The 2017-2018 season kicked off with a heated encounter between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots.

There is much to anticipate in the NFL’s 98th season of American football.

Experts are speculating about who will leave the season as champions, as fans across the US cheer on their favourite teams on game day. 

Though record holding Pro Bowlers have returned ready to dominate the league, many are waiting to see if any rookies will emerge as heroes in the touchdown zone. 

The time has come for American football enthusiasts to grab their jerseys and favourite bag of chips.

To get you into the spirit of the action-packed season, here are ten record-breaking highlights from previous years:

Most pass completions by a rookie, NFL season

Carson Wentz (USA) set the National Football League record for most pass completions in a season by a rookie quarterback with 379 while playing for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2016. In doing this, Wentz surpassed the previous mark of 354 by Sam Bradford (USA) while playing for the St. Louis Rams in 2010.

NFL Round Up 10

Largest points comeback in a Super Bowl match

The largest points comeback in a Super Bowl match is 25, achieved by the New England Patriots (USA) against the Atlanta Falcons (USA) during Super Bowl LI in the NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas, USA, on 5 February 2017. The patriots were 28-3 down in the third quarter overcoming the 25 point deficit to win the game in overtime 34 to 28, scoring 31 unanswered points.

Heaviest NFL player to score a rushing touchdown

At 346 pounds (156.94 kg), Dontari Poe (USA) became the heaviest player in NFL history to score a rushing touchdown. He did this while playing for the Kansas City Chiefs in a 33–3 victory against the San Diego Chargers on 22 November 2015. Poe made history with a 1-yard scoring run, surpassing William “Refrigerator” Perry (USA), who had weighed 335 lb while playing for the Chicago Bears when he scored against the Green Bay Packers on 3 November 1985.

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Most Super Bowl wins by an individual player

The most Super Bowl wins by an individual player is five, achieved by Charles Hayley (USA) from 1989 to 1996. This was equaled by Tom Brady (USA) from 2002 to 2017. Haley was a defensive linebacker who won two Super Bowl titles with the San Francisco 49ers in 1989 and 1990, and with the Dallas Cowboys in 1993, 1994 and 1996. Brady, a quarterback, won all five titles with the New England Patriots in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2015 and 2017.

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Most consecutive field goals by an NFL kicker

The National Football League record for most consecutive field goals converted by a kicker is 44 by Adam Vinatieri (USA), who achieved it while playing for the Indianapolis Colts (USA) during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Vinatieri surpassed the previous mark of 42 set by Mike Vanderjagt (Canada) from the 2002 through 2004 seasons.

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Most consecutive pass completions over an NFL two-match span by a quarterback

Ryan Tannehill (USA) of the Miami Dolphins set the record for consecutive completions over a two-game span, with 25. That was seven straight to end the game on 18 October 2015 against the Tennessee Titans and 18 in a row to start the game on 25 October 2015 against the Houston Texans. This surpassed the previous record of 24 straight completions by Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004. 

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First NFL player to score postseason touchdowns by rushing, receiving and kick returning in one game

On 14 January 2017, Dion Lewis (USA) became the first player in NFL postseason history to have a rushing touchdown, receiving touchdown and a kick return for touchdown – all within the same game. Lewis accomplished the feat while playing for the New England Patriots in a 31–16 victory over the Houston Texans. Tyreek Hill of the Kansas City Chiefs (2016) and Gale Sayers of the Chicago Bears (1965) accomplished the feat in regular-season games.

Youngest NFL coach

At the age of 30 years 354 days, Sean McVay (USA, b. 24 January 1986) became the youngest head coach of the National Football League's modern era when the Los Angeles Rams choose him to guide their team on 12 January 2017. McVay is almost an entire year younger than Lane Kiffin, who was 31 years 8 months when he was hired as head coach of the Oakland Raiders in 2007.

Highest annual earnings for an American football player 

On September 9, 2010 Tom Brady (USA) of the New England Patriots signed the four year $72 million (then approx. £47 million) contract extension making him the highest paid player in the NFL. His annual salary of $18 million (then approx. £12 million) tops all American Football Players.

NFL Round Up 7

Most penalties by a team in an NFL game

The Oakland Raiders set an NFL record with 23 penalties in a 30–24 overtime victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on 30 October 2016. The penalties, which totalled 200 yards, broke the previous record of 22 reached by three teams: the Brooklyn Tigers and Chicago Bears had each committed 22 in a game in 1944, and the San Francisco 49ers reached the same mark in 1998.