Each week we'll spend Monday dissecting the more interesting statistics and noteworthy items that came out of Sunday's game. Some stats may surprise, others might impress and some might tick you off, but we try to cover it all in Second Down.
Name that player
Marshawn Lynch totaled 76 rushing yards in the season opening win over Seattle Sunday giving him 60-plus yards in all 14 games of his NFL career. The 14-game streak ties for second longest in team history. What former Bills back holds the record for most consecutive 60-plus yard rushing performances?
Three and out
Buffalo's defense tries to post at least four three-and-outs a game. Sunday they had seven on Seattle's 16 total possessions. Those short series was a big reason why Seahawks punter Ryan Plackemeier had 11 punts in the game, the third most ever by an opposing punter.
Sub 300
For the 11th time under Dick Jauron the Bills defense allowed fewer than 300 total net yards. The Bills are now 9-2 when allowing less their opponent to gain less than 300 yards.
Sack attack
The Bills pass rush wreaked havoc on Sunday as the unit posted five sacks and nine quarterback hits. The five takedowns were the most by Buffalo in a season opener since they posted five in the 2005 opener against Houston. Ryan Denney, Kawika Mitchell, Aaron Schobel, Marcus Stroud and Kyle Williams were all part of the sack parade.
Parrish punt return prowess
Roscoe Parrish set a handful of records after his big opening day performance Sunday. His 63-yard return for a touchdown was the third of his career tying the franchise record for punt return touchdowns in a career previously set by Keith Moody.
On that return for a touchdown he set the record for most punt return yards in a Bills career and by game's end had 1,110 in his time with Buffalo breaking Jeff Burris' mark of 1,045 career punt return yards.
Parrish totaled 120 punt return yards in the game, which broke his previous record for most punt return yards in a game which he set back in 2006 against Jacksonville (104).
It was also his second straight season opener return for a touchdown as he had a 74-yarder against Denver last season. He's the first punt returner in league history to pull off that feat.
Royal reception
Robert Royal set a career-high for receptions with six for 52 yards and a touchdown. Royal's 30-yard scoring play was the second longest of his career. His best is a 33-yard touchdown catch that he pulled in from J.P. Losman against Miami back in 2006. Royal now has seven career touchdowns with the Bills.
Secret identities
Moorman's 19-yard touchdown pass to Denney was a first for all parties involved. It was the punter's first career touchdown pass and Denney's first career touchdown reception. In fact Moorman became the first punter in franchise annals to throw a TD pass as he doubled as a quarterback on the play. He was also the first punter to toss a touchdown pass since Pittsburgh's Josh Miller did it in 2003.
Still it's not the longest completion of Moorman's career. His longest was a 24-yarder to Kevin Thomas back in 2004 at Oakland.
Evans' century
Lee Evans hit the century mark in receiving yards for the 10th time in his Bills career with 102 yards on four receptions Sunday. That ties him with Peerless Price for fifth on the franchise's all-time list for career 100-yard receiving games behind Andre Reed (36), Eric Moulds (26), Elbert Dubenion (16) and Frank Lewis (14).
Evans also moved into eighth place on the Bills all-time receiving yardage list (3,829) passing Peerless Price (3,772).
McGee INT
Terrence McGee posted his 14th career interception in the waning moments Sunday. The pick enabled the Bills to run out the clock for the victory, the fourth such interception in his career. The Bills are now 12-2 when McGee records an INT.
Name that player answer
O.J. Simpson is the all-time leader in consecutive 60-plus yard rushing performances with 16 stretching between the 1973 and 1974 seasons.
