Heading into the 2026 season, Los Angeles Rams legend Norm Van Brocklin’s single-game passing report has stood for nearly 75 years. With all of the modifications made to profit the passing sport through the years, it is actually astonishing that Van Brocklin’s mark of 554 yards has stood for this lengthy. That mentioned, which quarterback is almost definitely to interrupt it this season?
Having a 500-yard passing sport is a crowning achievement for single callers. Including the playoffs, there have only been 27 such games in NFL historical past, with Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady and Drew Brees the one QBs to have thrown for over 500 yards a number of occasions. Kirk Cousins is the latest to have performed so, throwing for 509 yards in a 2024 win over the Buccaneers.
Advertisement
Without additional ado, let’s check out the highest candidates to topple Van Brocklin’s report in 2026.
Matthew Stafford
Let’s begin with the choice closest to dwelling. Stafford as soon as threw for 520 yards as a member of the Lions within the 2011 common season finale towards the Packers at Lambeau Field. Unfortunately, it got here in a dropping effort, because the quarterback on the other sideline, Matt Flynn, threw for 480 yards and 6 touchdowns in a 45-41 Green Bay win.
Stafford looks as if a straightforward alternative provided that he is already a member of the five hundred Club and has one of many league’s most explosive offenses at his disposal. However, he is thrown for at least 450 yards with the Rams once, which got here towards the Seahawks late final season.
Advertisement
It’s unlikely that he’ll break the report, as he performs in a extra balanced offense that does not ask him to go a daft quantity. Never say by no means, although, contemplating he performs towards the Cardinals twice a 12 months.
Joe Burrow
Out of anybody on this record, Burrow is the almost definitely to interrupt it.
He has the fourth-most passing yards in a sport with 525, which got here in a masterclass efficiency versus the rival Ravens in 2021. The 41-21 win helped Cincinnati safe the AFC North and make a shock run to that 12 months’s Super Bowl.
With Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in tow, he’ll undoubtedly have one other crack to attempt to break it. Cincy is actually a pass-happy workforce, which helps his probabilities.
Advertisement
Dak Prescott
Similar to the Bengals, America’s Team (barf) likes to air it out, boosting Prescott’s stats considerably.
The Cowboys’ quarterback threw for 502 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 49-38 win over the upstart Browns. Dallas fell behind 41-14 earlier than scoring 24 unanswered to shut the hole to a few factors. Prescott’s efforts have been wasted as Cleveland scored a late landing to place the sport away. At least Prescott’s stats regarded fantastic within the field rating, and that is all that actually issues in Big D, proper?
Joking apart, the Cowboys boast probably the greatest huge receiver duos within the NFL with All-Pros CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. So even when Dallas inevitably disappoints per standard, they’ve an thrilling trio to look at, making Prescott a dark-horse to surpass Van Brocklin.
Advertisement
Jared Goff
I do know, I do know, this can be a controversial decide. But hear me out first!
Goff had his 500-yard sport in a Rams uniform, and like many of the quarterbacks on this record, it got here in a dropping effort. He had 517 yards in a 55-40 loss to the Bucs in Week 4 of the 2019 marketing campaign. That was the nice, as he turned the ball over 4 occasions, considered one of which was returned for the deciding landing.
Regardless of that dangerous sport, Goff has been remarkably environment friendly with the Lions. He even got here near turning into the fourth QB with a number of 500-yard video games in December 2024, falling six yards shy towards the Bills in Detroit’s 48-42 loss.
Advertisement
So why does Goff have an opportunity this season? The Lions are enjoying a final place schedule and are set to face cupcakes within the Jets, Dolphins, Cardinals and Titans this season. Expect offensive dominance in these matchups, if not the opportunity of an NFL report.