Around the NFC
Brees nears record. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees needs 201 passing yards Monday night against Washington to become the league’s all-time record holder. Brees is currently third at 71,740, trailing Brett Favre (71,838) and Peyton Manning (71,940).
Vikings one-dimensional. Seventh in rushing last year (122.3), Minnesota has plummeted to last through four games (63.0). The Vikings are the least-balanced team in the league, running on only 26.5 percent of their plays. “Itap important for us to have balance,” Zimmer told reporters. “It keeps the defensive line from pinning their ears back all the time (to rush the passer). And I think it helps the football team overall. So we just have to do a better job.”
Reid returns. Former San Francisco safety Eric Reid is expected to make his Carolina debut against the New York Giants after signing during the Panthers’ bye week. A five-year starter for the 49ers, Reid, who knelt for the national anthem with Colin Kaepernick, remained without a team until Carolina placed veteran Da’Norris Searcy on injured reserve. “We got a steal, I feel,” quarterback Cam Newton said of Reid.
20-sack pace. Led by Dallas’ Demarcus Lawrence (5 1/2 sacks), four players are on pace for 20 sacks this year. Houston’s J.J. Watt, Chicago’s Khalil Mack and Atlanta’s Takkarist McKinley have five sacks apiece. The last 20-sack season was in 2014 when Kansas City’s Justin Houston had 22 and Watt 20 1/2. The key to reaching Club 20 is having a multi-sack game. Watt, Lawrence and McKinley all have a three-sack game this year.
Cross-out teams. A quarter into the season, only two of the 16 NFC teams can be ignored as playoff contenders — San Francisco (1-3) and Arizona (0-4). They play each other Sunday. The Cardinals are mess and the 49ers lost quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in Week 3. Jimmy G’s loss was bad for the television networks. San Francisco is scheduled for prime-time games in Weeks 6 (Monday), 7 (Sunday), 9 (Thursday), 10 (Monday) and 13 (Sunday).
