I'm sorry.
This isn't the usual NFL Roundup. If you are a regular reader and opening this on Tuesday, you already know that. More importantly, thank you! I appreciate you all more than you will ever know.
Language is a current topic at Footballguys. Utilizing positive language is scientifically proven to rewire your brain. It's called neuroplasticity. Pretty neat.
Our Sigmund Bloom talks about avoiding calling the football season a grind. Every week is a gift. We learn new things weekly. Teams add layers. Players develop. Injuries and poor play create opportunities.
Weekly, we get to experience the game we love.
We get to make waiver claims that improve our teams. Not "we have to put in waivers."
This week, I get to write about a game I love while spending some long-overdue time with my family.
Long ago, Joe Bryant instilled in me the idea of life as a tent. Your tent poles are where you put your focus: Work. Family. Religion. Service. Hobbies. Passions. We all have poles.
The more you have, the larger your tent. The larger your tent, the more focus your poles demand.
Meeting subscribers and readers has become one of my favorite activities. I'm floored whenever I do meet people who've read. That whole positive self-talk is a work in progress. Often, people ask how I've made it as a full-time content creator. The honest answer is I haven't. I have a separate career. Sometimes it is more demanding than others.
I always feel I'm letting one of the poles down.
Thank you for being one of my poles.
Here are some things I think about football.
Blind Resume
| Player | Rushing Yards | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 147 | 5 | 44 | 2 |
| B | 153 | 2 | 15 | 1 |
| C | 147 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| D | 143 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| E | 170 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| F | 140 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Last week I highlighted the parade of running backs hitting 100 rushing yards. This week, running backs said, "You haven't seen anything yet." In both 2025 and 2024, 26 running backs hit 140 yards in a single game. The league peaked in 2003 and 2004, with 51 total in both years. 2021 is the only other season with 40 or more, hitting exactly 40. The league has seen two years with 30 since 2009; 2022 and 2014 hit 30 exactly.
So far, 2026 has 17, with 6 on Sunday alone. The big week put the league on pace for 38.
Can you place this production?
Stats Of The Week
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati - 462 Passing Yards, 5 Passing Touchdowns, 1 Rushing Touchdown
The complete list of NFL players with 450+ passing yards, 5+ passing touchdowns, and 1 rushing touchdown: Burrow & Norm Van Brocklin. Burrow has 9 passing touchdowns in his last 6 quarters. There have been 55 instances of 9 passing touchdowns in a 2-game span. Burrow is the 11th player in NFL history to throw for 13 touchdowns over 3 games. He's topped 4 passing touchdowns in 3 straight games. Peyton Manning holds the longest streak, doing it in 5 games. Tom Brady and Dan Marino are the only other players to do it in 4 straight.
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay - 0 Passes Completed
The Buccaneers became the third team to win without completing a pass, per ESPN's stats and research. Last week, I said Mayfield would improve on his 64 passing yards on 7 completion performance. I was wrong. Without a completion, he still managed to be the best quarterback on the field, as Michael Penix Jr. threw 4 interceptions. The NFC South is the "Race to 7-10".
Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas - 19 Passing Touchdowns
While everyone wondered when Fernando Mendoza would take over, Cousins decided to revive his career. His 19 touchdowns trail only Joe Burrow's 20 for the NFL lead. Cousins is currently on pace to throw 40. His career high is 35. Daryle Lamonica holds the Raiders' single-season record with 34. Mendoza should absolutely be the quarterback when he is ready. Cousins still looks like one of the 32 best in the NFL.
Tony Pollard, Tennessee - 117 Rushing Yards, 2 Rushing Touchdowns
Two running backs have topped 1,000 rushing yards each of the last four seasons. Derrick Henry is one. Considering this is a Pollard blurb, you may have guessed he is the other. Through the first six games of 2026, Pollard was on pace for 988. He has kicked it up over the last two, with 246 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns. He needs 405 over the last 10 weeks to keep his streak alive.