The 2017 regular season is finally upon us. As we prepare for the Week 1 matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns, I wanted to take a look at where some of our players currently stand statistically and how this upcoming season could affect their positioning with some of the NFL’s all-time greats.

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Most Touchdown Passes in NFL History

When thinking about the top tier quarterbacks in the league, Ben Roethlisberger usually comes to mind for most football viewers. What may come as a shock to some is that Big Ben has only averaged 23 touchdown passes per season in his 13-year career while only eclipsing the 30+ mark twice (2007, 2014). You can argue that injuries and coaches’ decisions to rest him for games skew that number a bit, especially considering that he had 29 touchdown passes in 2016 while missing a game due to injury and not playing the last game of the year vs. the Browns to rest up for the playoffs, but overall, you’d expect a little more statistically from your franchise quarterback. However, when looking at Ben’s career in its entirety, he ranks ninth all-time for most touchdown passes in NFL history with 301 touchdowns. Last year saw Ben pass John Elway (300) on the list. Currently, there are four active players ahead of Ben: Philip Rivers (314), Eli Manning (320), Tom Brady (456), and Drew Brees (465). Barring any injuries to Rivers and/or Manning, Ben will most likely end the 2017 season at the same place where he started, but if he can stay healthy and decides to play in 2018, he’ll have a good chance of passing Fran Tarkenton (342).

Rank	Player	Touchdowns
1	Peyton Manning	539
2	Brett Favre	508
3	Drew Brees	465
4	Tom Brady	456
5	Dan Marino	420
6	Fran Tarkenton	342
7	Eli Manning	320
8	Philip Rivers	314
9	Ben Roethlisberger	301
10	John Elway	300

Most Passing Yards in NFL History

As we sit here today, Big Ben is 10th on the list with 46,814 yards. Under Todd Haley (2012 – 2016), Ben has averaged 4,047 yards per season – keep in mind, he has missed seven games during that span, so that number would easily be higher. If Ben were to hit that average mark, he would pass Fran Tarkenton (47,003) and Warren Moon (49,325) which would move him to at least 8th place.

Rank	Player	Passing Yards
1	Peyton Manning	71,940
2	Brett Favre	71,838
3	Drew Brees	66,111
4	Tom Brady	61,582
5	Dan Marino	61,361
6	John Elway	51,475
7	Warren Moon	49,325
8	Eli Manning	48,214
9	Fran Tarkenton	47,003
10	Ben Roethlisberger	46,814

Most Pass Completions in NFL History

Currently, Ben is sitting at 11th place on the list with 3,804 completions to his name. Of the 10 players ahead of him, four are still active: Philip Rivers (3,811), Eli Manning (4,072), Tom Brady (5,244), and Drew Brees (5,836). With Haley at the helm, Ben has averaged 342 completions per season, so if he can hit that mark, he will pass Drew Bledsoe (3,839), Warren Moon (3,988) and John Elway (4,123) moving him up to at least 8th place.

Rank	Player	Completions
1	Brett Favre	6,300
2	Peyton Manning	6,125
3	Drew Brees	5,836
4	Tom Brady	5,244
5	Dan Marino	4,967
6	John Elway	4,123
7	Eli Manning	4,072
8	Warren Moon	3,988
9	Drew Bledsoe	3,839
10	Philip Rivers	3,811
11	Ben Roethlisberger	3,804

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Going for Five

The 2016 season saw wide receiver Antonio Brown catch 106 passes for 1,284 yards (12.1 average) and 12 touchdowns. You know you’re good when that’s a down year for you. This was his fourth consecutive season of 100 or more receptions tying Marvin Harrison for first place. If AB and Ben stay healthy, he will easily break this record in 2017.

Rank	Player	Consecutive Seasons w/ 100+ Receptions
T1	Marvin Harrison	4 (1999-2002)
	Antonio Brown	4 (2013-2016)
T3	Brandon Marshall	3 (2007-2009)
	Wes Welker	3 (2007-2009)
	Herman Moore	3 (1995-1997)
	Jerry Rice	3 (1994-1996)

Steelers All-Time Receiving Yards Leaders

Antonio Brown currently sits in 3rd place on the Steelers all-time receiving yards list behind both Hines Ward and John Stallworth. However, if you take into account that his two best years (2014-2015) came with Martavis Bryant on the opposite side of him, Brown will run away with the 2nd place spot. It will probably take another two or three seasons before #84 can surpass Ward, though.

Rank	Player	Receiving Yards
1	Hines Ward	12,083
2	John Stallworth	8,723
3	Antonio Brown	8,377

Steelers All-Time Receiving Touchdown Leaders

In seven seasons with the Steelers, Antonio Brown has caught 50 touchdowns. If the past four years are any indication of what to expect from him (averaging 10 touchdowns per season in last four years), AB will easily move his way up the Steelers all-time receiving touchdowns list.

Rank	Player	Receiving Touchdowns
1	Hines Ward	85
2	John Stallworth	63
3	Lynn Swann	51
4	Antonio Brown	50
5	Heath Miller	45

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Most Rushing Yards in Steelers History

Despite missing games due to suspensions and injuries, Le’Veon Bell has proven that he is an incredible football player when he’s on the field. He currently sits in 5th place on the Steelers all-time rushing yards list with 4,045 yards on the ground. With a top-5 offensive line in front of him, it’s easy to see why Bell could move up pretty quickly on this list.

Rank	Player	Rushing Yards
1	Franco Harris	11,950
2	Jerome Bettis	10,571
3	Willie Parker	5,378
4	John Henry Johnson	4,381
5	Le’Veon Bell	4,045

Most Rushing Touchdowns in Steelers History

Although Bell has yet to crack the 10+ touchdown mark in a season, his average of six touchdowns per year over his career is enough to vault him over He Who Shall Not Be Named and from 6th place to 4th.

Rank	Player	Rushing Touchdowns
1	Franco Harris	91
2	Jerome Bettis	78
3	Kordell Stewart	35
4	Terry Bradshaw	32
5	Rashard Mendenhall	29
T6	Le’Veon Bell	26
	Barry Foster	26
	John Henry Johnson	26

 

At the end of the 2017 season, we’ll revisit these stats and possibly any others that the Killer B’s might break or move up on. Please let us know if there is anything you will be looking out for statistically speaking in the upcoming season!