Several NFL Records Are in Jeopardy

If all goes according to form, the NFL could have new career passing and receiving leaders by the third week of the upcoming season.

Miami quarterback Dan Marino needs to throw 73 passes to reach the 1,500 minimum needed for inclusion in the NFL’s career passing rankings. The fourth-year quarterback starts the season with a ranking of 96.4 to lead Joe Montana of San Francisco (92.4).

San Diego receiver Charlie Joiner will begin his 18th NFL season just 129 yards shy of Don Maynard’s record of 11,834 yards receiving. Joiner already has the mark for passes caught with 716.

Joiner will not be alone among receivers who are on track to set records during the 1986 NFL season.

Seattle receiver Steve Largent needs to catch at least one pass in his next five games to break Harold Carmicheal’s record of at least one reception in 129 straight games. Largent also needs to catch 26 passes to move past Raymond Berry, Maynard and Charley Taylor into second place behind Joiner on the career list.

Green Bay receiver James Lofton needs 1,184 yards on receptions to become the sixth receiver to reach the 10,000-yard mark. Joiner, Largent, Taylor, Harold Jackson and Lance Alworth are already in the 10,000-yard club.

San Diego quarterback Dan Fouts enters the season needing just 161 completions to become only the second quarterback to complete 3,000 passes. Fran Tarkenton was the other. Fouts could also join Tarkenton and Johhny Unitas at the 40,000-yard mark with 2,508 yards passing.

Chicago running back Walter Payton, already the league’s rushing leader, needs 662 combined yards to become the first player in league history to gain 20,000 yards rushing, receiving and returning kicks.

A punter, coach and team are also on the verge of earning a place in the NFL record book.

New York Jets punter Dave Jennings needs 79 punts to break the NFL record of 1,083 held by John James. Jennings enters the season behind James and Jerrel Wilson (1,072).

Pittsburgh Coach Chuck Noll will become the fourth head coach in league history to lead a team for 18 consecutive seasons. The others were Curly Lambeau (31), Tom Landry (27) and Steve Owen (23).

Landry’s team, the Dallas Cowboys, could extend their NFL record of consecutive winning seasons to 21 with another over-.500 year. It is the longest active streak in pro sports and third all-time behind baseball’s New York Yankees (39) and hockey’s Montreal Canadiens (32).