What happened: Jaxon Smith-Njigba cleared 700 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns through the first six weeks of 2026. The only other player since the merger to open with that line is 1986 Jerry Rice, and Denver finished the stretch with a 17-14 final over Seattle.

Why it matters: The gap back to 1986 underlines how rarely yardage and scores have paired to open a season. Smith-Njigba entered 2026 after catching 119 passes for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns in 17 games in 2025.

What to watch: Seattle's next outing determines whether the scoring pace carries beyond the six-week mark.