Receivers step up, put up big numbers
It was the “day of the receiver” in the NFL on Sunday.
There were 10 players with more than 100 yards receiving in Sunday’s 11 afternoon games, bringing the week’s total to12 if you add Andre Holmes and Calvin Johnson’s Thanksgiving Day totals to the mix. With Drew Brees and Russell Wilson yet to play, that number could certainly go up by late Monday night.
Although that cumulative number is impressive, check out the performances three wideouts: Both Cleveland’s Josh Gordon and Chicago’s Alshon Jeffery now find themselves among the league’s best all-time single game receiving yardage performances. Gordon’s 261-yard effort ties him with Steve Largent for the 14th highest total in NFL history. Jeffery’s 249-yard day now puts him alone at 26th. In addition, Eric Decker is the 39th player in NFL history with four receiving TDs in a game. Cincinnati’s Marvin Jones competed the same feat in Week11; but before Jones, no player had reached that milestone since 2007.
Offenses and rule changes certainly have inflated passing numbers, and it would seem logical that receiving totals would follow suit. But in the cases of Gordon and Jeffery, they both seemed to thrive in spite of their quarterbacks Sunday.
Adrian Peterson: The NFL’s best running back fought through a groin injury to average 6 yards per carry in Minnesota’s 23-20 overtime win over the Bears. Peterson ran for 211 yards, 19 of them coming on a ridiculous fourth-quarter scurry in which he powered through four Chicago defenders. That carry gave him10,000 career rushing yards, making him the third-fastest player in NFL history to reach that mark. Marc Trestman: After the Bears received a second life when Minnesota kicker Blair Walsh’s gamewinning field goal in overtime was negated by a penalty, Chicago’s coach opted to try a 47-yard kick on second-and-7 rather than run at least one more play to try and get his team closer. Bears kicker Robbie Gould’s attempt sailed wide right. Chicago’s playoff chances took a big hit when Walsh came out and ended the game with a 34-yard kick on the Vikings’ next drive. Josh Gordon: The Browns’ second-year receiver became the first player in NFL history to have back-to-back regular season games with more than 200 yards receiving. After grabbing 14 catches for 237 yards and a touchdown in Week 12 versus Pittsburgh, Gordon caught ten passes for 261 yards and two TDs (one which went for 95 yards) in Cleveland’s 32-28 loss to Jacksonville. Despite missing the first two games of the season due to suspension, Gordon now ranks second in the NFL in total receiving yards. Chris Cook and Rhett Ellison: The biggest beneficiaries of Gould’s missed kick were the Vikings’ cornerback and backup tight end, both of whom were responsible for dumb penalties earlier in the game. After getting burned on an incredible 46-yard touchdown catch by Jeffery, who had a franchise record 249 receiving yards in the Bears’ loss, Cook got up and inadvertently shoved an official, earning an instant ejection. Ellison’s penalty was even more costly, as he wascalled for a 15-yard face mask while blocking on what would have been a game-winning 39-yard field goal earlier in overtime.
The penalty forced Walsh to try a 57-yarder, which he missed, giving the Bears a failed opportunity to win the game.