'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQb/2gAIAQEAAAAAkn//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC/9oACAECEAAAAD//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC/9oACAEDEAAAAH//xAAfEAABBAICAwAAAAAAAAAAAAACAQMEBRESAAYhIkH/2gAIAQEAAT8AabgWnamaOzfkVB+slJTWHhBovGmooKqSrjVfmV5cBSQbedEGBKcFh82kPLabakqZ5//EABYRAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAv/aAAgBAgEBPwAyX//EABYRAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAREv/aAAgBAwEBPwCmf//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
There's a famous old saying: "Records are made to be broken." That may be the case, but there are some NFL records that will be nearly impossible to ever break. Some have stood for many years. Rule changes and shifts in overall game play may prevent certain NFL records from ever being threatened. Here are five such records that may stand infinitely.
5 NFL records that could stand forever
#1 - Buffalo Bills lose four straight Super Bowls
The Buffalo Bills of the early 1990s are one of the best teams ever assembled in NFL history. They are the only team ever to appear in the Super Bowl in four consecutive seasons. Unfortunately, they were unable to win any of them. Appearing in four consecutive Super Bowls is a difficult enough task to replicate. Losing all four of them is almost impossible.
Losing four straight Super Bowls is probably even more difficult than winning four straight. If an NFL team is ever good enough again to make it to four straight, there is an extremely high chance that they will win, at least, one of them, if not more. Unfortunately for the Buffalo Bills, it's hard to imagine any other team repeating this unusual NFL record.
#2 - Stephen Gostowski successfully converts 523 consecutive extra point attempts
New England Patriots former kicker Stephen Gostkowski holds an NFL record that will likely never be broken because of rule changes. He successfully converted 523 straight extra-point attempts over a decade of time. This includes a ridiculous stretch to start his career, making an NFL record 562 of his first 563 attempts, including in the postseason.
Former Baltimore Ravens kicker Matt Stover previously held the record with 422 consecutive makes. Gostkowski exceeded the NFL record by 101 kicks. Gostkowski's record would be tough to match on its own, but now it's basically impossible because of the new extra point rules in place, making them 13 yards longer.
NFL records that could stand infinitely
Here are NFL records that are unlikely to ever be eclipsed.
#3 - Emmitt Smith carries the ball 4,409 times
Former Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith is an NFL record holder in several important rushing categories. His 18,355 rushing yards and 164 rushing touchdowns are both the most in NFL history. These are NFL records that will be hard to catch, but they are not as crazy as his 4,409 career carries.
For any running back to catch Emmitt Smith, they would need to average nearly 300 carries per season for 15 consecutive seasons. Given the short "life spans" of running backs today, as well as the committee's approach to most backfields, that will be a nearly impossible task. Not even Derrick Henry, the biggest work horse in the NFL today, averages 300 carries per season in his career.
#4 - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lose 26 straight games
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were an added expansion team for the 1976 NFL season. The beginning of their franchise history featured the longest losing streak since the AFL-NFL merger. The Buccaneers lost the first 26 consecutive games of their existence, which spanned nearly two full seasons.
This streak occurred before the modern rules of the NFL, including the current free agency and salary cap format. Today, it is much easier to remain competitive because rosters can turn over much quicker. No other team since then has recorded more than 20 consecutive losses.
#5 - Derrick Thomas records 7 sacks in a single game
Kansas City Chiefs pass rusher Derrick Thomas holds the current NFL record with seven sacks in a single game. He set an NFL record back in 1990 against the Seattle Seahawks, and it has stood for more than 30 years since then. He almost matched his own NFL record in 1998 against the Oakland Raiders, when he recorded six sacks in a single game.
It's unlikely anyone is going to surpass Derrick Thomas' incredible NFL record for most sacks in a single game. The way that offenses are called and blocking schemes are created today would make it extremely difficult. If a pass rusher was heating up that much, he would get a ton of blocking attention. He could be double teamed, chipped in by a tight end and have a running back ready for insurance.
Do you love to play crosswords, Wordle or other exciting games? We'd like to connect with you. Fill the form here!
