Center Spencer Long (left) and QB Sam Darnold have led Jets offense that has scored 69 points in last two games. Darnold photo by Al Thompson

EAST RUTHERFORD: The NFL is always starved to find great quarterbacks. In recent years, the bright new stars who are established include Eagles Carson Wentz, Rams Jared Goff, Bears Mitchell Trubisky, Texans DeShaun Watson and Cowboys Dak Prescott.

Topping this year’s class is rookie sensation Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs. The jury is still out on Browns Baker Mayfield and Cardinals Josh Rosen.

One rookie who has made some strides in recent weeks is Jets starter Sam Darnold out of USC.
Darnold has led New York to consecutive win over the Denver Broncos (34-16) and the Indianapolis Colts (42-34)

While the Jets offense has been putting up lots of points, they’ve attempted more field goals (17) than extra points (16).

Veteran center Spencer Long, who was signed by New York this year after spending his first four seasons with the Washington Redskins, says he loves the points but it’s not enough.

“I mean we moved the ball, we hit some plays but we’ve got to finish, we’ve got to get into the end zone,” said Long, after Jets kicker Jason Myers connected on seven field goals in the win over the Colts. “We’ll take the positives, look at the negatives and try and improve on them…but we have to finish drives.”

The Jets have committed a lot of turnovers this season (12) but they’ve also caused quite a few (15) including Jets cornerback Morris Claiborne’s pick six on the Colts opening drive, giving the Jets a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter.

“It gives us a little cushion, swings momentum, does a lot for us,” Long said . “It’s seven points on the board…if you can do that, you’re hard to beat.”

Against the Colts Darnold was 24 of 30 for 280 yards two touchdown passes and one interception. He was sacked twice. His quarterback rating was 113.9. With the performance, Darnold raised his QB rating to 83.7 after six games.

Long was asked if he thought Darnold’s body language was more confident, that he looked more relaxed on the field.

“Definitely, for sure,” Long said. “I think he’s definitely grown. I think we all have as an offense. He made some good plays today…we knew he could do it.”

Jets wide receiver and former Temple standout Robby Anderson talked about Darnold’s progress.
“He’s growing into a big role,” Anderson said. “He’s taken the challenge. He not letting losses define him, he keeps fighting and working.”

This week, the Jets are home again against the equally surging Minnesota Vikings who have knocked off the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals in successive weeks.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins enter the game with a 102.7 quarterback rating after six games. He has the top rated receiver in the league in Adam Thielen. He has 58 receptions and 712 yards – both stats are No. 1 in NFL…plus four touchdowns.

Long said the Jets can’t look back.

“We’ve got to keep rolling,” Long said. “We’re in the thick of it. It’s the middle of the season, we want to go on a run. We can enjoy this one for a day and a half then get back at it.”
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Around the league – what to look for:
MILESTONE WATCH: New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES passed for 363 yards and three touchdowns in the Saints’ Week 5 win. Brees has 72,103 career passing yards and surpassed PEYTON MANNING (71,940) in Week 5 to become the league’s all-time leading passer.

With a touchdown pass on Sunday at Baltimore (4:05 PM ET, FOX), Brees can join Manning (539), Pro Football Hall of Famer BRETT FAVRE (508) and TOM BRADY (501) as the only players in NFL history to throw 500 career touchdown passes.
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Indianapolis kicker ADAM VINATIERI has scored 2,535 total points during his 23-year NFL career. With 10 points on Sunday against Buffalo (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Vinatieri would surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer MORTEN ANDERSEN (2,544 points) as the league’s all-time leading scorer.
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Los Angeles Rams running back TODD GURLEY leads the NFL with 870 scrimmage yards and nine rushing touchdowns through the first six weeks of the 2018 season.
With 130 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on Sunday at San Francisco (4:25 PM ET, CBS), Gurley can become the fifth different player in NFL history with at least 1,000 scrimmage yards and 10 rushing touchdowns in his team’s first seven games of a season.
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Arizona running back DAVID JOHNSON has 3,678 scrimmage yards and 39 total touchdowns in 39 career games.

With a touchdown on Thursday against Denver (8:20 PM ET, FOX/NFLN/Amazon Prime), Johnson can become the seventh player since 1970 with at least 40 total touchdowns in his first 40 career games.
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Kansas City quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES leads the NFL with 18 touchdown passes through the first six weeks of the season.

Mahomes, who has 18 touchdown passes in his first seven career games, needs two touchdown passes against Cincinnati on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC) to join Pro Football Hall of Famer KURT WARNER (21) and DESHAUN WATSON (20) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history with at least 20 touchdown passes in their first eight career games.
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Kansas City wide receiver TYREEK HILL had seven receptions for 142 yards and three touchdowns, including a 75-yarder, in Week 6 and ties for the league-lead with six touchdown receptions in 2018.

Hill, who turns 25 in March of 2019, has 14 career touchdowns of at least 50 yards. With his next touchdown of at least 50 yards, he would become the third player in NFL history with at least 15 touchdowns of 50+ yards before turning 25 years old.
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Minnesota wide receiver ADAM THIELEN had 11 catches for 123 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings’ Week 6 win and leads the league with 58 receptions and 712 receiving yards this season. His 58 catches are the most by a player in his team’s first six games of a season in league annals.

Thielen has recorded at least 100 receiving yards in each of Minnesota’s first six games this season and joined CHARLEY HENNIGAN (seven consecutive games in 1961) as the only players in NFL history with 100 or more receiving yards in each of his team’s first six games to start a season.

With 100 receiving yards on Sunday at the New York Jets (1:00 PM ET, FOX), Thielen would become the fifth player to record seven consecutive games at any point in a season with at least 100 receiving yards in NFL history.
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New York Giants rookie running back SAQUON BARKLEY had a career-high 229 scrimmage yards (130 rushing, 99 receiving) in Week 6. Barkley has totaled at least 100 scrimmage yards in each of his first six career games.

With 100 scrimmage yards on Monday at Atlanta (8:20 PM ET, ESPN), Barkley would join KAREEM HUNT (2017) as the only players in league annals with at least 100 scrimmage yards in seven consecutive games to begin their career.

Additionally, with 100 scrimmage yards in Week 7, Barkley would become the seventh rookie in NFL history to record seven consecutive games at any point in a season with at least 100 scrimmage yards.
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Indianapolis quarterback ANDREW LUCK threw for 301 yards with four touchdown passes in Week 6.
Luck, who has passed for at least 300 yards and three touchdowns in each of his past three games, can become the third quarterback in NFL history with four consecutive games with at least 300 passing yards and three touchdowns within a single season on Sunday against Buffalo (1:00 PM ET, CBS).
Notes from nflcommunications.com

Follow Al Thompson on Twitter @thompsoniii