On November 13, 1994, former New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe accomplished a feat that remains unmatched in NFL history.
During a Week 11 contest against the Minnesota Vikings, the signal-caller attempted 70 passes in a single game, according to Yahoo Sports.
The Patriots faced a 20-0 deficit in the second quarter before Bledsoe led a comeback to secure a 26-20 overtime victory, as noted by NESN.
Bledsoe finished the game with 426 passing yards and three touchdowns without throwing an interception or taking a sack.
The performance required an intense offensive effort, as Bledsoe attempted 53 of his 70 passes during the second half and overtime periods.
Head coach Bill Parcells decided to utilize a two-minute drill strategy throughout the second half after observing the Vikings defense late in the first half.
Parcells explained his reasoning for the adjustment, stating, “I remember telling my coaches at halftime, Look, we are going to start the second half with the two-minute drill because of what I’d seen at the end of the first half.”
This victory served as the start of a seven-game winning streak that helped the Patriots finish the season with a 10-6 record and earn a Wild Card playoff spot.
While various quarterbacks have approached the record, none have surpassed it, with Vinnie Testaverde coming closest by throwing 69 passes in a 2000 game.
In comparison, seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady never reached the 70-attempt threshold during his career with New England.
According to NESN, Brady’s personal career high for pass attempts in a single game was 65, which occurred during a 2012 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.
Bledsoe ended his 1994 campaign with an NFL-high 4,555 passing yards and earned his first of four career Pro Bowl selections.