WR WES WELKER GOES OVER 100 RECEPTIONS FOR THE SEASONWR Wes Welker entered the Carolina game needing five receptions to go over 100 receptions for the third straight year. He hit the mark on a six-yard pass from QB Tom Brady in the third quarter. Welker now has 105 receptions for the season. Welker finished with 112 in 2007 and 111 in 2008. Welker joines Marvin Harrison (4), Jerry Rice (3) and Herman Moore (3) as the only NFL players to catch 100 passes in three consecutive seasons.
WELKER TIES NFL RECORD FOR FEWEST INDIVIDUAL GAMES PLAYED TO REACH 100 RECEPTIONS
Welker reached 100 receptions in his 11th game of the season to tie Marvin Harrison for the fewest individual games played to reach 100 receptions in a season in NFL history. Harrison caught 100 passes in his first 11 games of the 2002 season en route to an NFL-record 143 catches. (Welker missed two games in 2009 due to injury).
The players to reach 100 receptions in a season in the fewest individual games played:
WELKER KEEPS IT UP
Wes Welker now has 11 straight games with six or more receptions after finishing with 10 receptions against Carolina. The record for most consecutive games with 6 receptions is 16 by Marvin Harrison from 2002-03. Welker has caught six or more passes in 25 of his last 27 regular-season games.
WELKER HAS TENTH 10-PLUS RECEPTION GAME AND SIXTH OF THE 2009 SEASON
Welker finished with 10 receptions for 105 yards against Carolina. Welker had his tenth 10-plus reception game of his career and his sixth of the 2009 season. The NFL record for most 10-plus reception games in a season is seven, set by Houston's Andre Johnson in 2008.
WELKER HAS BACK-TO-BACK 10-PLUS GAMES FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 2009
Welker had his second back-to-back 10-plus reception game of the 2009 season after finishing with 10 against Carolina following 10 receptions last week at Miami. He also had back-to-back 10-plus reception games with 10 vs. Tennessee (10-18-09) followed by 10 at Tampa Bay (10-25-09). The NFL record for most consecutive 10-plus reception games is three by Andre Johnson (Houston in 2008), Reggie Wayne (Indianapolis 2007-08) and Brett Perriman (Detroit in 1995).
WELKER SETS SINGLE-SEASON CAREER-HIGH WITH HIS FIFTH 100-YARD GAME OF 2009
Welker went over 100 yards for the fifth time in 2009 when he finished with 10 receptions for 105 yards. The five 100 yard games best the four he had in 2007 and 2008. It is his 13th regular-season 100-yard game of his career.
WELKER CLOSE TO CAREER-HIGH
Welker now has 1,158 receiving yards for the season and needs 18 more yards to surpass his career-high of 1,175 yards set in 2007.
PATRIOTIC PAIR
Moss and Welker entered the Carolina game ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the NFL in receiving yards. If both players finish the season at the top, they will become the fifth pair of teammates to accomplish the feat.
FAULK MOVES UP TO THIRD PLACE ON ALL-TIME SCRIMMAGE YARDS LIST
RB Kevin Faulk, the Patriots all-time leader in all-purpose yards with 12,014 (before game) entering the Carolina game, gained 75 yards against the Panthers to move past Tony Collins (7,003) into third place on the Patriots all-time scrimmage yards list with 7,059.
PATRIOTS ARE GOOD AT GOING LONG
The Patriots entered the Carolina game with an NFL best 30 drives of 10 plays or more and increased that number to 31 with a 13-play, 96-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter that culminated with a 5-yard touchdown pass from QB Tom Brady to TE Benjamin Watson. The NFL average is 20. That drive was also the longest drive for the Patriots this season, besting an 89-yard drive in the Patriots 35-7 win over Tampa Bay in London (10-25-09).
GOSTKOWSKI GOES OVER 100 POINTS
K Stephen Gostkowski went over 100 points on the season with two field goals and two extra points against Carolina to reach 106 points. He has now scored over 100 points in each of his four NFL seasons (103 in 2006, 137 in 2007 and 148 in 2008).
GOSTKOWSKI REACHES 100 FIELD GOALS
Gostkowski's 47-yard field goal in the fourth quarter was the 100th field goal of his career. He currently ranks fourth on the Patriots all-time field goal list.
PATRIOTS AT HOME IN DECEMBERThe Patriots are tough to beat in December at Gillette Stadium. Following today's win, New England is 15-1 in Decemeber games at Gillette Stadium. QB Tom Brady has now won 22 consucutive home games, including the postseason.
