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Calvin Johnson was on another level on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. All week we heard about the debate over Johnson and Dez Bryant, and Megatron silenced any of his doubters by catching 14 passes (on 16 targets) for 329 yards and a touchdown against Dallas. This was merely Johnson's latest foray into the record books, and it was one of his greatest performances in a Detroit Lions uniform.
Johnson nearly set the single-game receiving record on Sunday. He finished just behind Flipper Anderson, who had a record 336 yards receiving in a game back in 1989. It's worth noting, however, that Anderson's performance was aided by overtime, meaning Johnson owns the single-game receiving record if you only count regulation.
Per Lions, Anderson had 296 in regulation in that 1989 game. So Calvin's is an NFL record in regulation, for what it's worth.
— John Niyo (@JohnNiyo) October 27, 2013
Johnson's 329 yards broke a Lions single-game record that was previously set by Cloyce Box in 1950. Also, Johnson's performance was his fifth career regular-season game with 200 or more yards receiving, which ties him with Lance Alworth for the NFL record. Here are more great stats about Johnson's ridiculous day:
2013 stat: Calvin Johnson has more 300 yard games than Alex Smith. (I know KC is undefeated)
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) October 27, 2013
Calvin Johnson has 200 yards five times in 99 career games. Jerry Rice did it four times in 303 games.
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) October 27, 2013
Megatron has 200+ yards six times in his last 27 games, counting the playoffs. No one else in NFL history has six career 200-yard games.
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) October 27, 2013
Randy Moss had 200 yards once in 226 career games. Calvin Johnson has 200 yards six times in his last 27 games.
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) October 27, 2013
Stat of the year: Calvin Johnson had more total yards than 11 teams today.
— World of Isaac (@WorldofIsaac) October 27, 2013
Johnson already has 821 yards this season despite missing a game. After eight games last year, Johnson only had 767 yards, and he went on to set the single-season receiving record. If he keeps playing like he did on Sunday, that record will fall again, especially when you consider this:
"Just wait 'til he's 100 percent." - Jim Schwartz on Calvin Johnson.
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) October 27, 2013
You are amazing, Megatron.