July 21,2017
Hippeard Looks To Pass 15,000
Shooting From the Hip – Randy Hippeard has done nothing to hurt his MVP campaign in recent weeks. Adding another career milestone to his list of accomplishments in 2017 won't hurt either. The Tampa Bay Storm pivot needs to throw for 94 yards in Week 16 against the Cleveland Gladiators to become the 25th man in AFL history to throw for 15,000 career yards. Hippeard has a real chance to get up into 24th place all-time, a mark he needs 203 yards to reach. With six touchdowns, Hippeard will also move up on the all-time touchdowns list. Six will match Chris Greisen's career mark of 324 touchdowns, while a seventh score would move Hippeard into a tie with Rickey Foggie, who finished with 325 career passing scores.
Most Passing Yards in AFL History
23: Mike Pawlawski: 16,673
24: Chris Greisen: 15,108
25: John Fitzgerald: 14,997
26: Randy Hippeard: 14,906
Most Passing Touchdowns in AFL History
22: Rickey Foggie: 325
23: Chris Greisen: 324
24: Randy Hippeard: 318
25: Erik Meyer: 312
Gray, Hills Moving Up Receiving Charts – Baltimore Brigade receiver Reggie Gray is fresh off of his biggest game of the season. Even though Baltimore was beaten by Tampa Bay, "Big Play" still became the 15th man in AFL history to amass 1,500 career points and moved into 17th place all-time on the career receptions list and tied for 12th on the all-time receiving touchdowns list. If he finds the end zone in Week 16, Gray will separate himself for Cory Fleming and move into 12th place by his lonesome. Meanwhile, Gray and Joe Hills can both move up the all-time receptions list this week.
Most Receptions in AFL History
16: Hunkie Cooper: 776
17: Reggie Gray: 755
18: Dominick Goodman: 751
19: Gary Compton: 750
20: Jason Willis: 717
21: Joe Hills: 709
Just For Kicks – Gray isn't the only active player in the AFL to be sitting on at least 1,500 career points. Of the 15 men who have reached that plateau in AFL history, three are kickers. Mark Lewis is the only active one of the three, and in a day and age where the field goal has essentially gone the way of the dodo bird, he might be the last ever to do it. Lewis has 1,549 career points and is nine shy of Mike Horacek for 13th in AFL history on the all-time scoring list.
All-Time Scoring List in AFL History
11: Steve Videtich: 1,597
12: Siaha Burley: 1,584
13: Mike Horacek: 1,558
14: Mark Lewis: 1,549
15: Reggie Gray: 1,514
Carden's 3,000-Yard Campaign – Everyone raise your hand who had Shane Carden reach 3,000 yards this year before Dan Raudabaugh! Oh, put down your hands, you liars! Carden enters Week 16 with 2,931 yards. With 69 yards against the Washington Valor, Carden will become the 19th rookie in AFL history to throw for 3,000 yards and the first since Brad Banks did so in 2011. Carden is nowhere near setting the rookie passing record held by Nick Davila (4,858 yards), but if he keeps up on his pace for the rest of the season, he'll finish with 3,730 yards, a mark that would be the 10th most by a rookie in AFL history.
Storm Seek Out Best Home Record Since '05 – Home field advantage was a huge part of Tampa Bay's success in the 1990s and early-2000s. With a win in Week 16 over the Gladiators, the Storm will finish their home schedule at 6-1, their best season by winning percentage at home since finishing a perfect 8-0 in 2005.
Tampa Bay Storm Best Home Record in Franchise History (By Winning Percentage)
2005: 8-0
1998: 6-1
1996: 6-1
2017: 5-1
1995: 5-1
1994: 5-1
1993: 5-1
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