Tom Brady, Lamar Jackson and others on pace to challenge some big NFL records

Records are meant to be broken. In the NFL, a whopping four of the biggest season-based records could be rewritten by the time the 2021 season ends.

While the 2021 season has 17 games for the first time — instead of the 16 of the past — some of the records could be broken even without the extra game on the schedule.

There’s no surprise that Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady is on the list, challenging Peyton Manning’s record for most passing yards in a season.

It’s not just records on offense either. Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has his eyes on Michael Strahan’s single-season sack record.

Let’s take a look at the four records that could be broken:

Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Record: Most passing yards in a season

Current record holder: Peyton Manning (5,477 yards in 2013)

Brady’s current average yards per game: 331.2 yards per game

Average needed to break it: 314 yards

Projected total: 5,631 yards

So far in 2021, Brady ranks in the top two in the league in total QBR, passing yards per game and touchdown passes, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

He has thrown for 2,650 yards in the first eight games of the season, with a season high of 432 against the Los Angeles Rams.

Brady, a 22-year veteran, could set personal-best marks this season. In 2011, he threw for 5,235 yards, averaging 327 yards per game. Brady had 25 touchdowns in the first half of this season and could eclipse his personal best of 50 touchdowns in 2007.

CYRIL. GRAYSON. 🙌

📺: #TBvsNO on FOX pic.twitter.com/4nJW0q8z2t

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 31, 2021

Record: Most receiving yards in a season

Current record holder: Calvin Johnson (1,964 yards in 2012)

Kupp’s current average yards per game: 113.2 yards per game

Average needed to break it: 118.1 yards

Projected total: 1,924 yards

Kupp has been Rams QB Matthew Stafford’s go-to receiver, and L.A. is 7-2 so far this season. Kupp and Jerry Rice are the only two…