32, 226, 1 - Touches, total yards, and touchdowns for New Orleans running back Pierre Thomas. With both Reggie Bush and Aaron Stecker out the final week of the season, Thomas got his chance and cashed in big time for any keen waiver-wire watchers in need of a big game the final week of the season. Thomas ran the ball 20 times for 105 yards and caught 12 passes for 121 yards and a score. The youngster had a big day against the Bears making him a player to keep your eye on this off-season.
11, 160 - Not including his field goal return for a touchdown, the number of kickoffs and punts taken back for a score and the number of returns in the short two-year career for the thrilling Chicago playmaker, Devin Hester. The guy is just electric and is averaging a kick return for a touchdown less than every 15 tries. He added another punt return for a touchdown on Sunday giving him six total on the year, and he also scored on a 55-yard pass for his second receiving touchdown of the year. You can guarantee the Bears will continue developing plays for Hester in their offense next season.
1,474 - Rushing yards this season for the 2007 NFL rushing champ, LaDainian Tomlinson. It wasn't quite the magical season LT had in 2006, but he emerged as the top dog once again. After a dismal start to the campaign, he finished his year strong leading the Chargers to another playoff berth behind six consecutive wins.
50 - A new NFL record for touchdown passes in a single season set by Tom Brady. The perfect Patriots season was sealed when Brady hooked up with Randy Moss on a deep bomb the very next play after Moss dropped an open pass downfield. Brady finished the season with just 8 interceptions and a passer rating of 117.2. He was your top fantasy performer all year round, and if you cashed in on him in your draft, you likely laughed your way to the championship this year.
23 - Touchdown receptions for Randy Moss this season - another new NFL record. This humble writer is eating crow and isn't afraid to admit it. Moss had a phenomenal season. No one was really surprised by it. I know I wasn't. But I was banking on the Patriots struggling far more than they did this season, and an unhappy Randy Moss not getting the ball enough. Boy, was I wrong!
6- The number of wide receivers that hit the century mark in receptions. Larry Fitzgerald (100), Reggie Wayne (104), and TJ Houshmandzadeh (112) weren't really surprises in 2006. But one can argue the remaining three were. Derrick Mason brought in 103 catches for 1,087 yards. Brandon Marshall emerged in Denver with 102 grabs for an impressive 1,325 yards. And then we have Wes Welker, who tied Houshmandzadeh with 112 receptions.
118.6, 4 - Passer rating and touchdown passes for Eli Manning on Saturday night against the Patriots. Tom Coughlin and the Giants went for blood as they attempted to play spoilers and ruin New England's perfect season. Despite fading in the fourth quarter, the game was a great sign of the intensity and capabilities the Giants have for a run in the NFC playoffs.
4 - The number of wins the Washington Redskins streaked to finished the season with and earn a playoff berth. That was the strongest finish in a beleaguered NFC. An emotional Redskins team with a veteran, proven running back in Clinton Portis could prove tough to knock off in the postseason. Interestingly enough, all four wild card teams came from just two divisions, the NFC East and the AFC South. For the rest of the NFL, if you didn't win your division, you're now watching at home.
5-3 - Road record this season for the Philadelphia Eagles and Carolina Panthers. They're the only teams in the NFL with a winning road record that didn't make the playoffs. Too bad they couldn't put together winning records at home. And when you do look at the twelve playoff teams, only the New York Giants had a losing record at home this season. Going 3-5 in the Meadowlands isn't anything to be proud of, but a proven 7-1 road record might raise some eyebrows should the Giants advance to the Divisional round.
174, 135 - Total tackles and total solo tackles for rookie linebacker Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers. That was tops in the NFL. The 49ers 2007 first round draft pick (11th overall) paid early dividends. He also had four sacks and two forced fumbles during is freshman campaign. He definitely spent a lot of time on the field thanks to a struggling, injury-plagued 49ers offense, but he delivered big time.
Got questions or comments? Email them to pete@petekhazen.com.