Passing Statistics Are Exploding. But Is Roughing the One With Staying Power?

On Monday night it finally happened: a Harvard-to-Harvard NFL touchdown as Ryan Fitzpatrick threw to Cameron Brate for six with the entire football artificial universe watching. During the play, Ali Marpet of Division 3 Hobart was blocking. So on Monday Night Football the Buccaneers fielded a lineup including guys who, in college, played against Cornell, Dickinson, Lafayette, and Worcester Polytechnic.

At the end of the contest, Fitzpatrick was on pace to throw for 6,560 yards and 59 touchdowns, both of which would best the league’s single-season records. Set by Peyton Manning, they are 5,477 passing yards and 55 touchdowns.