Sports Stats ‘on Tapp’ is a biweekly blog published every Wednesday and Sunday with a bonus “SIX STATS…” posting every Friday.

The 2011 NFL regular season begins tomorrow night with a match-up between the past two Super Bowl champions… the Packers and the Saints.

As the season kicks off, each team is looking to their “big game” players to lead the way to success. It seems as though we have an unofficial definition of “big game” for quarterbacks, running backs and receivers in the NFL:  For QBs it’s a 300-yard passing game; for running backs and receivers it’s a game with 100 or more yards in a game.

Who have been the top “big game” players in the NFL over the past three seasons? Here’s a look at those players who have had at least 10 “big games” over the past three seasons. In addition, their team’s record in those games is also listed.

Quarterbacks (300-yard passing games/W-L in those games)

Drew Brees                       24          18-6

Peyton Manning              20          16-4

Matt Schaub                     20          10-10

Tony Romo                       16           11-5

Philip Rivers                     16           10-6

Aaron Rodgers                 14            7-7

Jay Cutler                          12            5-7

Tom Brady                        11            9-2

Ben Roethlisberger         11            8-3

Running Backs (100-yard rushing games/W-L in those games)

Chris Johnson                  24           17-7

Michael Turner                19           17-2

Adrian Peterson               18           13-5

Steven Jackson                15            4-11

Thomas Jones                  14            8-6

Maurice Jones-Drew      14           11-3

Cedric Benson                  12           10-2

Frank Gore                        12           8-4

Deangelo Williams          12           8-4

Jamaal Charles                10            6-4

WE INTERRUPT THIS BLOG FOR A TRIVIA QUESTION. Four different Green Bay Packers players had a “big game” in the playoffs last season. Aaron Rodgers had two games with 300 or more yards passing (366 vs. the Falcons and 304 yards passing in the Super Bowl). Greg Jennings also had two “big games”… 101 yards receiving against Atlanta and 130 yards vs. the Bears. Can you name the other two Green Bay players who had 100 or more yards in a playoff game last year? Answer at end of blog.

Receivers (100-yard receiving games/W-L in those games)

Andre Johnson                20          12-8

Roddy White                    16           10-6

Greg Jennings                  15            9-6

Larry Fitzgerald               13            6-7

Hines Ward                      13           10-3

Reggie Wayne                  13           10-3

Calvin Johnson                12            3-9

Miles Austin                     11             5-6

Desean Jackson               11            9-2

Wes Welker                      11             9-2

Vincent Jackson              10            9-1

Brandon Marshall           10            3-7

Steve Smith                       10           7-3

TRIVIA ANSWER: Running back James Starks had 123 yards rushing against the Eagles in the Wild Card game; Jordy Nelson had 140 yards receiving in the Super Bowl.