Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

The Steelers are 'on pace' to finish with the NFL leaders in passing yards, rushing yards, and receiving yards. Has that ever happened before?

There were a couple close calls. The following players were league leaders.

Indianapolis Colts
1999
Edgerrin James
Marvin Harrison

2000
Peyton Manning
Marvin Harrison

Houston Texans
2009
Matt Schaub
Andre Johnson

2010
Arian Foster.

Two of three ...

1936
Arnie Herber, GNB
Don Hutson, GNB

1937
Sammy Baugh, WAS
Cliff Battles, WAS

1941
Cecil Isbell, GNB
Don Huston, GNB

1942
Cecil Isbell, GNB
Don Hutson, GNB

1944
Irv Comp, GNB
Don Hutson, GNB

1954
Norm Van Brocklin, LA
Bob Boyd, LA

1956
Tobin Rote, GNB
Billy Howton, GNB

1957
Johnny Unitas, BAL
Raymond Berry, BAL

1958
Billy Wade, LA
Del Shofner, LA

1959
Johnny Unitas, BAL
Raymond Berry, BAL

1960
Johnny Unitas, BAL
Raymond Berry, BAL

1961
Sonny Jurgenson, PHI
Tommy MacDonald, PHI

1965
John Brodie, SFO
Dave Parks, SFO

1970
John Brodie, SFO
Gene Washington, SFO

1973
Roman Gabriel, PHI
Harold Carmichael, PHI

1976
Bert Jones, BAL
Roger Carr, BAL

1980
Dan Fouts, SD
John Jefferson, SD

1982
Dan Fouts, SD
Wes Chandler, SD

1987
Neil Lomax, STL
J.T. Smith, STL

1991
Emmitt Smith, DAL
Michael Irvin, DAL

1998
Brett Farve, GNB
Antonio Freeman, GNB

1999
Edgerrin James, IND
Marvin Harrison, IND

2000
Peyton Manning, IND
Marvin Harrison, IND

2009
Matt Schaub, HOU
Andre Johnson, HOU

Time to start placing this bunch in the same convo with the ‘Greatest Shows’, Coryells, etc. if not actually placing them above any of them, at least in same convo. And Antonio...perhaps already the all-time best WR not named Jerry Rice - and with so much more ceiling still above him!

Already Canton-bound, Big Ben added another First Ballot feather in cap being the only QB to ever throw for 500+ yards in three games. Another Lombardi and that might just bring him over the top (might...yes, the previous off-field issues/accusations may stand in the way of First Ballot).

On a whole team note...that possible other Lombardi won’t be this year. Not optimistic at all going into this Pats game. Losing to Dolphins, Brady being mad, Steeler defense already suspect before Shazier being out, I see yet another Pats-owning-Steelers-this-century fine example. Hoodie will gameplan his D just good enough to maybe not totally shut down Steeler offense, but keep Pats comfortably ahead on scoreboard throughout. And GRONK’S back! He always kills that D, even with Shazier present.

As high-powered Steelers O is, just can’t see them even assuring a CC-spot with the current state of their D. Not with the Jags now establishing themselves down the stretch. And if Ravens somehow sneak in, I certainly don’t want Steelers seeing them again.

Might happen for Pittsburgh with two of the three. I don't see BB leading the league in passing because, depending on the outcome of this weekend's game, the team could rest him for the final game versus Cleveland. Depending on their leads in rushing and receiving, Brown and Bell could end up leading at the end of the year.

Ronfitch wrote:Two of three ...

1957
Johnny Unitas, BAL
Raymond Berry, BAL


1959
Johnny Unitas, BAL
Raymond Berry, BAL

1960
Johnny Unitas, BAL
Raymond Berry, BAL

I was thinking these two plus Lenny Moore might be the best shot.

Ronfitch wrote:
1936
Arnie Herber, GNB
Don Hutson, GNB

1941
Cecil Isbell, GNB
Don Huston, GNB

1942
Cecil Isbell, GNB
Don Hutson, GNB

1944
Irv Comp, GNB
Don Hutson, GNB

So, basically, Don Hutson and anyone throwing to him?

Ronfitch wrote:
1956
Tobin Rote, GNB
Billy Howton, GNB


1973
Roman Gabriel, PHI
Harold Carmichael, PHI

1976
Bert Jones, BAL
Roger Carr, BAL

For some reason, these really surprised me.

Thanks, Ron!

Lenny Moore was more likely to lead the league in receiving yards than rushing yards. Starting in 1957, he finished 4th, 2nd, 3rd, and 3rd in receiving yards. He never finished higher than 8th in rushing yards.

Hmmm, so two teammates finished in the top 4 in receiving yards in four consecutive seasons. (Berry was 4th in 1958.) That's got to be the only time that's ever happened.

And Antonio...perhaps already the all-time best WR not named Jerry Rice -

Don Hutson

ChrisBabcock wrote:

And Antonio...perhaps already the all-time best WR not named Jerry Rice -

Don Hutson

Well, he is a Steelers fan