6 NFL Records That Will Be Broken This Season

With most NFL teams at the halfway point of their respective schedules (six teams have played nine games), we can realistically begin to examine the players on pace to break a number of historic NFL single season records.

To no one's surprise, the majority of the records surround the passing game as the NFL continues to evolve into a pass-first league.

NFL teams are averaging more than twice as many yards through the air this season—234.4 yards passing per game versus 115.4 yards rushing.

Let's take a look at six records in serious jeopardy as the second half of the season begins to unfold.

Dan Marino's 5,084 Yards Passing in 1984

There are three players currently on pace to break Dan Marino's iconic record, all members of the NFL's Holy Trinity of Quarterbacks—Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers.

Brady is on pace for 5,406 yards and only needs to average 298 yards passing over his final eight games to break the record.

Brees has already played nine games and is on pace for 5,341 yards and needs to average just over 297 yards passing over his final seven games.

Rodgers, who is halfway towards the best quarterback season in NFL history, is on pace for 5,239 yards and needs to average just over 308 yards passing over his final eight games.

At this point, it would be an upset if at least one of these three players don't break Marino's record this season.

Peyton Manning's 121.1 Passer Rating in 2004

Remember that guy Aaron Rodgers we talked about in the last slide?  He's having a pretty good 2011 season...

Rodgers current passer rating is an absurd 129.1, which would shatter Peyton Manning's record 121.1 passer rating from 2004.

Looking at the Packers remaining schedule and array of weapons as his disposal, there's no reason to think Rodgers won't add this record to his collection in 2011.

Drew Brees' 70.6% Completion Percentage in 2009

Brees and Rodgers, Rodgers and Brees, it's all the same as they represent the elite of the elite when it comes to quarterbacking in the NFL.

Both Rodgers (72.5 percent) and Brees (71 percent) are on pace to break Brees' completion percentage record of 70.6 percent set in 2009 and is there any reason to believe they won't do it?

We would probably give Brees the slight edge here due to the fact that five of his final seven games will be played indoors.

Jerry Rice's 1,848 Yards Receiving in 1995

This is one record that many NFL purists won't want to see broken, but Wes Welker is on track to do just that.

Welker is on pace for 1,920 yards receiving this year as he continues to haul in passes from Tom Brady to the tune of 120 yards per game.

With absolutely no running game at his disposal, Brady will continue to target Welker over and over, giving him an outside shot at Marvin Harrison's record 143 receptions set in 2002.

Welker is currently on pace for 132 receptions and would need to average 9.75 receptions per game over his final eight to get to 144 catches.  Doesn't seem too far-fetched now does it?

Chris Johnson's 2,509 Yards from Scrimmage in 2009

Chris Johnson averaged 156.8 yards from scrimmage per game in 2009 and a certain running back in Chicago is not too far off his record setting pace.

Matt Forte is averaging 155.1 yards from scrimmage per game this season and is on pace for 2482.

When you consider the Bears lack of play-makers and the fact that Forte represents 45 percent of the Bears total offense, it's definitely not out of the question that Forte can challenge Johnson's supremacy.

Michael Strahan's 22.5 Sacks in 2001

Both Jared Allen (12.5 sacks) and DeMarcus Ware (12 sacks) are on pace to break Strahan's sack record at the halfway point of the season.

Allen is on pace for 25 sacks while Ware is on pace for 24 sacks and both will have plenty of opportunities to break the record during a pass-happy 2011 NFL season.