Around the NFC

Brees nears record.

New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees needs 201 yards passing Monday night against Washington to become the league’s alltime record holder. Brees is now third at 71,740 yards, trailing Brett Favre (71,838) and Peyton Manning (71,940).

Vikings onedimensional.

Seventh in rushing last year (122.3 yards per game), Minnesota has plummeted to last through four games (63.0). The Vikings are the leastbalanced team in the league, running on only 26.5 percent of their plays. “It’s important for us to have balance,” coach Mike Zimmer told reporters. “It keeps the defensive line from pinning their ears back all the time (to rush the passer). And I think it helps the football team overall.”

Reid returns.

Former San Francisco safety Eric Reid is expected to make his Carolina debut against the New York Giants after signing during the Panthers’ bye week. A fiveyear starter for the 49ers, Reid, who knelt for the national anthem with Colin Kaepernick, remained without a team until Carolina placed veteran Da’norris Searcy on injured reserve. “We got a steal, I feel,” quarterback Cam Newton said of Reid.

20sack pace.

Led by Dallas’ Demarcus Lawrence (5½ sacks), four players are on pace for 20 sacks this year. Houston’s J.J. Watt, Chicago’s Khalil Mack and Atlanta’s Takkarist Mckinley have five sacks apiece. The last 20sack season was in 2014 when Kansas City’s Justin Houston had 22 and Watt 20½.

Crossout teams.

A quarter into the season, only two of the 16 NFC teams can be ignored as playoff contenders — San Francisco (13) and Arizona (04). They play each other Sunday.