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500 touchdown passes

No one is more prolific at touchdowns than Manning

No one is more prolific at touchdowns than Manning.

Yesterday, Peyton Manning threw four touchdown passes against Arizona. In the process, he joined Brett Favre as the only players in NFL history to throw 500 career touchdown passes. In previewing that game, Mike Tanier noted that it would require us to travel back to 1987 to collect 500 Cardinals touchdown throws.

Naturally, that made me wonder how far back we would have to go to calculate the last 500 touchdown passes for each franchise. The four most recent expansion franchises — Houston, Jacksonville, Carolina, and Baltimore — have yet to throw even 400 touchdown passes. For Manning, of course, he’s thrown 500 passes beginning in the 1998 season. That’s better than any franchise in the NFL; the closest team would be the Packers. To count 500 Green Bay touchdown throws, you would need to start on November 23, 1997. Beginning on that date, Favre would throw another 269 touchdowns for the Packers, Aaron Rodgers would chip in with 200, and a handful of other Green Bay players would combine for 31 scoring throws.

For the Colts and the Patriots, you need to go back to 1996, to capture the careers of Manning, Andrew Luck, Tom Brady, Drew Bledsoe, and a host of players with fewer than 25 touchdown passes. The table below shows how far back you need to go to get to 500 touchdown throws for each franchise in the NFL. [1]For purposes of this post, all numbers are from prior to Sunday’s game in week 5 of the 2014 season. In other words, treat this post as if you are reading it Sunday morning, and not Monday … Continue reading For each team, I’ve listed the first date in the run to 500, along with every player who threw a touchdown pass for each franchise during the course of that streak. The players are listed in roughly reverse chronological order, and I’ve included each passer’s total number of touchdowns for the franchise during the streak in parentheses.

TeamDateQuarterback
GNB11/23/1997Aaron Rodgers (200); Matt Flynn (16); Scott Tolzien (1); Tim Masthay (1); Brett Favre (269); Craig Nall (5); Tony Fisher (1); Ahman Green (1); Doug Pederson (3); Bubba Franks (1); Matt Hasselbeck (2)
IND12/15/1996Andrew Luck (59); Dan Orlovsky (6); Curtis Painter (6); Kerry Collins (2); Peyton Manning (399); Joseph Addai (1); Jim Sorgi (6); Ken Dilger (1); Jim Harbaugh (14); Paul Justin (5); Kelly Holcomb (1)
NWE10/27/1996Tom Brady (363); Jimmy Garoppolo (1); Brian Hoyer (1); Matt Cassel (23); Vinny Testaverde (1); Adam Vinatieri (1); David Patten (1); Drew Bledsoe (102); Michael Bishop (1); Scott Zolak (5); Dave Meggett (1)
NOR11/19/1995Drew Brees (290); Jamie Martin (1); Todd Bouman (3); Aaron Brooks (120); Deuce McAllister (1); Jeff Blake (13); Jake Delhomme (3); Billy Joe Tolliver (15); Billy Joe Hobert (13); Kerry Collins (4); Danny Wuerffel (9); Lamar Smith (1); Heath Shuler (2); Mario Bates (1); Doug Nussmeier (1); Jim Everett (23)
DEN12/24/1994Peyton Manning (100); Tim Tebow (17); Kyle Orton (49); Jay Cutler (54); Patrick Ramsey (1); Jake Plummer (71); Danny Kanell (2); Steve Beuerlein (8); Brian Griese (71); Gus Frerotte (12); Chris Miller (2); John Elway (101); Bubby Brister (10); Hugh Millen (2)
MIN11/28/1993Matt Cassel (14); Christian Ponder (38); Joe Webb (3); Donovan McNabb (4); Brett Favre (44); Tarvaris Jackson (24); Gus Frerotte (19); Chester Taylor (1); Brooks Bollinger (1); Kelly Holcomb (2); Brad Johnson (65); Mewelde Moore (1); Ryan Longwell (1); Daunte Culpepper (135); Randy Moss (2); Spergon Wynn (1); Todd Bouman (8); Jeff George (23); Randall Cunningham (48); Warren Moon (58); Jim McMahon (6); Sean Salisbury (2)
SFO12/6/1992Colin Kaepernick (37); Alex Smith (81); David Akers (1); Troy Smith (5); Shaun Hill (23); J.T. O'Sullivan (8); Chris Weinke (1); Trent Dilfer (7); Ken Dorsey (8); Tim Rattay (24); Jeff Garcia (113); Rick Mirer (1); Steve Young (162); Ty Detmer (4); Terry Kirby (2); Jim Druckenmiller (1); Elvis Grbac (18); Jeff Brohm (1); Jerry Rice (1); Joe Montana (2)
ATL11/22/1992Matt Ryan (163); Chris Redman (14); Joey Harrington (7); Byron Leftwich (1); Michael Vick (71); Matt Schaub (6); Doug Johnson (13); Kurt Kittner (2); Chris Chandler (87); Danny Kanell (6); Tony Graziani (2); Steve DeBerg (3); Billy Joe Tolliver (10); Jamal Anderson (1); Bobby Hebert (50); Browning Nagle (1); Jeff George (50); Chris Miller (1); Wade Wilson (12)
DAL11/24/1991Tony Romo (215); Kyle Orton (3); Stephen McGee (3); Jon Kitna (17); Brooks Bollinger (1); Brad Johnson (2); Drew Bledsoe (30); Vinny Testaverde (17); Drew Henson (1); Richie Anderson (1); Quincy Carter (29); Chad Hutchinson (7); Ryan Leaf (1); Clint Stoerner (4); Anthony Wright (5); Troy Aikman (135); Randall Cunningham (6); Jason Garrett (11); Wade Wilson (1); Rodney Peete (4); Bernie Kosar (3); Steve Beuerlein (4)
PHI11/24/1991Nick Foles (39); Michael Vick (57); Vince Young (4); Kevin Kolb (11); Donovan McNabb (216); A.J. Feeley (16); Jeff Garcia (10); Mike McMahon (5); Jeff Blake (1); Freddie Mitchell (1); Koy Detmer (10); Brian Mitchell (1); Brian Westbrook (1); Doug Pederson (7); Rodney Peete (17); Bobby Hoying (11); Ty Detmer (22); Mark Rypien (1); Randall Cunningham (43); Bubby Brister (16); Ken O'Brien (4); Jim McMahon (2); Jeff Kemp (5)
SDG9/15/1991Philip Rivers (230); Billy Volek (1); LaDainian Tomlinson (7); Drew Brees (80); Doug Flutie (25); Ryan Leaf (13); Jim Harbaugh (18); Erik Kramer (2); Craig Whelihan (14); Terrell Fletcher (1); Stan Humphries (85); Jim Everett (1); Sean Salisbury (5); Gale Gilbert (3); John Friesz (15)
STL12/2/1990Austin Davis (3); Kellen Clemens (10); Sam Bradford (59); Johnny Hekker (1); A.J. Feeley (1); Keith Null (3); Kyle Boller (3); Marc Bulger (122); Josh Brown (1); Gus Frerotte (7); Steven Jackson (1); Jamie Martin (15); Ryan Fitzpatrick (4); Chris Chandler (9); Kurt Warner (102); Az-Zahir Hakim (1); Trent Green (16); Joe Germaine (1); Steve Bono (5); Tony Banks (36); Mark Rypien (9); Chris Miller (34); T.J. Rubley (8); Jim Everett (46); Mike Pagel (3)
CIN10/22/1990Andy Dalton (82); Mohamed Sanu (2); Bruce Gradkowski (1); Carson Palmer (154); Ryan Fitzpatrick (8); Jon Kitna (59); Gus Frerotte (1); Scott Mitchell (3); Akili Smith (5); Jeff Blake (93); Eric Kresser (1); Neil O'Donnell (15); Paul Justin (1); Boomer Esiason (49); Erik Wilhelm (1); David Klingler (16); Lee Johnson (1); Jay Schroeder (5); Donald Hollas (3)
BUF10/7/1990EJ Manuel (16); Thaddeus Lewis (4); Jeff Tuel (1); Ryan Fitzpatrick (80); Trent Edwards (25); Fred Jackson (1); Brian Moorman (2); J.P. Losman (33); Marshawn Lynch (1); Kelly Holcomb (10); Drew Bledsoe (55); Shane Matthews (1); Travis Brown (1); Alex Van Pelt (16); Rob Johnson (27); Doug Flutie (47); Todd Collins (16); Jim Kelly (151); Frank Reich (11); Gale Gilbert (2)
DET9/30/1990Matthew Stafford (114); Shaun Hill (18); Drew Stanton (5); Daunte Culpepper (7); Dan Orlovsky (8); Jon Kitna (44); J.T. O'Sullivan (1); Joey Harrington (60); Jeff Garcia (3); Mike McMahon (10); Ty Detmer (3); Charlie Batch (49); Stoney Case (1); Gus Frerotte (9); Frank Reich (5); Scott Mitchell (79); Don Majkowski (4); Dave Krieg (14); Erik Kramer (23); Rodney Peete (29); Andre Ware (5); Bob Gagliano (9)
TEN9/9/1990Jake Locker (25); Charlie Whitehurst (1); Ryan Fitzpatrick (14); Matt Hasselbeck (25); Kerry Collins (33); Vince Young (42); Billy Volek (26); Steve McNair (156); Drew Bennett (1); Neil O'Donnell (16); Frank Wycheck (2); Mike Archie (1); Willie Davis (1); Chris Chandler (33); Will Furrer (2); Billy Joe Tolliver (6); Bucky Richardson (6); Cody Carlson (17); Warren Moon (93)
PIT12/24/1989Ben Roethlisberger (223); Charlie Batch (12); Antwaan Randle El (4); Dennis Dixon (1); Mewelde Moore (1); Byron Leftwich (2); Tommy Maddox (42); Jerome Bettis (3); Josh Miller (1); Kordell Stewart (70); Kent Graham (1); Mike Tomczak (37); Neil O'Donnell (68); Jim Miller (2); Bubby Brister (33)
MIA11/19/1989Ryan Tannehill (42); Matt Moore (17); Chad Henne (31); Tyler Thigpen (3); Ronnie Brown (2); Chad Pennington (20); Cleo Lemon (8); John Beck (1); Trent Green (5); Joey Harrington (12); Daunte Culpepper (2); Gus Frerotte (18); Sage Rosenfels (6); A.J. Feeley (11); Jay Fiedler (66); Brian Griese (5); Ray Lucas (4); Damon Huard (9); Dan Marino (208); Craig Erickson (4); Bernie Kosar (5); Terry Kirby (1); Scott Mitchell (12); Steve DeBerg (6); Keith Byars (1); Scott Secules (1)
OAK11/5/1989Derek Carr (4); Matt McGloin (9); Terrelle Pryor (9); Matt Flynn (1); Darren McFadden (1); Carson Palmer (35); Shane Lechler (1); Jason Campbell (19); Bruce Gradkowski (11); Charlie Frye (1); JaMarcus Russell (18); Josh McCown (10); Daunte Culpepper (5); Aaron Brooks (3); Andrew Walter (3); Marques Tuiasosopo (2); Kerry Collins (41); Rich Gannon (114); Rick Mirer (3); Wade Wilson (7); Jeff George (33); Donald Hollas (10); Jeff Hostetler (69); Harvey Williams (2); Billy Joe Hobert (10); Vince Evans (16); Jay Schroeder (46); Todd Marinovich (8); Marcus Allen (1); Steve Beuerlein (8)
KAN10/8/1989Alex Smith (30); Chase Daniel (1); Brady Quinn (2); Matt Cassel (59); Kyle Orton (1); Tyler Palko (2); Brodie Croyle (8); Tyler Thigpen (18); Larry Johnson (1); Quinn Gray (1); Mark Bradley (1); Damon Huard (24); Trent Green (118); Todd Collins (1); Elvis Grbac (66); Warren Moon (1); Rich Gannon (23); Marcus Allen (2); Steve Bono (37); Joe Montana (29); Dave Krieg (22); Steve DeBerg (49); Mark Vlasic (2); Steve Pelluer (1); Ron Jaworski (1)
WAS10/8/1989Kirk Cousins (14); Robert Griffin (36); Rex Grossman (23); Brandon Banks (1); John Beck (2); Donovan McNabb (14); Jason Campbell (55); Hunter Smith (1); Antwaan Randle El (2); Todd Collins (5); Clinton Portis (3); Mark Brunell (38); Patrick Ramsey (34); Rod Gardner (2); Tim Hasselbeck (5); Danny Wuerffel (3); Shane Matthews (11); Kevin Lockett (2); Tony Banks (10); Kent Graham (2); Brad Johnson (35); Jeff George (7); Rodney Peete (2); Trent Green (23); Gus Frerotte (48); Jeff Hostetler (5); Heath Shuler (13); John Friesz (10); Rich Gannon (3); Mark Rypien (75); Cary Conklin (5); Earnest Byner (3); Jeff Rutledge (3); Stan Humphries (4); Doug Williams (1)
SEA9/24/1989Russell Wilson (58); Tarvaris Jackson (15); Golden Tate (1); Charlie Whitehurst (3); Matt Hasselbeck (174); Seneca Wallace (25); Charlie Frye (2); Trent Dilfer (13); Brock Huard (4); Jon Kitna (49); Glenn Foley (2); Ricky Watters (1); Warren Moon (36); John Friesz (16); Gino Torretta (1); Rick Mirer (41); Stan Gelbaugh (7); Dan McGwire (2); Kelly Stouffer (3); Dave Krieg (43); Jeff Kemp (4)
NYG12/4/1988Eli Manning (238); David Carr (3); Kurt Warner (6); Jesse Palmer (3); Kerry Collins (81); Kent Graham (20); Danny Kanell (23); Dave Brown (40); Tyrone Wheatley (1); Dave Meggett (3); Phil Simms (63); Jeff Hostetler (19)
ARI11/8/1987Drew Stanton (2); Carson Palmer (26); Brian Hoyer (1); John Skelton (15); Kevin Kolb (17); Richard Bartel (1); Derek Anderson (7); Max Hall (1); Brian St. Pierre (1); Kurt Warner (100); Matt Leinart (14); Tim Rattay (3); Josh McCown (25); John Navarre (2); Shaun King (1); Emmitt Smith (1); Jeff Blake (13); Jake Plummer (90); Chris Greisen (1); Dave Brown (4); Kent Graham (16); Boomer Esiason (11); Dave Krieg (16); Mike Buck (1); Garrison Hearst (1); Jay Schroeder (4); Steve Beuerlein (23); Jim McMahon (1); Chris Chandler (19); Stan Gelbaugh (3); Tom Tupa (9); Timm Rosenbach (16); Gary Hogeboom (14); Neil Lomax (35); Cliff Stoudt (6)
CHI11/1/1987Jay Cutler (111); Josh McCown (15); Jason Campbell (2); Caleb Hanie (3); Kyle Orton (30); Rex Grossman (33); Adrian Peterson (1); Brian Griese (11); Jeff Blake (1); Chad Hutchinson (4); Craig Krenzel (3); Jonathan Quinn (1); Kordell Stewart (7); Chris Chandler (7); Henry Burris (3); Brad Maynard (2); Jim Miller (34); Marty Booker (2); Shane Matthews (19); Cade McNown (16); Steve Stenstrom (4); Mike Horan (1); Moses Moreno (1); Erik Kramer (63); Edgar Bennett (1); Dave Krieg (14); Curtis Conway (2); Steve Walsh (10); Jim Harbaugh (50); Peter Tom Willis (6); Mike Tomczak (28); Jim McMahon (15)
TAM10/25/1987Mike Glennon (22); Josh McCown (2); Mike James (1); Josh Freeman (80); Josh Johnson (5); Earnest Graham (2); Byron Leftwich (4); Jeff Garcia (25); Brian Griese (32); Luke McCown (5); Tim Rattay (4); Bruce Gradkowski (9); Chris Simms (12); Brad Johnson (64); Shaun King (26); Rob Johnson (1); Trent Dilfer (70); Casey Weldon (1); Craig Erickson (34); Steve DeBerg (12); Vinny Testaverde (77); Jeff Carlson (1); Chris Chandler (5); Joe Ferguson (6)
NYJ12/13/1986Geno Smith (16); Matt Simms (1); Mark Sanchez (68); Greg McElroy (1); Mark Brunell (2); Brad Smith (1); Brett Favre (22); Kellen Clemens (5); Chad Pennington (82); Brooks Bollinger (7); Vinny Testaverde (77); Jay Fiedler (1); Quincy Carter (3); Curtis Martin (2); Ray Lucas (14); Rick Mirer (5); Tom Tupa (2); Glenn Foley (10); Neil O'Donnell (21); Frank Reich (15); Boomer Esiason (49); Bubby Brister (4); Jack Trudeau (1); Browning Nagle (7); Ken O'Brien (69); Blair Thomas (1); Troy Taylor (2); Tony Eason (1); Pat Ryan (10); David Norrie (1)
CLE11/27/1983Brian Hoyer (8); Jason Campbell (11); Brandon Weeden (23); Spencer Lanning (1); Thaddeus Lewis (1); Colt McCoy (21); Seneca Wallace (6); Mohamed Massaquoi (1); Jake Delhomme (2); Derek Anderson (46); Brady Quinn (10); Charlie Frye (14); Trent Dilfer (11); Kelly Holcomb (26); Luke McCown (4); Jeff Garcia (10); Tim Couch (64); Kevin Johnson (1); Doug Pederson (2); Ty Detmer (4); Vinny Testaverde (47); Eric Zeier (4); Mark Rypien (4); Todd Philcox (7); Bernie Kosar (116); Mike Tomczak (7); Brian Hansen (1); Mike Pagel (7); Eric Metcalf (1); Don Strock (6); Gary Danielson (12); Jeff Christensen (1); Herman Fontenot (1); Brian Brennan (1); Paul McDonald (14); Brian Sipe (5)

As Tanier pointed out, you would indeed have to begin on November 8, 1987, to count your way to 500 Cardinals touchdowns. But there are four franchises that would require an even longer trip in your time machine:

  • And then there are the Jets. It feels almost wrong to pick on the Jets today, after the Jets offense looked worse than any time other than well probably a game or two last year, some of the games from 2012, or just about random games at any other time during the Rex Ryan era. New York has not hired a head coach with an offensive background since Rich Kotite in 1996, which was a justifiably traumatic event. But for those curious, you would need to start counting on December 13, 1986, to get to 500 Jets touchdowns. [2]Note: I would need to double check, but I don’t believe including yesterday’s result would change this stat. Over that span, Chad Pennington (82), Testaverde (77), Ken O’Brien (69) and Mark Sanchez (68) were the main triggermen, Boomer Esiason threw 49 touchdowns, and the rest of the list is a whole bunch of unmentionables.
  • But the saddest stat on the list would require a trip to the Factory of Sadness that is Cleveland, Ohio. Sure, the Browns weren’t around for 3 years — although I don’t know if that makes life less sad — but you need to start counting on November 27, 1983 to get to 500 Browns touchdown throws. On the other hand, if you include Brian Hoyer’s 3 touchdowns from yesterday, that means you would only need to go back to December 18, 1983, to count to 500 Cleveland touchdown passes. That would make the Browns actually look better than the Jets, if you adjust for the three year mini vacation from ’96 to ’98. In any event, it’s about as ugly for Cleveland as it is for the Jets: There’s some Bernie Kosar happiness and well, that’s about it for Browns fans. Tim Couch, Testaverde (of course), Derek Anderson, and Kelly Holcomb are the only other Browns passers with more than 25 touchdown throws.

In other words, that Peyton Manning guy is pretty darn good.

References

References
1 For purposes of this post, all numbers are from prior to Sunday’s game in week 5 of the 2014 season. In other words, treat this post as if you are reading it Sunday morning, and not Monday morning.
2 Note: I would need to double check, but I don’t believe including yesterday’s result would change this stat.
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