11/21/24
December 23, 2012
Megatron Breaks Jerry Rice Receiving Record: Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson surpassed Jerry Rice's single-season yards receiving record of 1,848 yards Saturday, catching 11 receptions for 225 yards against the Atlanta Falcons. The receiver nicknamed Megatron now has 1,892 yards and one more game to build on his record. Rice set the mark in 1995 with the San Francisco 49ers. "How amazing was it?" writes Mitch Albom. "You almost forgot that the Lions lost their seventh game in a row, 31-18, and are now an awful 4-11."
Calvin is 108 yards from 2,000 on the season, and Stafford is 305 yards from his second straight 5,000-yard season. Guess the "pass first" philosophy doesn't work for everyone...
posted by MeatSaber at 10:49 AM on December 23, 2012
I wish it were as easy as "horrible, horrible defense." Most drops in the league; bad turnovers; over-reliance on one facet of every phase (pass=Johnson, run=LeShoure, defense=line) -- there just isn't a good team there.
posted by Etrigan at 11:29 AM on December 23, 2012
Yeah, they suck in every phase except for their stud WR, but the D has given up massive points all season long. The debacle vs. Arizona last week was ridiculous.
posted by dyams at 04:40 PM on December 23, 2012
Don't forget Calvin has done this with very little help. Detroit's other 4 receivers were out with injuries for that game (Pettigrew, Broyles, Young, Burleson), and 3 of them are out for the season.
posted by insomnyuk at 05:07 PM on December 23, 2012
Yeah, they suck in every phase except for their stud WR, but the D has given up massive points all season long. The debacle vs. Arizona last week was ridiculous.
The Cardinals had 196 net yards of offense in that game. Stafford threw two pick-sixes and had another INT returned inside the Lions' 5-yard line (leading to a TD), and the two other Cardinals TDs also resulted from Lions turnovers. Would not pin that debacle on the D.
posted by holden at 08:49 PM on December 23, 2012
CJ is one heck of a receiver, maybe the best in the game today.
Rice remains the best of all time.
posted by cixelsyd at 01:13 AM on December 24, 2012
It would have been nice to be able to see a receiver with Calvin Johnson's skills play with Joe Montana, Steve Young, and the surrounding cast of the great 49er teams Rice played on. In that situation, I think Johnson would have surpassed Rice.
posted by dyams at 10:30 PM on December 24, 2012
CJ is only 27, dyams, he might yet have the chance. Unlikely as long as he stays in Detroit (sorry YYM) but...
posted by billsaysthis at 11:34 AM on December 26, 2012
The guy is great. Absolutely a machine. Too bad his team, just when people thought they were poised to take a step forward, absolutely suck. Horrible, horrible defense.