQUIPO PARTIDOS Odell Beckham Jr. N.Y. Giants 21 Víctor Cruz N.Y. Giants 25 Muchos empatados - 26       Justin Jefferson Minnesota 23* *Tiene 1,963 yardas recibiendo en 23 partidos Jefferson también tiene nueve partidos en su carrera con al menos 100 yardas recibiendo y puede sumarse a Beckham (15 partidos) como los únicos jugadores con 10 desempeños de esa clase en los primeros 25 partidos en su carrera en la era del Super Bowl. -- NFL -- HISTORIA EN HOLLYWOOD. El receptor de Los Angeles Rams COOPER KUPP lidera la liga con 924 yardas recibiendo y 10 recepciones anotadoras y se ubica segundo con 63 recepciones. Se convirtió en el primer jugador en la era del Super Bowl con al menos 900 yardas recibiendo y 10 recepciones anotadoras en los primeros ocho partidos de sus equipos en una temporada. Con 76 yardas recibiendo contra Tennessee en el clásico de domingo en la noche Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM, hora de New York, NBC), Kupp se convertirá en el quinto jugador en la historia con al menos 1,000 yardas recibiendo y 10 recepciones anotadoras en los primeros nueve partidos de su equipo en una temporada, uniéndose a los miembros del Salón de la Fama RAYMOND BERRY (1951), ELROY “CRAZY LEGS” HIRSCH (1960), DON HUTSON (1942) y JERRY RICE (1990). Los jugadores con al menos 1,000 yardas recibiendo y 10 recepciones anotadoras en los primeros nueve partidos de sus equipos en una temporada en la historia de la NFL: JUGADOR EQUIPO TEMPORADA YARDAS RECIBIENDO RECEPCIONES ANOTADORAS Jerry RiceHOF San Francisco 1990 1,006 11 Elroy HirschHOF L.A. Rams 1960 1,162 13 Raymond BerryHOF Baltimore Colts 1951 1,147 10 Don HutsonHOF Green Bay 1942 1,166 16           Cooper Kupp L.A. Rams 2021 924* 10* *A lo largo de los primeros ocho partidos  Kupp ingresa a la novena semana habiendo totalizado al menos cinco recepciones, 115 yardas recibiendo y alguna recepción anotadora en cada uno de los últimos tres partidos. Si logra tal hazaña otra vez el domingo noche, se convertirá en el sexto jugador en la historia en registrar al menos cinco recepciones, 115 yardas recibiendo y alguna recepción anotadora en cuatro partidos seguidos.  Los jugadores con al menos cinco recepciones, 115 yardas recibiendo y alguna recepción anotadora en las mayores cantidades de partidos consecutivos en la historia de la NFL: JUGADOR EQUIPO TEMPORADA PARTIDOS Odell Beckham Jr.  N.Y. Giants 2014 4 Josh Gordon Cleveland 2013 4 Calvin JohnsonHOF Detroit 2012 4 Patrick Jeffers Carolina 1999 4 Cris CarterHOF Minnesota 1999 4         Cooper Kupp L.A. Rams 2021 3* *Racha activa     -- NFL -- HECHO DE ACERO. El corredor de Pittsburgh NAJEE HARRIS se ubica segundo entre los novatos esta temporada con 752 yardas desde la línea de golpeo (479 acarreando, 273 recibiendo) y cinco anotaciones (tres acarreando, dos recibiendo). Registró alguna anotación en cuatro partidos consecutivos y al menos 115 yardas desde la línea de golpeo en cada uno de los últimos tres.  Con al menos 115 yardas desde la línea de golpeo y alguna anotación contra Chicago en el clásico de lunes en la noche Monday Night Football (8:15 PM, hora de New York, ESPN), Harris se convertirá en el quinto corredor novato en lograr tal hazaña en al menos cuatro partidos consecutivos en la historia de la NFL. Cada uno de los anteriores cuatro corredores novatos en hacerlo fueron nombrados Novato ofensivo del año por Associated Press.  Los corredores novatos con al menos 115 yardas desde la línea de golpeo y alguna anotación en las mayores cantidades partidos consecutivos en la historia de la NFL: JUGADOR EQUIPO TEMPORADA PARTIDOS Franco Harris#HOF Pittsburgh 1972 6 Alvin Kamara# New Orleans 2017 5 Eric Dickerson#HOF L.A. Rams 1983 4 Curtis Martin#HOF New England 1995 4         Najee Harris Pittsburgh 2021 3* *Racha activa       #Nombrado Novato ofensivo del año por Associated Press  -- NFL -- Nota: HOF es miembro del Salón de la fama. Para más acerca de NFL Communication​s, visite NFLCommunications.com y siga @NFL345. For more from NFL Communication​s, visit NFLCommunications.com and follow @NFLEspanol. NFL Rookies of the Month - October ​STEELERS RB NAJEE HARRIS & CHIEFS LB NICK BOLTON NAMED NFL ROOKIES OF THE MONTH FOR OCTOBER Running back NAJEE HARRIS of the Pittsburgh Steelers and linebacker NICK BOLTON of the Kansas City Chiefs are the NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Month for the month of October. OFFENSE: RB NAJEE HARRIS, PITTSBURGH STEELERS Harris recorded at least 90 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in each of his four games in October and totaled 356 rushing yards on 88 attempts (4.1 average) and had 17 receptions for 124 receiving yards for a total of 480 scrimmage yards (120 per game). He also totaled four touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving). His four touchdowns and 120 scrimmage yards per game are both the most among all rookies since Week 4. Harris joins tight end Heath Miller (October, 2005) and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (October, 2004) as the only Steelers to win Offensive Rookie of the Month. He becomes the third different former Alabama running back to earn the honor, joining Josh Jacobs (October and November, 2019) and Eddie Lacy (October, 2013). DEFENSE: LB NICK BOLTON, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS Bolton totaled 43 tackles (8.6 per game) and seven tackles for loss in five games in October, both the most by any rookie since Week 4.   He joins cornerback Marcus Peters (December, 2015) and safety Eric Berry (December, 2010) as the only Chiefs to win Defensive Rookie of the Month. Bolton becomes the third former Missouri player to earn the honor, joining defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (November, 2013) and linebacker Aldon Smith (October and December, 2011). 2021 NFL ROOKIES OF THE MONTH Offense (College) Defense (College) September WR Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati (LSU) CB Asante Samuel Jr., L.A. Chargers (Florida State) October RB Najee Harris, Pittsburgh (Alabama) LB Nick Bolton, Kansas City (Missouri) For more from NFL Communication​s, visit NFLCommunications.com and follow @NFL345. NFC Players of the Month - October ​RAMS WR COOPER KUPP, PACKERS LB DE’VONDRE CAMPBELL & SAINTS P BLAKE GILLIKIN NAMED NFC PLAYERS OF THE MONTH FOR OCTOBER Wide receiver COOPER KUPP of the Los Angeles Rams, linebacker DE’VONDRE CAMPBELL of the Green Bay Packers and punter BLAKE GILLIKIN of the New Orleans Saints are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Month for the month of October (Weeks 4-8). OFFENSE: WR COOPER KUPP, LOS ANGELES RAMS Since Week 4, Kupp ranks second in the league with 38 receptions and 557 receiving yards (111.4 per game) and tied for third with five receiving touchdowns to help the Rams to a 4-1 record during the month of October.  He is the only player in the league with at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in three games during the month of October. Kupp wins Offensive Player of the Month for the second consecutive month, joining running backs Todd Gurley (2017) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk (2000 and 2001), as the only other Rams to earn multiple Offensive Player of the Month awards in a single season. Kupp becomes the first Rams wide receiver to earn the honor twice. DEFENSE: LB DE’VONDRE CAMPBELL, GREEN BAY PACKERS In five games, Campbell recorded 45 tackles, three tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two passes defensed, one interception and one sack during the month of October.  He is the only player in the league with at least 45 tackles, two forced fumbles and one interception since Week 4. This is the first Defensive Player of the Month award for Campbell and the first for the Packers since linebacker Clay Matthews (September, 2010). Campbell joins linebacker Karl Mecklenburg (November, 1989) as the only former Minnesota players to win Defensive Player of the Month. SPECIAL TEAMS: P BLAKE GILLIKIN, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS Gillikin averaged 49.6 yards on 17 punts (45.5 net), with a league-high five being placed inside the 10-yard line and four being placed inside the 5-yard line. This is the first Special Teams Player of the Month for Gillikin and he becomes the first Saints punter to ever earn the honor. He also becomes the first former Nittany Lion punter to win Special Teams Player of the Month. 2021 NFC PLAYERS OF THE MONTH Offense Defense Special Teams September WR Cooper Kupp, L.A. Rams CB Trevon Diggs, Dallas P Mitch Wishnowsky, San Francisco October WR Cooper Kupp, L.A. Rams LB De’Vondre Campbell, Green Bay P Blake Gillikin, New Orleans For more from NFL Communication​s, visit NFLCommunications.com and follow @NFL345. AFC Players of the Month - October ​COLTS RB JONATHAN TAYLOR, TITANS S KEVIN BYARD & BILLS K TYLER BASS NAMED AFC PLAYERS OF THE MONTH FOR OCTOBER Running back JONATHAN TAYLOR of the Indianapolis Colts, safety KEVIN BYARD of the Tennessee Titans and kicker TYLER BASS of the Buffalo Bills are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Month for the month of October (Weeks 4-8). OFFENSE: RB JONATHAN TAYLOR, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS Taylor rushed for 478 yards on 79 carries (6.1 average) with six touchdowns and added 13 receptions for 195 yards and one receiving touchdown in five games during the month of October. His 673 scrimmage yards are the most in the NFL since Week 4. This is the first Offensive Player of the Month award for Taylor and he joins Pro Football Hall of Famers Edgerrin James (three-time winner) and Eric Dickerson (December, 1988) as the only Colts running backs to earn the honor. Taylor joins quarterback Russell Wilson (September, 2020) as the only former Wisconsin players to win Offensive Player of the Month. DEFENSE: S KEVIN BYARD, TENNESSEE TITANS Byard totaled 27 tackles, seven passes defensed, three interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery touchdown in five games during October. He was the only player to record three interceptions and a defensive touchdown over the last month. This is the first Defensive Player of the Month award for Byard as well as the first for a Middle Tennessee State player. Byard is the fifth player in franchise history to earn the honor and first since Michael Griffin (October, 2010). SPECIAL TEAMS: K TYLER BASS, BUFFALO BILLS Bass connected on all 10 of his field goal attempts and all 13 on his extra point attempts for a total of 43 points in four games during October. This is the first Special Teams Player of the Month award for Bass and he becomes the first Bills player to earn the award since punter Brian Moorman (November, 2006). Bass in the third player to earn the honor from Georgia Southern, joining Rob Bironas (October, 2007) and Younghoe Koo (November, 2020). 2021 AFC PLAYERS OF THE MONTH Offense Defense Special Teams September QB Derek Carr, Las Vegas LB Von Miller, Denver WR Jamal Agnew, Jacksonville October RB Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis S Kevin Byard, Tennessee K Tyler Bass, Buffalo For more from NFL Communication​s, visit NFLCommunications.com and follow @NFL345. NFL TO HONOR, EMPOWER AND CONNECT THE MILITARY AND VETERAN COMMUNITY THROUGH NFL SALUTE TO SERVICE The league has raised more than $50 million to support the military and veteran communities This weekend the National Football League (NFL) will bring to life Salute to Service, the League's year-round effort to Honor, Empower and Connect with our nation's service members, veterans and their families. Salute to Service is highlighted during games in Weeks 9 – 11 and in other special events around the League, as fans and the NFL's 32 clubs demonstrate their gratitude for the sacrifices made by our military community. Since 2011, this effort has raised more than $51 million for military and veteran support organizations - the NFL's Salute to Service Partners – which include the Bob Woodruff Foundation, Pat Tillman Foundation, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), United Service Organizations (USO) and Wounded Warrior Project®. Salute to Service comes to life on-field with field stencils, banners, goal post wraps, game balls, helmet decals, and New Era and Nike gear. In addition, Salute to Service apparel is available for purchase at NFLShop.com and in stadium retail stores. The NFL does not profit from the sale of Salute to Service products. All charitable contributions are donated to the NFL's Salute to Service partners. Fans can bid on game worn jerseys and gear from Salute to Service games along with other memorabilia to raise money for the NFL's Salute to Service partners. For more information, visit NFL.com/Auction. "We are able to play and our fans able to enjoy NFL football – largely due to the selfless service of our military heroes here at home and around the world," said NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL. "Salute to Service aims to shine a spotlight of gratitude on all those in our active-duty military, veterans and their families who sacrifice to keep us all safe.  We are indebted to them all." New Salute to Service Partnership Activations On Nov. 4, the USO opened USO Lakenheath, the first center in the United Kingdom, which will support more than 22,000 military personnel stationed in the area. Funded in part by the NFL, USO Lakenheath will also conduct outreach with the Royal Air Force Station Mildenhall in Suffolk, England, which is home to the U.S. Air Force's 100th Air Refueling Wing. Located two and a half hours northeast of London, Lakenheath is home to the 48th Fighter Wing, with an additional 8,600 active-duty service members currently stationed throughout the United Kingdom. USO Lakenheath will provide a place for service members and military families to enjoy a variety of programs and services that help them relax, recharge and connect with family and friends around the world. The center includes Wi-Fi, TVs for movies, gaming, pool, ping pong tables, musical instruments, a full kitchen and more. The grand opening event included local military command leadership and J.D. Crouch II, USO CEO and President. After remarks and the ribbon cutting, service members and military families enjoyed a tour of the center, lunch and an NFL FLAG experience that included games and an appearance by Christian Scotland-Williamson, English professional rugby union player and former NFL tight end. In 2019, Move United launched the first ever USA Wheelchair Football League for wounded veterans, with support from an NFL and Bob Woodruff Foundation Salute to Service grant. Move United worked with USA Football and experts in adaptive sports to create the rules and structure for the new wheelchair football league. The team designed the Wheelchair Football League to closely resemble NFL play-style with adaptations specifically chosen to keep the game fast paced and highly enjoyable for fans and players alike. In September and October, Move United hosted the first two tournaments for the Wheelchair Football League, with teams competing from Birmingham, Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Phoenix, and Tampa – with the League looking to continue to expand. Each team has also engaged with the local club in their market and also wears their colors as well as helmets with the clubs logo on it. It Takes All of Us MARK ANDREWS (Baltimore Ravens), CALAIS CAMPBELL (Baltimore Ravens), JUSTIN FIELDS (Chicago Bears), BAKER MAYFIELD (Cleveland Browns), and KYLER MURRAY (Arizona Cardinals) will be featured in TV spots honoring veterans and service members who have benefitted from NFL Salute to Service funding of partners –TAPS and the Bob Woodruff Foundation. One spot will feature, Bart Salgado is a veteran who after two tours of duty, returned home and was injured at his civilian job. Now, through the NFL's partnership with the Bob Woodruff Foundation, he plays and coaches other veterans in Move United's Wheelchair Football League. The other spot will highlight the Ojeda family. Lesliee Ojeda is an Army veteran who lost her husband, Army Specialist Ramon Ojeda in Iraq in 2004 and her family has become extremely involved with TAPS since, with Lesliee being a TAPS mentor. The spots will air across network partners throughout Salute to Service. Additionally, features on NFL Network and short-form video vignettes across the NFL's social channels will further honor military and veterans while highlighting the work of the league's military and veteran non-profit partners. Official NFL partners recognize and support our nation's service members and veterans through Salute to Service The NFL and USAA will again honor a deserving member of the NFL community with the annual Salute to Service Award presented by USAA. The award recognizes NFL players, alumni, coaches, owners, and front office staff who demonstrate an exemplary commitment to honoring and supporting the military community. In a program the company is calling "Six for Service," Rocket Mortgage will donate $1,000 toward the fight to end veteran homelessness for every touchdown scored during November Salute to Service games. The company is proud to be a leading supporter of the national movement to end veteran homelessness. During last year's Salute to Service, Rocket Mortgage donated $384,000 for the cause. For more information, visit RocketMortgageSixForService.com. Crown Royal is honored to partner with the NFL around Salute to Service to donate care packages to service members around the world. Efforts are part of Crown Royal's ongoing commitment to their Purple Bag Project - with over 1 million bags packed and counting. Additionally, NBC Sports Next, a division of our broadcast partner NBC, will help generate funds for Salute to Service organizations through its GolfNow round-up campaign throughout November. GolfNow, including its TeeOff brand, operates the largest online tee-time marketplace in golf and is the industry's leading provider of golf course operations software and services to more than 9,000 courses worldwide. Anyone booking tee times on GolfNow or TeeOff in November will be provided the opportunity to round up the total cost of the reservation to an even-dollar figure, with the additional contribution going to Salute to Service. NFL Salute to Service Nonprofit Partners: Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) – The NFL partners with TAPS to fund programs that support the families of fallen military service members. Thousands of survivors can access youth and mentor programs and services to support all those grieving the loss of a military loved one. Through the partnership, more than 5,500 survivors who are part of TAPS have been able to participate in NFL events and honor their fallen loved one(s). The NFL is also working to fund the TAPS Young Adult Program, which is a program is for 18 to 30-year-old military surviving children and siblings. This program focuses on 5 Pillars of growth and healing during your grief journey. The pillars include personal development, career guidance, communications, financial stability, and service to others. The Pat Tillman Foundation – To help honor leaders who exemplify Pat Tillman's enduring legacy of service, the NFL partners with the Pat Tillman Foundation, which provides more than $22 million in academic scholarships and lifelong leadership development for nearly 750 Tillman Scholars. Wounded Warrior Project® – The NFL partners with Wounded Warrior Project® to provide over 200,000 wounded veterans and family support members access to free programs and resources in mental health, career counseling, and long-term rehabilitative care. The NFL has honored countless warriors through connection events at regular season games, the NFL Draft, the Super Bowl, and Pro Bowl and empowered them through impactful Wounded Warrior Project programs like Soldier Ride. Since 2011, the NFL has donated more than $9 million to help injured veterans and their families tackle their next mission in life. Bob Woodruff Foundation– In 2019, the NFL and the Bob Woodruff Foundation established an $8 million, three-year partnership designed to optimize the positive impact that the NFL and its 32 clubs have on the veteran community by leveraging BWF's national network. To date, BWF has invested nearly $7.8 million in 62 best-in-class organizations supporting veterans and their families through NFL-BWF Healthy Lifestyles and Creating Communities grants. The NFL and BWF also invested $250,000 in 4 organizations tackling urgent service coordination early in the COVID-19 pandemic. United Service Organizations (USO) – For more than half a century, the United Service Organizations (USO) and the NFL have partnered to express gratitude to the Armed Forces and to bring communities of fans and supporters together to give more than thanks to the military. Leveraging American football as the cornerstone of the partnership, the USO and NFL honor, empower and connect service members and military families. Through support of USO center expansions, holiday programming and a variety of other events and activations, the NFL helps to deliver sports, entertainment and gaming to troops being called to serve missions around the world. Since 2007, NFL players and coaches have traveled on USO Tours to 26 countries to meet and thank more than 97,000 service members. For more information on Salute to Service, visit NFL.com/Salute. NFL Announces Nominees For Salute to Service Award Presented By USAA The NFL and USAA, an official NFL Salute to Service partner, announced the 2021 nominees for the eleventh annual Salute to Service Award presented by USAA. The Salute to Service Award recognizes NFL players, coaches, staff and alumni with demonstrable commitment to honoring and supporting military and veteran communities, as nominated by NFL clubs. Finalists are scheduled to be announced in January, and the recipient will be recognized at NFL Honors, a primetime awards special to air nationally the week of Super Bowl LVI. "Now more than ever, it's essential that our nation come together to support and show appreciation for those Americans who are serving and have served our country, as well as their families," said Vice Admiral (Ret.) John Bird, USAA Senior Vice President of Military Affairs. "This year's nominees for the Salute to Service Award presented by USAA all deserve special recognition for stepping up to support our military community, and we are encouraged to see this list of diverse nominees coming from all areas of the NFL organization." Last year's recipient was Steve Cannon, CEO of the Atlanta Falcons' parent company AMB Sports and Entertainment. Cannon will serve on the award panel and vote to select the 2021 Salute to Service Award recipient. As the presenting sponsor of the Salute to Service Award, USAA, a leading provider of insurance and other financial services to U.S. military members, veterans and their families, will contribute $25,000 in the recipient's name to official aid societies representing all U.S. military branches. The NFL will match USAA's contribution by donating an additional $25,000 to the awardee's military or veteran charity of choice. The Salute to Service Award is part of the NFL and USAA's year-round commitment to recognize and honor the military and veteran community. Each year, the NFL and its 32 teams come together to honor, empower, and connect with members of the military as part of the NFL's Salute to Service initiative. The league's military appreciation efforts culminate in November with NFL Salute to Service games and other special events honoring and thanking veterans, active-duty service members and their families. Below is a list of the 2021 Salute to Service Award presented by USAA nominees: Team 2021 Salute to Service Award Team Nominees ARIZONA CARDINALS TERESA MILLER (Director, Financial Planning & Analysis – Club Staff) Teresa Miller, director for financial planning and analysis, represents the Cardinals' commitment to the military and veteran communities, in part by being a woman veteran of the U.S. Army who served in a war zone. She spent 10 months in Kuwait and Iraq as a truck driver, where Teresa was exposed to danger every day. She grew accustomed to sleeping on cots in tents with no air conditioning, with 40 other soldiers or sleeping on top of a fuel truck under the stars when out on missions. For most of Teresa's tour, she had to hand wash clothes in buckets and shower in tents using water stored in bags under the hot desert sun all day, and as a restroom she had to either dig holes or sit on modified 5-gallon fuel cans. Below is how she supports the military today ensuring our Nation's heroes know they are loved and respected during their transition into civilian life. She coordinates game day experiences for veterans from MANA House in Phoenix (transitional housing/programs), writes letters, attends events, volunteers at events to raise money in support of veterans and veteran initiatives (specifically with Wounded Warrior Project Softball Team through Veterans Medical Leadership Council; MANA House & Bernie's Place through Catholic Charities). Teresa serves on the board of The Crossroads, Inc. (2018 to present) which serves anyone seeking recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. ATLANTA FALCONS ARTHUR BLANK (Owner) Honor. Empower. Connect – the core values of NFL's Salute to Service initiative also applies to nationally recognized business legend, philanthropist and Atlanta Falcons owner, Arthur M. Blank, who is committed to serving America's heroes. Arthur started his family foundation in 1995. After 25+ years and more than $800 million in giving as of July 2021, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has committed to significantly accelerating the impact of its philanthropy over the next 10+ years. Since 2008, the foundation has committed more than $28 million in grants to nonprofits supporting the military and veterans. The foundation also guides seven associate-led giving committees operating across the Blank Family of Businesses, one of which has a focus on supporting veterans and their families. The Overwatch Fund is a group of associates from across the Blank Family of Businesses who are U.S. military veterans or have strong personal connections to military service including family of service members. To date, the committee has committed more than $2 million in grants. Since purchasing West Creek Ranch in 2017, Arthur has transformed the property in Paradise Valley, Montana, into a no-cost, five-star venue for nonprofit partners, to focus on relationships and pursue innovative solutions. In this 2021 season, nonprofit partners like the Boulder Crest Foundation: Warrior PATHH (Progressive Alternative Training for Healing Heroes), Mission 85 and TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors), have come together at West Creek. Arthur also believes in the power of partnership and connection to grow and scale ideas. In February 2021, Arthur joined his Home Depot co-founder, Bernie Marcus, and actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise to launch the Gary Sinise Foundation Avalon Network. This cognitive health and mental wellness network provides transformative care to veterans and first responders experiencing post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injuries and substance abuse. Between its 20 centers nationwide, The Gary Sinise Foundation Avalon Network will treat nearly 10,000 veterans a year. Perhaps Arthur's most influential and visible businesses – the Atlanta Falcons – brings immeasurable national attention to our military. Since 2012, the Falcons have initiated more than 150 engagements to help our troops, veterans, and their families. In recognition of these types of commitments to military, Arthur was named to a two-year term as Honorary Commander of the Georgia National Guard from 2017-2019. In 2019, Arthur joined Falcons players, coaches, and staff on a two-day trip to the United States Military Academy at West Point where he led engagements on leadership and service with cadets, academy leaders and the Army football team. Veterans serve as key leaders in the Blank Family of Businesses. Arthur believes that hiring veterans not only creates a culture of appreciation, but it also enables action to support military that matters. BALTIMORE RAVENS JARRET JOHNSON (NFL Legend) As an active player, and certainly since his retirement from the NFL in 2015, Ravens Legend, Jarret Johnson has demonstrated a constant commitment to honoring military men, women and their families. With the goal to employ veterans, Johnson recently partnered with a service-disabled Air Force veteran to start a Black Rifle Coffee franchise in Niceville, Florida. The franchise employs over 40 veterans, active-duty servicemen and women, veteran spouses and children of military members from all around the world. Johnson is an annual sponsor of SOF Missions, a 501c(3) non-profit that provides care to veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with the goal of ending veteran suicide. He organized, sponsored and participated in "The Murph Crossfit Exercise" on Memorial Day 2021. The workout consisted of a 1-mile run, 100 pullups, 200 pushups and 300 air squats, followed by another 1-mile run, all while wearing a 25lbs weighted vest. The event had over 300 participants and raised nearly $15,000 for the EOD Warrior Foundation and Pipe Hitter Foundation. This event, originally started in Johnson's backyard, has grown into a large community-wide activation. Recently, he also welcomed other former NFL players including Phillip Rivers, Nick Hardwick, Jeremy Clary, Haloti Ngata, Marshall Yanda and Brian Madison to participate in the event. The players spoke with special operations members about the transition from the service, which poses similar challenges for NFL players as they leave the sport. Johnson regularly provides leadership development and positive motivation to the Army's 7th Special Forces Group (SFG) through various speaking engagements, basic range shooting events, fishing trips, veteran family cookouts and frequent participation in grueling physical workouts with Special Forces A-teams. In May, he completed the 2nd Annual 7th SFG Savage Loop ultramarathon, a 43-mile run around the Bay in the Niceville-Destin-Fort Walton Beach area of Florida. Johnson has also invited several former NFL players to attend and speak to senior Special Forces members at a leadership retreat hosted by the Army's 6th Ranger Training Battalion at Camp Rudder, Florida. BUFFALO BILLS SEAN MCDERMOTT (Head Coach) Throughout Head Coach Sean McDermott's tenure with the Buffalo Bills, he has always valued community engagement while methodically transforming the culture of the franchise. A pillar of his outreach has been to support our military. Often Coach McDermott can be found sporting a Bills camouflage hat to show appreciation for the military, especially the many friends and family who have served, including a close friend from college, Colonel Tim Brady of the United States Marine Corps. As quoted in a recent William & Mary College (their alma mater) magazine, McDermott stated of his former classmate "I'm proud to say he's serving our country. The military doesn't always get the credit it deserves." Coach McDermott has been an avid supporter of the Buffalo Bills Salute to Service outreach by bolstering all team events created to honor active servicemembers, military families, and veterans. In 2019, Coach McDermott welcomed a group of World War II veterans through Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight to a practice and surprised the men with the news that they would be honored during a ceremony at a Bills game the following day. For several years, McDermott would greet military members at the team's annual Military Appreciation Day at Buffalo Bills Training Camp, as well as at the Bills Salute to Service gameday each November. In 2021, McDermott was hands-on in honoring our military by joining a flight with The Blue Angels alongside members of the United States Navy. His flight enriched him with perspective on the many skills and talents military members possess to serve our country. Additionally, two members of Coach McDermott's coaching staff—wide receivers coach, Chad Hall, and special teams assistant, Matt Smiley—are military veterans. CAROLINA PANTHERS CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY (Running Back)   Upon entering the NFL in 2017 following an All-American career at Stanford University, Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey was quick to establish a focal point of his outreach efforts. "I've always had a huge respect for the military," said Christian. "I have a little bit of military background on my dad's side, so growing up it's just some of the values instilled in me at a young age. Without the men and women who defend our country, I wouldn't be able to play the game that I love so much." Through his personal engagement over the past five seasons, Christian has partnered with military service organizations USO of North Carolina and Veterans Bridge Home in a variety of morale-raising and fundraising efforts. He has also joined forces with team and league partners USAA and Lowe's to support their military outreach initiatives. Christian's efforts are grassroots, grounded and personal. His own game day tradition of providing tickets to service members to each Panthers home game has served dozens of active-duty military. In 2021, Christian embarked on a deeply personal effort to support troops and their families dealing with the challenges of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as his foundation established the 22 and Troops initiative in partnership with REBOOT Recovery. 22 and Troops was launched out of a desire by McCaffrey to support those who have made the greatest sacrifices and need help to address what happens when the uniform comes off, and these heroes come home. With more than 22 veterans dying by suicide every day, these families simply cannot wait. "My own football season in 2020 taught me some lessons about resilience, but that hardly compares to what these heroes face and must grapple with when they come home and make their comeback," said McCaffrey. "With 22 and Troops, we can show our service men and women and their families that we are their community, here to support them. And together with REBOOT, we can offer tools and assistance from others who have walked through this trauma themselves." McCaffrey continued, "I have always planned to get involved on the medical side of it for troops who come home and to make sure their healthcare is top of the line. I get treated every day, and our service men and women deserve the same kind of care when they get back. They deserve a good life when they come back. CHICAGO BEARS JIMMY GRAHAM (Tight End) Jimmy Graham continues to focus is giving on support for the men and women who serve and have served in the United States military, as he has done throughout his NFL career. The mission of The Jimmy Graham Foundation is to provide life-changing and impactful experiences through the freedom of flight. To recognize the accomplishments and sacrifices of veterans of all eras and provide flights for unfamiliar and underprivileged youth as an introduction to aviation. Jimmy takes veterans up in his two US Army aircraft restorations - a 1957 de Havilland Beaver and 1967 UH1 Iroquois "Huey" helicopter. The Huey served as a part of the 170th Assault Helicopter Company. Both aircraft fought in the Vietnam War, and they are the cornerstone of his giving back to our country. This past year The Jimmy Graham Foundation provided over 50 rides to veterans in South Florida. A particularly special flight was with Tee Sifford, a pilot and purple heart veteran from the Vietnam war. The Jimmy Graham Foundation has also partnered with Luna Cafe in Wisconsin to sell the "Huey Blend" coffee which supports The Jimmy Graham Foundation - www.lunacafe.com/products/jimmygraham. Additionally, he donates tickets to each 2021 Bears home game for the Bears' Boeing Military Salute honoree. During every game an extraordinary service member is recognized in-game and then enjoys watching the Bears from seats, compliments of Jimmy. It is an honor for the Bears to recognize Jimmy for his continued commitment to the military community and nominate him for the NFL Salute to Service Award. CLEVELAND BROWNS BAKER MAYFIELD (Quarterback) Throughout Baker Mayfield's entire NFL career, he has been actively involved in showing appreciation and honoring our armed forces. In our home opener against the Houston Texans on September 21st, Baker honored fallen Ohio native and U.S. Navy corpsman Maxton Soviak by wearing custom cleats during warmup. Since 2018, Baker has participated in honoring and speaking with military members during our Training Camp Military Appreciation Day. Each year, Baker has stayed after practice to speak with every military member in attendance and thank them for their service. He has also assembled care packages for troops overseas as part of the Browns Salute to Service First and Ten Tuesday visit and recorded a military appreciation message for service members in attendance of our 2020 Salute to Service Game. Baker is very excited to continue working with the USO of Northern Ohio for upcoming Browns Salute to Service efforts. The Browns believe he has made and will continue to make an impact in the military community. DALLAS COWBOYS CHARLOTTE JONES (Executive Vice President & Chief Brand Officer) For the past 32 years, the Jones family has owned and operated the Dallas Cowboys with a management style that places as much emphasis on community leadership as it does on winning championships. Under the guidance of Charlotte Jones, EVP & Chief Brand Officer, the club takes pride in honoring our nation's military and veterans during Salute to Service (STS) campaigns throughout the year. The team annually schedules a week of STS activities leading up to the STS game, coordinates military days at training camp, engages the military community during NFL Draft and works with USO on several tours and events across the year. In 2019, Jones worked with the City of Arlington to bring the National Medal of Honor Museum (MOHM) to Texas with an opening slated for 2024. Jones now serves as Chairman for MOHM and is guiding the museum's installation near AT&T Stadium. The Medal of Honor is the nation's highest and most prestigious military honor and has been awarded to more than 3,500 service members since it was first presented in 1863. The MOHM will illustrate the historical thread of sacrifice, patriotism and courage that runs through all service members, past and present and will include an education center aimed at character and leadership development in youth. Pre-pandemic, Jones was challenged with raising more than $180 million for the construction project. Despite financial hardships experienced by many during lockdown, Jones rallied Texas donors to fund $110 million of the total goal well before the capitol campaign was promoted nationally – starting with the Jones Family's own $20 million pledge towards construction. Jones will use the Cowboys vs. Broncos game on Nov. 7 to launch the national MOHM fundraising effort with help from FOX Sports. As part of the game, Medal of Honor recipients will be present and recognized in-stadium. Using her expertise in branding and marketing as well as tapping into the Cowboys widespread fanbase, Jones is bringing the values of the Medal of Honor to the entire country – courage, sacrifice, commitment, integrity, citizenship, and patriotism and using her leadership role to bring communities together.  In July, the U.S. House unanimously passed the National Medal of Honor Monument Act 416-0 in a rare act of bipartisanship and alongside the 66 living recipients of the Medal of Honor, Jones is bringing heroes' stories to life in a way which compels us all to become better versions of ourselves and lead lives of service.  DENVER BRONCOS ANDREW BECK (Tight End) Denver Broncos tight end Andrew Beck's dedication to serving the military became evident soon after joining the organization during the 2019 season. Over the past three years, he has partnered with America's Gold Star Families, Buckley Air Force Base, Fort Carson Army Base, Freedom Service Dogs, TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors), USO Colorado, VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Volunteers of America: Colorado and Wounded Warrior Project. In total, he's reached more than 400 military families through his strategic outreach. Despite cancellations, protocols and restrictions, Beck refused to let the pandemic impact his commitment to support the military. Last November, he assembled Salute to Service care packages for military bases across Colorado and helped host a virtual visit with Wounded Warrior Project veterans. During the offseason, Beck participated in a virtual visit with Buckley Air Force Base and USO Colorado to celebrate WingMan Week, a program dedicated to strengthening connection, relaxation, and the rejuvenation of the fighting spirit. While volunteering at a Salute to Service PLAY 60 Clinic in 2019, Beck learned that kids drove from Fort Carson Army Base in Colorado Springs. Beck's face immediately lit up, as he had played high school football in the area while his dad, Chris, a colonel in the U.S. Army, was stationed at the same base. This spring, Beck took the initiative to partner with USO Colorado to host a barbeque for Fort Carson families. "These guys have such a hard job that people don't understand… it genuinely means more to me than it does to them — I guarantee it." Beck chose to represent America's Gold Star Families for My Cause My Cleats the past two seasons and even auctioned off his cleats to raise funds to sponsor America's Gold Star Families annual 5K Run/1 Mile Walk for Fallen Heroes. This year for My Cause My Cleats, Beck will support Freedom Service Dogs' Operation Freedom program, which helps veterans and active-duty military find a new level of confidence and independence with the help of specially trained service dogs, and recently hosted a visit with a veteran who was impacted through the program.  DETROIT LIONS MAURICE PEARSON (Manager of Player & Alumni Relations – Club Staff) Maurice Pearson, known affectionately by "Moe" to his colleagues and friends, is a true example of commitment to service, not only to the United States Military, but to all who have the privilege of spending time with him. Moe was a Specialist/E-4, defending the United States against foreign and domestic threats - actively serving overseas from 2000-2003. During his time in the U.S. Army, Moe earned Overseas Medals, an Army Commendation Medal, combat patches for service in hostile combat zones and two Bronze Star Medals. His campaigns of service included Operation Enduring Freedom in Pakistan and Afghanistan & Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. Moe is certified as a combat lifesaver and is trained in defusing hostile situations. During his time in the service, he commanded soldiers in groups of 50-100. Moe was quickly hired to work as a Security Assistant for the Lions, going above and beyond to serve as a bright and positive presence for anyone he met, while taking on all tasks required of his job. Anyone who saw Moe at the Training Facility could truly say he was a joy to be around. He knows everyone by name and never forgot to greet them all with a smile and often a hug. While in his role as Security Assistant, Moe never hesitated to volunteer for community events and volunteer projects, supporting the community relations team and Detroit Lions Foundation. In 2021, in large part due to his strong relationships with the players and football staff along with his commitment to making a difference, Moe was hired as Manager of Player and Alumni Relations, furthering his career in making an impact. So far in his role, he has approached each project, interaction and encounter with positivity, resilience and an attitude of service. He is highly respected in the office, locker room and community. We are so proud to nominate Moe for the 2021 Salute to Service Award and are thankful for his contributions to our country and organization. GREEN BAY PACKERS CHRIS GIZZI (Packers Strength & Conditioning Coach) After taking one visit to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Green Bay Packers strength and conditioning coordinator, Chris Gizzi, knew he had found his calling. "The people…really enticed me. I knew these are the types of people I want to be around…the guys I want to play football with, the men and women I want to go to school with and want to serve with," Chris said. Chris began his Packers career as a player from 2000 until 2001, playing 23 games as linebacker. In the first Monday Night Football game after 9/11, Chris served as special teams captain and led his teammates out of the tunnel with an American flag to provide a display of patriotism and strength for the teams, fans and viewers around the country.  He rejoined the team in 2013 as a strength and conditioning intern, and in 2014, he was hired as a strength and conditioning assistant. Now in his current role, he does everything he can to give back to the U.S. military and honor those who have served. He speaks with young people who are interested in serving and share his own experience. In addition to mentoring students, Chris finds countless ways to give back to veterans. He works with local military nonprofit groups to spend time with other veterans and thank them for their service and speak at their events. In 2019, Chris hosted the Packers Huddle for Heroes in Green Bay, which partnered current Packers players with local veterans groups to show appreciation for the veterans' service, listen to their stories and write letters to active-duty military members. Chris believes it is so important to take the time to listen to those who have served. He knows exactly how a simple gesture saying, "Thank you for your service," can mean the world to those who have made that sacrifice for our country. We believe that Chris' service and commitment to all who are considering serving, currently serving, or have served in the military are what make him a perfect candidate to receive the Salute to Service Award.  HOUSTON TEXANS HOUSTON TEXANS CHEERLEADERS The Houston Texans organization has a proud tradition of honoring those who serve, and one of our greatest ambassadors for the cause is the Houston Texans Cheerleaders. The Texans Cheerleaders have always dedicated their time and talents to honoring service members. Since the beginning, the Cheerleaders have supported causes such as the USO, Wounded Warrior Project, Operation FINALLY HOME, T.A.P.S., Tuesday's Children and many others. In 2019, the Texans Cheerleaders traveled overseas with Armed Forces Entertainment headlining the Salute to Service Super Bowl 10-day Tour that visited the Al Dahfra Air Force Base in United Arab Emirates, bases in Qatar and Camp Lemmonier, Djibouti. The tour featured the Houston Texans Cheerleaders along with four Texans Legends who performed 60-minute shows. The Cheerleaders spent what little free time they had getting to know the service members and their stories, going on base tours, going through simulation exercises, playing flag football and sitting down to listen as they spoke about their friends and families back home. Women veterans is a cause that is of particular importance to the Texans Cheerleaders. Prior to the pandemic, Texans Cheerleaders and alumni of the Texans Cheerleaders program volunteered with The W.A.V.E. Campaign, a women's veterans service organization, to package and distribute much-needed undergarments, pajamas and comfort items to women receiving treatment in the VA Hospital. Each time the military needs support, the Texans Cheerleaders are there. Last year during the pandemic when players were not doing appearances, the Cheerleaders kept playing a critical role in the organization's continued support of the military. Events included visiting the USO Center at Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport to deliver meals to service members and volunteers, stepping up to distribute turkeys and Thanksgiving meals to 150 families at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base, providing lunches for National Guard and Army Reserve troops coming home from the Capitol in January, and welcoming back 120 service members from a nine-month overseas deployment. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS BRIAN DECKER (Director of Player Development) Born into the military in Texas and raised in Kentucky - for Brian Decker, service was in his blood. His grandfather served in the military in the Korean War and his dad served in Vietnam. After attending community college for a year and a half, he joined the military – working his way up to Lieutenant Colonel in The Army's Special Forces, he did two tours of duty in Iraq. After graduating from Eastern Kentucky and getting his master's degree from the Naval Postgraduate School, Decker continued to serve - overseeing the talent acquisition strategy for future Green Berets. During his three years as Commander of Special Forces Assessment and Selection, the program saw success - so much so that other organizations - military, business, and even sports teams wanted to hear about it. What they realized was that by focusing solely on performance, they were missing the person. Decker consulted with professional organizations of every major sport and eventually, the Cleveland Browns brought him in to oversee their player selection process. When the Colts brought Ballard in as general manager, he brought Decker in to help with player selection and development. Decker continues to serve and give back by investing in veterans like himself and shining a spotlight on nontraditional ways to bring people in from the military and have them contribute in a valuable way. After 22 years of service, no matter where he goes - in his heart, he's always a soldier. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS MYLES JACK (Linebacker) In 2019, Myles Jack embarked on a weeklong tour to South Korea with the USO as an extension of the NFL's Salute to Service initiative. A collaborative effort between the USO and NFL, the tour was aimed to salute and honor those who protect and defend our freedoms abroad. While in South Korea, Jack met and visited with several military units, spending time with service members and their families and in turn was given a unique, in-depth perspective of the daily life of the men and women who defend our freedom tirelessly around the clock. Jack has also recognized the USO through the My Cause My Cleats campaign. Jack has also participated in annual Salute to Service events stateside as part of his support for the robust military community in Jacksonville. He has attended Pros vs. GI Joe, an event where the Jaguars invite 25 active-duty military members to interact with players through video game challenges. Jack participated in the Stars and Strikes bowling event to spend time with and support 200 military members and their families for a free night of bowling at Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville. He also helps support the team's annual care package event during which staff, coaches and players put together care packages for deployed soldiers as part of the St. Michael's Soldiers non-profit mission. To further support families who have loved ones on deployment, Jack hosted a free movie night for 150-plus military families and children. This year, in collaboration with the Jaguars Foundation, Jack will host a Halloween "Trunk or Treat" for 50 military families and children to experience the joy of trick-or-treating in a fun and safe environment. Jack takes great pride in honoring the military as his great uncle, John Marshall Valrie, proudly served our country during the Vietnam War while on the USS Seattle, enlisting in the Navy at the age of 18. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS BOBBY BELL (NFL Legend) Bobby Bell is considered by many to be the greatest outside linebacker to ever play the game. However, it is the time Bell has spent off the field with those who have protected our country that has him nominated for the 2021 Salute to Service Award. Bobby Bell initiated his support of the military during his playing days in the 1960s and early 70s. In January of 1968, Bell was part of just the third edition of the NFL's USO tour. Bell and the NFL contingent arrived in Vietnam on the same day the Tet Offensive initiated. It took the United States' General Commander in Vietnam at the time nearly 20 days to safely evacuate Bell and the other USO Tour participants. However, the uncertainty about precisely when he \ might be able to return state side did not temper his desire to visit with and share good will to the troops stationed there. After his visit to Vietnam, Bell continued to spend time with active military personnel including various good will tours to Lebanon, the Panama Canal, and more. Each time, Bell's charisma lifted spirits and created smiles on the faces of those he encountered. Following his playing days, Bell continued to engage with members of the military, including his regular travels to Whiteman Air Force Base in nearby Johnson County, MO.  "One thing that has always been a priority for me is to visit with the brave men and women of the United States military. After all, I just lined up and played football. They put their lives on the line every day for us," Bell said. To the present day, Bell continues to spend his time honoring the men and women who have sacrificed for our country. "Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it," Bell continued… It is that sentiment that will forever leave a lasting impression on Chiefs Kingdom. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS VANCE MUELLER (Offensive Tackle) Vance Mueller was selected by the Raiders in the 4th round of the 1986 NFL Draft. Playing for the Raiders for five seasons, Vance was a strong presence on the team and played in 73 games with five starts. Today, Vance is still a strong presence for the Raiders, especially when it comes to the military community. Most recently, Vance attended the Raiders' 2021 home opener and greeted military families who were attending the game. In 2020, Vance offered support to our military community during the unprecedented times of COVID by hosting multiple virtual engagements. Vance worked with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) and hosted two video calls with a total of three TAPS families. Speaking one on one with TAPS families, Vance offered support and a chance for families to share their favorite Raider memories of their loved ones. Additionally, Vance recorded a personalized welcome video message for the residents of the Southern Nevada Veterans Home who were tuning into the Salute to Service game. In 2018, Vance visited with Veterans at Yountville Veterans Home in Napa, the largest veterans' home in the United States. Over the years, Vance has consistently been a source of support and strength for the military, and the Raiders are proud to have Vance as a member of the Raider family. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS JOE LOMBARDI (Offensive Coordinator) Coach Joe Lombardi exemplifies the true meaning of a Salute to Service nominee. He attended the U.S. Air Force Academy and went on to serve the United States of America for four years upon graduating from the Academy. Although Coach Lombardi has only been with the Chargers for a short amount of time, he has taken the skills he learned from his years in the military and transferred them onto the field. The respect that he has earned is unmatched, not only on the field, but off the field as well. The grit, discipline, encouragement, and true compassion for others does not go unnoticed. Coach Lombardi has received recognition and been honored in the past for his service, and he will participate in several Los Angeles Chargers Salute to Service activities this season. LOS ANGELES RAMS ANDREW WHITWORTH (Offensive Tackle) As soon as Andrew Whitworth joined the Rams organization, he made an immediate impact in the community, including with the military members and veterans living in the Los Angeles region. Through the Rams All-Community Team ticket program, Andrew has purchased and donated 1,000s of tickets to military organizations such as USC Veterans group, Merging Vets and Players (MVP) and a variety of local military bases. Whitworth, who has a strong relationship with Merging Vets & Players' co-founders, Jay Glazer and Nate Boyer, spends much of his offseason training with some of M.V.P vets at Unbreakable performance gym in Hollywood and even represented M.V.P. during the 2017 and 2018 'My Cause My Cleats' campaign. Last year, Andrew joined M.V.P co-founder, Nate Boyer, and two veterans with ties to Hollywood Veteran Center, a homeless shelter strictly for veterans, in a conversation about why he is so strongly connected to helping veterans and in turn, the veterans shared their stories and how much they owe to the Hollywood Veterans Center. The conversation was followed by a tour of the veterans shelter where Andrew was able to interact with residents and finished with a surprise ticket donation for our Salute to Service game. Most recently, Andrew joined Merging Vets and Players (MVP) and others including Jay Glazer, Michael Strahan, Tony Gonzalez, Dean Cain and Chamique Holdsclaw for a virtual fundraiser to raise $100,000 for veterans and athletes impacted by COVID-19. MIAMI DOLPHINS BLAKE FERGUSON (Long Snapper) Long Snapper Blake Ferguson's great grandfather, a WWII Navy veteran, first inspired his deep appreciation for the military. In college at Louisiana State University, Blake became best friends with Kiley Greathouse, an Air Force veteran. Since being drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Blake has expressed enthusiasm for all team military initiatives. Limited primarily to virtual appearances in 2020 due to COVID-19 precautions and protocols, Blake continues to be vocal on social media in his appreciation for our military service members and the sacrifices made by military families. In 2021, Blake looks forward to working closely with the Miami Dolphins the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) families and hosting his first military appreciation BBQ event for active duty and veterans in South Florida through Miami Dolphins Football Unites military partners. Blake has many family members who served in the military including both of his grandfathers (Jim Seale and Robert Ferguson), as well as his great uncle (Jerry Seale), and great grandfather (Howard Seale). MINNESOTA VIKINGS PETE BERCICH (NFL Legend) From Kuwait to Minnesota, Minnesota Vikings Legend, Vikings Radio Network analyst, former linebacker and coach, Pete Bercich, has made numerous, authentic appreciation to service members. Bercich traveled to Kuwait to spend a week with a Minnesota-based nonprofit that provides special meals and encouragement to service members. "I was at Camp Arifjan," Bercich said. "I'm sitting there and so excited to be here and see what we see and talk to you guys and see what you do. It's just a fascination that I've had with the military for my entire life, a love and appreciation for what they do every day, what they're asked to do, what they're willing to do. I look at it this way: I have the greatest job in the world, being able to do what I do with the Vikings, and without them and the sacrifices they've made throughout centuries, I wouldn't be able to do that." Bercich's support is not deterred by blizzards or artic air. He braved the weather in fall 2020 to surprise two military families with an ultimate tailgating pack and free groceries for a year. Bercich delivered the news, spending extended periods of time with the veterans' families. Bercich instantly connected with these families because his appreciation for the service and sacrifices made by military families runs deep. "It's truly been amazing to be able to do things like this for families like theirs and hear their stories," Bercich said. "I've been a Viking for 25 years, and this is probably one of the most amazing things I've been able to do." One month — November — and one game — when the Vikings annually host their Salute to Service — stand above all others for Bercich. The changing of the guard at the seat that is permanently unoccupied to honor POW/MIA is a solemn reminder of why he's been able to live his dream. "We're here because of the sacrifices they've made," Bercich said. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS JOE CARDONA (Long Snapper) Joe Cardona attended the Naval Academy for four years prior to his 2015 rookie season where he was an Ensign in the Navy and worked as a staff officer at the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Rhode Island. That season, he was working his second job four days a week, which included a 24-hour shift during the team's "day off." In 2017, Joe was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade and served as a junior commissioned officer in the United States Navy and in 2019, Joe was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in the Navy. He proudly wears his Naval uniform as the team boards the plane for away games. Joe has facilitated more than a dozen re-enlistment and retirement ceremonies at Gillette Stadium for fellow military members. He also led a handful of free football clinics for military children at military bases across New England and replaced military family toys that were burned in a fire three years ago at Joint Base Cape Cod. In 2017, Joe rallied teammates and coaches to each donate a pair of tickets to their game against Atlanta and over 150 military members, who had recently returned from deployment, were invited to the game and participated in a special pregame ceremony. Each year during Memorial Day weekend, Joe helps plant more than 37,000 American flags in the Boston Common to honor the brave men and women from Massachusetts that have lost their lives defending our country. Joe also offers his support to the Travis Manion Foundation, a nonprofit that empowers veterans and families of fallen heroes to develop character in future generations. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS DEMARIO DAVIS (Linebacker) New Orleans Saints linebacker, Demario Davis, comes from a family with extensive military service and respect for its importance. His father Steven Davis is a veteran of 31 years in the U.S. Army, special forces member and six-time combat veteran. Davis has participated in events during his playing career to provide moral support for military members. Even when he was a member of the New York Jets, he and a teammate served as opposing coaches for an eight-on-eight flag football game. Given Davis' firsthand knowledge of the experience of having a family member who serves in the military, he understands that these individuals are often away from home. As a result, he often works with children of active military through his Devoted Dreamers Foundation, which in addition to a seven-on-seven football team, also specializes in teaching young men and women important life skills. This past spring, Davis, along with four other active NFL stars, participated in an episode of Family Feud against a group of NFL legends that aired in August. As part of defeating the legends, Davis and his teammates' winnings were donated to the Fisher House Foundation, a nonprofit that builds comfort homes located at military and VA medical centers where military and veteran families can stay free of charge, while a loved one is in the hospital. He is a co-founder of the S.H.I.E.L.D I foundation, which he works with to build underserved communities from the ground up, including New Orleans, by focusing on setting them up for long-term sustainability. Davis has a long-term vision to provide US Military veterans with services including long term health and disability insurance, financial assistance, mental health services, professional development, counseling, and financial literacy. "I think Celebrities and athletes get looked up to all the time, but our military are among the real heroes in our nation," said Davis. These are the people who should be celebrated as heroes in our country, who constantly lay their lives on the line for us to enjoy our freedom. We wouldn't be able to live the lives we do if it wasn't for what they do every day." NEW YORK GIANTS EMLEN TUNNELL (NFL Legend) Emlen Tunnell was the first African American inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. What some might not know about Tunnell is that he also served several years in the US Coast Guard. Following his time in the Coast Guard, he joined the Giants in 1948, becoming the first African American player to be signed and play for the Giants. The Hall of Fame defensive back went on to play 11 seasons with the Giants. The Associated Press' Pat Eaton-Robb wrote about Tunnell's time with the Coast Guard: [Not much was known about his Coast Guard service until 2008, when Cmdr. Bill McKinstry recognized Tunnell's name on the back of a photograph showing a Coast Guard basketball team from the late 1940s. His research uncovered a remarkable service career that Tunnell, who had been a steward's mate, had downplayed. In April 1944, Tunnell was unloading fuel and explosives from a cargo ship in Papua New Guinea when it was hit by a Japanese torpedo. Tunnell used his bare hands to beat out flames that had engulfed a shipmate, suffering burns in the process. Two years later, while stationed in Newfoundland, Tunnell jumped into 32-degree Fahrenheit water to save another man who had fallen from the USS Tampa. Given the context of what a Black steward's mate was expected or even allowed to do during that time in American history — largely restricted to duties like keeping the dishes on the ship clean — his accomplishments are all the more remarkable, McKinstry said. "If you look at the pictures of him in uniform, he is the one African American in a sea of other people," McKinstry said. "It is so important that we take a look at these trailblazers, just like Mr. Tunnell and we honor them, because of all things they faced in laying the groundwork for where we are today in making a better future."] In addition to his 14-year playing career, Tunnell also served as an assistant coach and scout with the Giants and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967. NEW YORK JETS HARRISON BERSTEIN (Club Staff Alumni) Harrison Bernstein founded Soldiers To Sidelines and has served as Executive Director since May 2014. Soldiers To Sidelines (STS) began as a project to help Service Members, Veterans, and Military Spouses discover a renewed sense of purpose as character-based sports coaches in their communities. Harrison was able to attract advisors to help steward the mission, and since 2018 the board has grown to over 21 leaders across various industries. Additionally, STS has built a staff of 12 employees and certified over 550 Soldier Coaches nationwide. 88% of STS Coaches are currently coaching, and 91% report having a greater sense of well-being because they coach others. To date, STS Coaches have positively influenced 27,000 athletes. Much of the growth has been attributed to Harrison developing partners and sponsors such as USO, Wounded Warrior Project, the New York Jets, and others. Harrison recently authored a book called The Everyday Coach: Harnessing the Magic of Influence. Harrison also hosts a podcast called Harrison Bernstein's Everyday Coach, which highlights leadership lessons learned from military heroes, business executives, and coaches to steward the craft of coaching. Harrison has held several coaching roles in the NFL in addition to working as a coach and teacher at the collegiate and high school levels. From 2015 to 2019, STS was a functioning Non-Profit organization but operated on a smaller scale while Harrison continued coaching in the NFL. Jets Leadership learned about the STS mission and witnessed the impact it had on Veterans and the football community. The Jets funded the first in-person STS Football Coaching Certification Seminar during the NFL Salute To Service week in 2019. The seminar certified 40 Veterans as football Soldier Coaches and culminated with a Salute To Service gameday experience. In response to Covid-19, the Jets bolstered their commitment to Veterans by sponsoring the first Virtual STS Football Coaching Seminar. From the continued support of the Jets, STS has been able to inspire more Veterans through this new virtual platform and has served as a catalyst to accelerate growth and impact. This partnership between the Jets and STS paved the way in 2021 for an incredible Salute To Service week of football coaching for Service Members, Veterans, and Military Spouses. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES CHRIS SHARKOSKI (Director of Event Operations – Club Staff) As the Director of Event Operations, Chris Sharkoski oversees the logistical, planning and execution aspects of all the events that take place at Lincoln Financial Field and the NovaCare Complex. Chris and the Event Operations team work with a wide array of events that range from small reception style functions and trade shows to football games, concerts, and soccer matches. He has been involved as the primary operational contact with the Army Navy Game since the first time it was played at Lincoln Financial Field back in 2003. He sits on the Army Navy Game Steering Committee and works alongside the City of Philadelphia and the academies to ensure that all the operational details are addressed and that the game is smooth behind the scenes. In 2010 both the Army and Navy Academies thanked Chris by presenting a display of two officer swords (one from each academy) at the game's media luncheon. PITTSBURGH STEELERS JON KOLB (NFL Legend) Jon Kolb founded Adventures in Training with a Purpose (ATP) to confront health and movement related issues in vulnerable populations who no longer have the benefit of paid rehabilitation. Through this non-profit, Jon and his staff work with children and adults, with purposeful physical training to improve their quality of life. ATP focuses on training veterans, active-duty military, and first responders to reach their peak performance through a mind, body, and soul regimen. Jon joined the Army National Guard as a Steelers rookie in 1969 and truly has a heart for veterans. ATP is dedicated to improving the lives of these men and women through purposeful physical training, to empower veterans with the freedom to move and perform tasks of daily living without the need of assistance. Active-duty military and veterans make up 53 percent of ATP's clients and are served free of charge at one of three locations – Pittsburgh, Hermitage, Pennsylvania and Youngstown, Ohio. At the Youngstown location, 95 percent of those they serve are veterans. The ATP staff custom tailors a plan for each person. ATP combines physical wellness with adventure and functional training takes place three days a week with an "adventure" day on the fourth. Many active-duty military and veterans impacted by trauma and the compounding stress of service may experience anxiety, depression, and even thoughts of suicide. To address the mental health aspect, ATP partners with an organization that is a community-based comprehensive restorative health program specializing in the treatment of veterans, military service members, and first responders dealing with traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, traumatic brain injury and pain. Jon speaks with pride and admiration for the clients with whom he works. Some of the clients Jon has impacted is a female combat vet who served as an IT specialist has enjoyed her experience at ATP and it led her to start learning physiology with a possibility of going back to school. Another client of Jon's is an 86-year-old veteran who didn't walk regularly for more than 50 years is now able to walk with assistance. Another veteran who was wheelchair-bound for 13 years as the result of a service injury can now walk with parallel bars. One of Jon's goals through his organization is to give people independence and confidence in their abilities. Jon Kolb has cultivated changing lives for the better through his organization, ATP. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS NINO GRAY (Community Engagement Manager – Club Staff) Nino Gray is in his third season managing Seattle Seahawks military engagement programs. He served in the U.S. Army Infantry for 7 years before receiving an honorable discharge after suffering an injury. Following his military service, Nino worked for the Wounded Warrior Project and TriWest Healthcare Alliance. In both organizations he served veterans facing PTSD issues, bringing hope to hundreds. He has carried that same dedication into his role with the Seahawks. Nino represents the best in terms of the NFL's commitment to "Honor, Empower and Connect" service members, veterans, and their families. He has built & maintained relationships with local military bases, creating opportunities for military personnel to engage with the team through various unique experiences. His research into veteran service organizations led to him founding a partnership named "Task Force 12." Those 12 organizations assist veterans with finding employment, food, homes, service dogs, and counseling. By connecting these organizations, they realized they share the goal of reestablishing the sense of a shared mission that many military personnel have been missing. Together, the Seahawks and Task Force 12 have worked on supply drops, playground builds, job fairs and mental health summits. Nino worked to facilitate over $500,000 in grants for these nonprofits. He has arranged for our 2021 Salute to Service game to feature 100+ women service members and veterans. He is an active member of the local chapter of "Merging Veterans & Players" (MVP) which unites NFL alumni and veteran service members. By introducing MVP to the community, their vital dialogue is empowering the lives of military service personnel and athletes. Nino is a soldier who nearly lost his life when his Stryker was destroyed by a 400 lb. IED. He suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury, and severe leg injuries. That experience along with his resilience and imagination have made Nino the perfect individual to lead our military programs. We are proud to nominate Nino Gray for this award as the Seahawks and the NFL show gratitude for the service of our military personnel. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS GEORGE KITTLE (Tight End) Aside from breaking franchise records, Kittle has proven to be an exceptional leader as demonstrated by his recognition as the 49ers 2019 Len Eshmont Award recipient, voted on by his teammates and given to the player who exemplifies the inspirational play of 49ers alum Len Eshmont. Along with his dedication to professional football, Kittle has been a long standing supporter of the United States military. As someone who has loved ones in the Armed Forces, including his Uncle Pat and Grandfather Carl, Kittle has been passionate about supporting our country's military by dedicating his time and resources to hundreds of active duty members, veterans, and their families since he entered the league in 2017. "I love the United States of America, and I know that we wouldn't be able to do all the things that we do as just everyday American citizens without our military, and all the things they've done past and present," Kittle said. While the team has a strong relationship with the military community and has coordinated countless military appreciation events, Kittle has gone out of his way to surprise and delight service members and their families on his own time. Kittle has built a strong relationship with the Tragedy Assistance Program For Survivors (TAPS) after first being introduced to them after the 2018 Pro Bowl. With the TAPS families, Kittle participated in a woodworking project, making American flags as a memento of the experience. In episode nine of "Hidden Pearls Podcast'', an audio series by his family, the Kittles reunited with the TAPS family from that woodworking project to amplify the organization's work. Since then, he's connected with many other TAPS families - such as the LaMar family who he highlighted during My Cause My Cleats by having them painted on his cleats in 2020, and most recently in August 2021 when Kittle hosted a group of 20 young adult survivors to watch training camp practice for one of their first social experiences since the start of the pandemic. Whether he is shaking every single service member's hand as they stand to order on the goal line at the Salute to Service game or helping make everlasting memories for military families through special surprises and visits, Kittle demonstrates his unwavering devotion for the U.S. Armed Forces during any opportunity possible. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS RYAN JENSEN (Center) Tampa Bay Buccaneers center Ryan Jensen has established himself as a leader on the Buccaneers offensive line. Off the field, Jensen has made Salute to Service efforts a priority through everyday relationships, outreach programs and gameday initiatives. Jensen's grandfather served in Vietnam and Korea as a member of the Army's 101st Airborne Division. Jensen's uncle followed his footsteps into the Army, and Jensen's adopted brother, has served in the Marine Corps – having completed tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Given these ties, it's no surprise that in 2014, Jensen made a special bond with a five-year-old boy named Cooper who took a liking to Jensen for their shared bushy red hair. When Jensen learned that Cooper was also the product of a military family, and that his father was tragically killed in action before Cooper was born, it sparked a deeper connection. Through the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), Jensen has stayed in contact with the family. For the past several years, Jensen has honored Cooper and TAPS through the NFL's annual My Cause, My Cleats initiative, and as the young boy provides added perspective to Jensen as he raises a family of his own, he plans to continue to bring greater awareness and support to Gold Star Families who are grieving the loss of a member of the armed forces. Annually, Jensen has supported the Buccaneers' Schwarzkopf Military Family of the Year Awards, which honors military families from each branch of the armed forces. He has also visited MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa through the USO Central Florida, has helped promote fundraising efforts for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, and helps lead the team's support for Military Day at Training Camp. For all Buccaneers home games, Jensen ensures that local military families enjoy a special gameday experience. He has donated nearly $30,000 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation for his community ticket program "Jensen's G.I. Joes" where a variety of military organizations receive this memorable opportunity. Benefitting organizations have included the USF Veteran Success Center, Wounded Warrior Project, Special Operations Warrior Foundation, Liberty Manor for Veterans and the Jackson in Action 83 Foundation, among others. As the NFL center gains new perspective with each act of service, he hopes to inspire his son, Wyatt, to follow the same path of serving others as he grows up. "As leaders not just on a football team, but as men trying to raise other men, I hope to raise him in a way that he wants to serve other people and provide some hope to men and women who are needing it," Jensen said. "I hope it sparks a passion for him to find something that he wants to make better." TENNESSEE TITANS JOHN WILLIAMS (Stadium Operations Manager – Club Staff) John L. Williams Jr. is currently the Stadium Operations Manager for the Tennessee Titans. John honorably served in the U.S. Army for 21 years (1997-2018) and retired at the rank of Master Sergeant. While transitioning out of the Military, he was selected to participate in the first ever FedEx, Tennessee Titans and USO Pathfinder program fellowship. The fellowship lasted 12 weeks and after completion, John was hired as a full-time employee with the Tennessee Titans as a Stadium Events Operations Assistant. Six months later he was promoted to Stadium Operations Manager. He has been with the Club for 4 seasons. John's list of deployments includes Bosnia, Iraq (3 tours) and Afghanistan (2 tours). His last duty station was in the 101st Airborne Division Air Assault Unit at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He has been stationed for duty at six different U.S. Military installations throughout the world during his distinguished career of service to his country (Korea, Germany, Washington, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey) John is a decorated military veteran whose badges, decorations and medals include: Bronze Star; Army Commendation Medal (6 awards); Army Achievement Medal (6 awards); Presidential Unit Citation; Army Good Conduct Medal (7 awards); National Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Iraqi Campaign Medal (3 Stars); Afghanistan Campaign Medal (2 Stars); Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; NATO Medal; Combat Action Badge; Aircraft Crewman Senior Badge; Drivers and Mechanic Badge; Professional Development Ribbon (3 awards); Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon. He has served as an Armor Crewman (19K) and a Flight Operations Specialist (15P) throughout his career and holds a bachelor's degree in Sports Management from American Military University. WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM RON RIVERA (Head Coach) Since his arrival in our Nation's Capital in January 2020, Head Coach Ron Rivera has led the Washington Football Team through unimaginable adversity on-and-off the field. From a complete organizational rebuild in the face of a national pandemic to his personal battle with cancer last season, Coach Rivera persevered and overcame every obstacle in front of him to capture Washington's first NFC East Conference Championship since 2015. Through every hardship, Coach Rivera accredited his success in the face of adversity to his military upbringing and the values instilled in him growing up the son of a 32-year-career Commissioned Officer of the United States Army, Eugenio Rivera. Rivera has spent the entirety of his 10-year career as a Head Coach giving back to a military community that has defined his success as a leader in the league. This year, however, was especially important to him in being advocate and supporting local families, as many of his new team captains were also children of Commissioned Officers including the likes of Chase Young and Jonathan Allen. In light of COVID-19, Rivera spent his first season with the team designating a few hours each month participating in virtual events empowering local military organizations and connecting with local service members including Q&A's with Blue Star Families, Virtual Visits with Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Patients, and Surprising Local ROTC Students with Full Ride Scholarships. In pursuit of further support and alignment with local military charities, his contributions have grown substantially from helping raise $2.5K for USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore in team's military club My Cause My Cleats initiative to joining Pepsi in surprising the Children of Fallen Patriots Scholarship Foundation with a $10K contribution. Rivera has vowed more support, engagement, and connection with local installations (hints of engagement in store have been shown at Washington's Military Appreciation Day at Training Camp, Preseason Practice on Joint Base Andrews, and recent visits to the 9/11 Memorial at the Pentagon).   Since 2011, USAA has used its sponsorship to honor and appreciate active-duty military, veterans and their families by creating exclusive opportunities that bring the military community and the NFL closer together. Among numerous events this season, USAA hosted "NFL Boot Camps" during training camp with multiple teams, where military members competed in drills similar to those used at the NFL Combine. For more information on how USAA honors and appreciates our military, please visit SaluteToService.com. Fans can join the NFL and USAA in honoring the military community all year long by visiting NFL.com/Salute. #          #          #  USAA  Founded in 1922 by a group of military officers, USAA is among the leading providers of insurance, banking and investment and retirement solutions to 13 million members of the U.S. military, veterans who have honorably served and their families. Headquartered in San Antonio, USAA has offices in seven U.S. cities and three overseas locations and employs more than 36,000 people worldwide. Each year, the company contributes to national and local nonprofits in support of military families and communities where employees live and work. For more information about USAA, follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@USAA), or visit usaa.com.   Media Contact: Matthew Ercolani, NFL matthew.ercolani@nfl.com Michael Pernal, 160over90 (for USAA) mpernal@160over90.com For more from NFL Communication​s, visit NFLCommunications.com and follow @NFL345.