Calvin Johnson sets NFL receiving record, passing Jerry Rice

Johnson’s biggest potential for improvement is in the end zone. He is hoping the Lions can make more trips to the red zone so that he can improve on his relatively paltry five touchdown receptions from a year ago. Johnson signed an eight-year contract worth $132 million last march, putting him in a Lions uniform through 2019 provided the contract is fulfilled.

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Jerry Rice originally set the record 17 yards ago with a 122-catch, 1,848-yard season. Rice spoke to Jon Gruden and Mike Tirico during ESPN’s telecast of the game and acknowledged that Johnson would break the record and also praised Johnson for being, well, pretty damn awesome.

Earlier in the week, Rice was quoted as saying: “I have 40 records. I don’t mind giving him one.”

A 26-yard reception late in the fourth quarter set off this reaction:

Johnson also set another NFL record for passing 100 yards receiving in eight consecutive games. It was the 11th time this season he surpassed 100 yards; that ties an NFL record also held by Michael Irvin.