Halls Of History: The NFL’s First 200-Yard Receiving Game “He Played With Snakes!”

Welcome back to the Halls Of History. My next trivia question (featured in the first video) asked who was the first player in NFL History to record 200 yards receiving in a single game? The answer and some history of that unbelievable player is in the second video. Just a little tidbit for you in how this Pro Football Hall of Famer credited some of his quickness growing up, he played with snakes. Enjoy another NFL History feature on the Halls Of History.

THE LAST TIME: A FRANCHISE FEATURED A 200 YARD RECEIVER IN A SINGLE GAME PART II

Yesterday we got to see the first 16 teams that have had the most recent 200 yard games by a receiver. Eight teams had its “Last Time” in 2014. The other eight teams featured yesterday were spread out over three seasons from 2013 back through 2011.

The second half of our countdown begins in the 2010 season and goes all the way back…to 1965. Which team has not had an individual game with a 200 yard receiver in 49 years? Read on to find out.

17: 67 Games – Philadelphia Eagles. DeSean Jackson (above) blew through the Dallas Cowboys defense December 12, 2010 with 210 yards in only four catches. Jackson grabbed a 60 yarder on the first play of the game, a 37 yard catch in the second quarter, a reception good for another 22 yards in the third quarter and then broke an intermediate route for a 91 yard touchdown to give the Eagles the lead for good in the final quarter. Philly won 30-27. For Jackson it was his fourth game over 100 yards in 2010 and helped him to record his second 1,000 yard season.

18: 73 Games – Tennessee Titans. Second year receiver Kenny Britt was open and had the Philadelphia Eagles’ number October 24, 2010. Britt caught seven passes for 225 yards and three touchdowns of 26, 80 and 16 yards. The last two scores were part of a 27 point fourth quarter barrage that gave the Titans a 37-19 win after trailing 19-10 going into the final stanza. For Britt it was his first game over 100 yards for the season and his first and only career 200 yard game. He finished the year with a career high 775 yards.

19: 75 Games – San Diego Chargers. At 6’5″ Malcolm Floyd could get the extra reach he needed to grab eight passes for 213 yards and a 41 yard touchdown October 10, 2010 vs. the Oakland Raiders. That’s right on 10/10/10 of his sixth season in the NFL, Floyd registered just his third career triple digit game and first of the season. The Raiders ended up pulling out the win scoring the final 13 points of the 35-27 victory. The most yards Malcolm Floyd has gained in a game since, 127 yards against…you guessed it the Raiders 01/01/12. Floyd has a thing for the zeros and ones, and the Raiders. He has never had a 1,000 yard season.

20: 87 Games – Minnesota Vikings. It was Brett Favre’s first season in Minnesota and his favorite target for the year was receiver Sidney Rice. In a match-up with division foe Detroit November 15, 2009 Rice nabbed seven passes for 201 yards. And even though he never reached the end zone five of his catches went for 20 or more yards and three were good for 43, 43 and 56. The Vikings won the game 27-10. Rice was an absolute burner for Favre in what became a career year for the oft-injured receiver. Rice had never recorded a 100 yard game until ’09 and finished the year with four triple digit performances on his way to 1,312 yards in his only Pro Bowl season.

21: 134 Games – Buffalo Bills. We drift a little further back to find the last time for the Bills. Back to November 19, 2006 and Lee Evans setting a franchise record 265 yards against the Houston Texans. Evans exploded out of the gate and showed the Texans that they must respect his speed recording two 83 yard touchdowns in the first quarter. Evans became only the fourth player in NFL history to record two touchdowns of 80 yards or more in the same quarter. He was the first (and so far only) to have both by receptions. Evans enjoyed a career year in 2006 with 1,292 yards.

22: 154 Games – Carolina Panthers. Steve Smith had a great career in Carolina and can be easily argued as the best player in franchise history. Smith is also the only player to register a 200 yard receiving game in Panthers history. It occurred October 30, 2005 in a game against the Minnesota Vikings. For Smith it was a comeback year after missing most of 2004 with an injury. It was his fifth (of nine) 100 yard games of the season and just barely squeaking over the two century mark with his final catch, a six yarder in the fourth, to finish with 11 catches for 201 yards and one TD. Smith led the league in ’05 with 103 receptions for 1,563 yards and 12 touchdowns.

23: 156 Games – New York Giants. Just two games prior to the Panthers “Last Time” for a 200 yard receiver was the Giants “Last Time”. October 2, 2005 Plaxico Burress beat up a struggling St. Louis Rams squad with 11 catches for 204 yards and two touchdowns. The Giants dominated the game winning 44-24 as the Rams committed five turnovers in what turned out to be Marshall Faulk’s final season. Burress became a big reliable target for Eli Manning as Plax finished his first season in The Big Apple with 1,214 yards.

24: 184 Games – St. Louis Rams. And speaking of the Rams, the much traveled franchise is next up on the list. For a team that has had the most individual 200 yard receiving games (16) of any team in the NFL, it hasn’t had such a performance since Torry Holt November 2, 2003. Holt torched the San Francisco 49ers with 11 grabs for 200 yards and a touchdown. The 49ers came out with the win 30-10 at home giving the Rams one of only four losses that year. For Holt, it was his second career 200 yard game and came right smack in the middle of a career season. Holt finished 2003 with ten 100 yard games on his way to leading the NFL with 117 catches for 1,696 which was at the time the fifth highest single season total in NFL History.

25: 191 Games – Arizona Cardinals. Anquan Boldin was the last receiver for the 49ers to have a 200 yard game and the same is true for his first team the Arizona Cardinals. This game was almost 10 years to the day earlier September 7, 2003 and it was his first game as a rookie for the Cards. Boldin began his career with a bruising explosion against the Detroit Lions with 10 catches for 217 yards and touchdowns of 7 and 71 yards. Despite the physical beat down from the rookie receiver, Joey Harrington threw four touchdown passes (his career best) as the Lions got the win 42-24. Boldin went on to finish the year with a rookie record 101 catches for 1,377 yards on his way to winning Offensive Rookie of the Year.

26: 200 Games – Pittsburgh Steelers. We just saw Anquan Boldin appear on this list for a second time and now so will Plaxico Burress. Just three years prior to having the last 200 yard game for the Giants, Burress did the same for Pittsburgh. November 10, 2002 Burress set a franchise record with 253 yards on nine catches and two scores in a game that ended in a 34-34 tie against the Atlanta Falcons. Plax finished the season with personal bests of 78 receptions for 1,325 yards.

27: 218 Games – Washington Redskins. Drifting back to one year earlier is where you will find the “Last Time” the Redskins featured a game with a 200 yard receiving performance. Rookie Rod Gardner was the man of the day October 21, 2001 against the Carolina Panthers with 6 catches for 208 yards and the game tying 85 yard touchdown catch from Tony Banks in the fourth. Washington would get the win with a field goal in OT. For Gardner it was his only triple digit yard game of the season as he finished the year with 741 yards.

28: 243 Games – Baltimore Ravens. For Baltimore and its new found history in the ’90s, it didn’t take long to get its first 200 yard receiving performance. But it would also be its last. December 12, 1999 with Qadry Ismail in a late season match-up against heated rival Pittsburgh. Ismail displayed the speed that gave him the nickname “The Missile” and helped propel him to a career renaissance as a receiver. He grabbed six passes for 258 yards and scores of 54, 59 and 76 yards as the Ravens won 31-24. After not catching a pass for two seasons, Ismail led Baltimore with 68 receptions for 1,105 yards and six touchdowns.

29: 320 Games – New Orleans Saints. In the previous chapter of the “Last Time” we saw that the “Last Time” the Broncos allowed a 200 yard receiver was to Torrance Small of the Saints in 1994. Well that just also happens to be the “Last Time” the Saints have featured a 200 yard receiver. Even with Drew Brees and his 5,000 yard passing seasons, no Saints player has eclipsed the two century mark in a game since Christmas Eve of 1994. Torrance Small caught six passes for 200 yards and two scores from the blazing arm of Jim Everett. The Saints won the tight ball game 30-28. Small never had a 1,000 yard season but he did set a career high with 719 yards in 1994.

30: 398 Games – Kansas City Chiefs. Stephone Paige was no stranger to gaining a lot of yards in a game. In 1985 Paige broke Jim Benton’s 40 year old record when he gained 309 yards in a game against the Chargers. Five years later September 17, 1990 Paige went over 200 for the second time in his career with 10 catches for 206 yards and two scores against the Denver Broncos. His touchdowns of 16 and 83 yards came in the fourth quarter to give the Chiefs a two point lead. However, John Elway took Denver right back down the field to get the winning field goal from David Treadwell. 1990 was Paige’s first 1,000 yard season (1,021) and it would be his last as injuries forced him to miss 13 games in 1991 and then he retired.

31: 442 Games – Seattle Seahawks. Next up is a team that spent many years in the AFC West with the Chiefs. Seattle’s first and last 200 yard individual receiving performance came from Hall of Famer Steve Largent October 18, 1987. Against the Detroit Lions, Largent crossed the NFL Players Picket Line and showed the replacement players why he was a Hall of Famer and one of the best receivers of All-Time. Catching passes from Jeff Kemp, Largent grabbed 15 receptions for a franchise record 261 yards and three first quarter touchdowns. Seattle dominated the final strike game 37-14.
32: 761 Games – Oakland Raiders. And now we hit the way-way back machine as another team from the AFC West rounds out the list. For the Raiders who have had a history of speed on the outside and Al Davis in the background yelling “Let’s go deep,” Oakland has not had an individual player with a 200 yard game since the Old AFL days October 8, 1965 from Art Powell. Two years earlier, Powell became the first Raider to record a 200 yard game with 247 in a shootout victory over the Houston Oilers. This time it was a game against the Boston Patriots and Powell finished with 11 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns as the Raiders won 24-10. Powell caught a 47 yard touchdown from Tom Flores for the first score of the game. The man nicknamed “King Pin” was an AFL star. Five 1,000 yard seasons splitting time between the New York Titans (later the Jets) and the Raiders, he led the league twice in receiving yards and touchdowns and was voted to four Pro Bowls and twice named an All-Pro. At the time of his retirement in 1968 only Don Maynard had more career yards in the AFL.

Art Powell showing off his reach

Hard to believe that the Raiders have not had a 200 yard receiver in a single game since 1965. Even with players like Fred Biletnikoff, Cliff Branch, Todd Christiansen, James Lofton, Willie Gault, James Jett, Andre Rison, Tim Brown and Jerry Rice in the franchise listing of greats no one has done it since Art Powell almost 50 years ago.

Can the Raiders get a great performance this season? Or maybe the Seahawks will finally get a non-strike game for its group. The Chiefs could also remind everyone that last season was a fluke with no wide out catching a touchdown pass and also get that big game yardage for the first time in a quarter century. Or quite possibly one of the teams at the top of the list just might roll it over and start counting again.

Who knows. But that is part of the fun of watching and waiting to see history happen.

The Last Time: A Franchise Featured a 200 Yard Receiver in a Single Game Part I

Eric Decker had the most recent 200 yard receiving game.

Good morning football fans. Time for another chapter in the series “The Last Time”. In keeping with the theme of the first edition of “The Last Time” now we get to see the last time that each franchise featured its own 200 yard single game receiver. The order will be from the most recent to the ones that have gone a few decades. You may be surprised at some of the teams that have not had a 200 yard receiver in a very long time.

So, let us begin with the first 16 teams. Where does your favorite team rank?

1: 0 Games – New York Jets. Eric Decker hit the 200 yard mark in the final game of the season with 10 receptions for 221 yards and a score. The Jets defeated the Miami Dolphins 37-24 to finish the season 4-12. Decker scored his only touchdown of the game, a 74 yard bomb, in the third to take the 10 point Miami lead down to three. For Decker, it was his second 100 yard game of the season (the first was two weeks prior) and he ended the year 38 yards short of his third straight 1,000 yard season.

T2: 3 Games – Atlanta Falcons. Julio Jones went wild over the Green Bay Packers during a Monday Night slug fest December 8th that Atlanta lost 43-37. The first half was dominated by the Packers but Atlanta came roaring back after being down 31-7 at halftime. Jones led all receivers with 11 catches for 259 yards and a 22 yard touchdown to start the fourth quarter and reduce the Green Bay lead to 10. For Jones, it was his sixth of seven 100 yard games during 2014 as he finished third in the league with 1,593 yards.

T2: 3 Games – Cincinnati Bengals. A.J. Green hit the two century mark for the first time in his career in a 42-21 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday December 7th. Green grabbed 11 passes for 224 yards and scored on an 81 yard toss in the third quarter that gave Cincy a 21-17 lead. The Steelers rattled off 25 straight points in the fourth to get the victory. It was Green’s fifth 100 yard game of the season and helped him to reach 1,000 yards for the fourth straight year despite missing three games.

4: 4 Games – Houston Texans. DeAndre Hopkins became only the second Texan to gain 200 yards receiving in a game back in the 12th match-up of 2014, November 30th in a 45-21 win over the Tennessee Titans. The youngster caught nine passes for 238 yards and scored twice on plays of 58 and 34 yards. It was his fourth 100 yard game of the year and helped Hopkins reach a career high of 1,210 yards. 208 more than his previous (and rookie) year.

5: 6 Games – Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rookie Mike Evans continued his domination in the Bucs 10th game of 2014, November 16th in a 27-7 victory over the Washington Redskins. Evans ended the game with seven receptions for 209 yards and two scores. His touchdowns showed his incredible ability scoring on 36 and 56 yard plays in the third and fourth quarters to help give the lead for good to Tampa. It was the third consecutive 100 yard game for the rookie as he ended the season with 1,051 yards to lead the Buccaneers.

6: 10 Games – Indianapolis Colts. The blazing speed of T.Y. Hilton was on full display Thursday Night in week six of 2014 in a 33-28 win over the Houston Texans. Nine catches for 223 yards and a 33 yard third quarter touchdown helped put the Colts ahead for good and improved Indy to 4-2 for the year. For Hilton it was his second of six 100 yard games in 2014 and his first career game over 200. Hilton finished the season with a career high 1,345 yards averaging 16.4 per catch.

7: 12 Games – Denver Broncos. Demaryius Thomas got off to a slow start in 2014 with 13 catches for 141 yards and a score through the first three games, but then exploded on the Arizona Cardinals October 5th. Thomas grabbed eight passes for 226 yards and scored twice on plays of 31 and 86 yards in the second quarter on the way to a 41-20 win. It was the first of seven straight 100 yard games (10 in all for ’14). Thomas ended the season with career highs with 111 catches and 1,619 yards which was second in the NFL.

8: 14 Games – Green Bay Packers. Jordy Nelson got the barrage of 200 yard games for 2014 started in the second week, September 14th in a 31-24 win over the New York Jets. Nelson had eight catches for 129 yards before catching an 80 yard bomb from Aaron Rodgers to give Green Bay the win and put Nelson over 200 yards for the first time in his career. It was Nelson’s first 100 yard game of seven for the year. All Packer wins. Nelson ended the year with career highs 98 catches for 1,519 yards.

T9: 20 games – Chicago Bears. December 1st of 2013, Alshon Jeffery hit the two century mark for the second time of the season in a 23-20 overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Jeffery had a career day with 12 receptions for 249 yards and scoring plays of 80 and 46 yards. The second year wideout ended 2013 with five games over 100 yards with two over 200. Jeffery finished the season with 1,421 yards.

T9: 20 Games – Cleveland Browns. The same day that Jeffery had his second 200 yard game of 2013, so did Josh Gordon. Gordon exploded in 2013 despite the fact the Browns kept losing. In two consecutive weeks Gordon eclipsed 200 yards first in a 27-11 loss to Pittsburgh and then a 32-28 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Gordon grabbed 10 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns of 21 and 95 yards. Despite missing two games for suspension, Gordon registered seven 100 yard games and led the league with 1,646 yards.

11: 24 Games – Detroit Lions. Over a three season span from 2011 to 2013, Calvin Johnson’s name became synonymous with a 200 yard game. Five times in 46 games Johnson destroyed opposing defenses. The last one came in a narrow 31-30 win over the Dallas Cowboys October 27, 2013. Johnson ended the game with 10 grabs for an almost record 329 yards and one score. Even though Megatron wasn’t the one getting into the end zone he kept coming up with the big play to keep the Lions going. Over the three year span of ’11 through ’13 Johnson gained 5,137 yards. An NFL record for three seasons.

12: 31 Games – San Francisco 49ers. Anquan Boldin opened up the season in his first game with the 49ers the same way he opened his career back in 2003 with the Arizona Cardinals with a 200 yard game. September 8, 2013 Boldin was the workhorse on offense for San Fran with 13 catches for 208 yards and a 10 yard touchdown in a 34-28 victory over the Green Bay Packers. Boldin ended the season with his sixth 1,000 yard season (now has seven) and his first since 2009 his final year in Arizona.

13: 33 Games – Dallas Cowboys. We go back to the end of the 2012 season December 23rd as Dez Bryant dominated the New Orleans Saints with nine receptions for 224 yards and two touchdowns. But it was Drew Brees who got the final say in a 34-31 overtime loss for the Cowboys in a game that featured a combined seven touchdown passes. For Bryant it was his fifth 100 yard game of the season and first career 200 yard game.

14: 38 Games – Jacksonville Jaguars. Another young receiver was beginning to make his mark in 2012 as Justin Blackmon went off on the Houston Texans November 18th. Blackmon caught seven passes for 236 yards with an 81 yard score. But the Texans would get the win in OT 43-37. For Blackmon it was his first and only game over 100 yards during his rookie campaign. Unfortunately for Jacksonville it would only get two more games over 100 yards in 2013 before suspensions led to a flame out of an amazing talent. Blackmon has not played since October 27, 2013.

15: 44 Games – Miami Dolphins. September 30, 2012 Dolphins receiver Brian Hartline gave rookie QB Ryan Tannehill a reliable target who was open all day. Hartline snagged 12 passes for 253 yards with an 80 yard TD grab in the fourth quarter to give Miami the lead. Arizona tied the game with 22 seconds remaining and pulled out a 24-21 win in overtime. Despite the loss it was a career day for both Hartline and Tannehill. That game is still the only time that Tannehill has passed for over 400 yards (431). and remains the only 200 yard game of Hartline’s career.

16: 61 Games – New England Patriots. Even with The Gronk and Tom Brady’s ability to throw receivers open, the Patriots have not had a receiver over 200 yards since September 25, 2011 with Wes Welker in a 34-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Welker caught 16 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns. The Bills scored 17 points in the fourth quarter to grab the win. It was the 12th time that Welker finished a game with 10+ receptions but his first 200 yard game. Wes ended 2011 with his fourth (of now five) 100 reception seasons and a career high 1,569 yards.

Stay tuned as teams 17-32 will be featured next.

The Last Time: A Franchise Allowed a 200 Yard Receiver Part II

Lance Alworth and Calvin Johnson are tied with 5 200 Yard receiving games in a career for most since 1960.

Good evening folks. This morning I took a look into the first half of the teams in the NFL allowing 200 yard receivers and just how long it has been since the last time. It ranged from the Miami Dolphins who gave it up to Eric Decker in the final game of the season, to the Buffalo Bills who last allowed Wes Welker do go for 217 yards 61 games ago.

Of the bottom 16 as it were, the majority of the teams were from the AFC. Nine in fact with Buffalo, Houston, Indy, Jacksonville, Miami, New York Jets, Oakland, Pittsburgh and Tennessee. Every team from the AFC South was represented with Houston, Indy, Jacksonville and Tennessee all in fewer then 25 games. Three teams came from the AFC East (Buffalo, Miami and the Jets) and only one each from the AFC North (Pittsburgh) and AFC West (Oakland). Then the seven from the NFC were Arizona, Atlanta, Dallas, Green Bay, Minnesota, New Orleans and Washington. No more than two teams from a division came up here with the NFC East (Dallas & Washington) the NFC South (Atlanta & New Orleans) and the NFC North (Green Bay & Minnesota) leading the way so to speak. Arizona was the only team from the NFC West.

So now on to the Top 16. The teams that have gone the longest without allowing a player to gain 200 yards receiving in a game. The team at the top that has gone the longest will surprise you.

17. 73 Games – Philadelphia Eagles: The first time Philly allowed a player 200 yards receiving in a game even since 1960 came in 1979 from Tony Hill of the Cowboys. 28 seasons later the Eagle Defense bent but didn’t break as Roy Williams went over the two century mark in a 56-21 Philly win. But the most recent game did not take as long to come up as just three years and one month later the Tennessee Titans Kenny Britt became the second youngest player since 1960 to gain 200 yards receiving in a single game (he is now the 3rd as Mike Evans is the youngest passing Jerry Butler by 259 days). October 24, 2010 Britt blew through the Eagles secondary with seven grabs for 225 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-19 Titans win.

18. 74 Games – Cincinnati Bengals: The second team from the AFC North comes up at the 18th spot. The Bengals have given up four such games in the franchise’s history and two have gone to Hall of Famers (Art Monk & James Lofton). It took almost 20 years for another receiver to break the 200 barrier in a game. October 24, 2010 Roddy White of UAB (who will thankfully be bringing football back) cracked through the Bengal D with 11 receptions for 201 yards and two scores. Cincy lost the game after mounting a furious comeback being down 24-3 at the half scoring 22 unanswered points in the third quarter. Atlanta finally responded and scored two touchdowns in the fourth including White’s second of the game to take the lead and eventually the win. All of Cincinnati’s 200 yard games allowed have been away from the confines of The Jungle and all four have been losses. Another odd figure for you, the Bengals have only won two games out of nine in which one of its own players gained 200 yards receiving and both wins came against the Steelers (1988 Eddie Brown & 1998 Carl Pickens). Cincinnati does not have much luck with 200 yard receiving days.

19. 76 Games – Cleveland Browns: Another AFC North team pops up next, and the majority of the 200 yard games have come against a division foe. Even a cross-state foe as the Bengals have nabbed three of the four 200 yard games given up by Cleveland since the 1970 merger. Hall of Famer Charlie Joiner was the first in 1975. 14 years went by before another player did it again to the Browns and of course it came in the team’s first season back after the move. Terry Glenn for the Patriots gained 214 in 1999 and is so far the only player not in a Bengals uniform since 1970. Chad Johnson was next in 2007 but the most recent was none other than Terrell Owens during his only season by the Ohio River. Owens became the oldest to gain 200 yards receiving in a game (going back to 1960) at 36 years and 300 days October 3rd of 2010 with 10 catches for 222 yards and one score. Cleveland won the game 23-20 despite Cincy scoring the final 10 points.

20. 80 Games – Kansas City Chiefs: The AFC keeps it rolling here with the second from the West. KC has allowed five games of a 200 yard receiver since the 1970 merger with four coming after the turn of the century. However, the Chiefs are getting on a bit of string lately in holding off opponents from huge games. A great pass rush helps out a lot but it was in the final game of the 2009 regular season, January 3rd of 2010 when Jabar Gaffney did it for the Broncos. Gaffney had the best game of his career grabbing 14 passes for 213 yards. Kansas City kept Gaffney out of the end zone, and picking off Kyle Orton three times along with 259 yards on the ground by Jamal Charles, the Chiefs won the game 44-24 helping to knock Denver out of the playoffs. KC finished the season 4-12.

21. 87 Games – Detroit Lions: The NFC finally makes another appearance as Detroit, normally a bottom of the league team has made significant improvements over the passed several years. Especially to its defense. The Lions have allowed five different players to gain over 200 yards in a game through the air with three of those games coming between 2003 and the 2009 seasons. However, the last time the Lions have given up a 200 yard game to a receiver was the last season that we saw Brett Favre at his best in 2009. November 15th, Sidney Rice caught seven passes from the future Hall of Famer for 201 yards. Rice didn’t get into the end zone but it didn’t matter as Adrian Peterson scored twice and the Vikings beat the hapless Lions 27-10. Detroit ended the year 2-14 one year after going 0-16.

22. 91 Games – San Francisco 49ers: The second team from the NFC West comes up at the 22nd spot with the 49ers. San Fran has a big history with 200 yard receiving games as the franchise has been a part of it 18 times (regular season and playoffs) since 1960. The 49ers have allowed eight games of an opponent’s receiver going over 200, and have had one of its own players accomplish it 10 times. After allowing 200 yard games in back to back seasons in 2008 & 2009, San Fran has worked to clean up its defense and it has been a dominant one during that time frame. The last player to gain 200 yards receiving against the Niners came October 11th of 2009 as Roddy White for the Falcons comes up once again on the list. In this game White caught eight passes for 210 yards and two scores as the Falcons blew out the 49ers 45-10.

23. 99 Games – Carolina Panthers: Just one more game and the Panthers will hit triple digits since the last game giving up 200 to a receiver in a game. It has only happened twice to Carolina in franchise history with Washington’s Rod Gardner being the first in 2001. The last time was in an important division matchup at home against the Buccaneers December 8th of 2008. Both were teams battling for playoff positioning and getting into the last month of the season. Antonio Bryant in a comeback season after not playing at all in 2007, had nine receptions for exactly 200 yards and two touchdowns. It wasn’t nearly enough as the Panthers got a combined 301 yards on the ground from DeAngelo Williams and Johnathan Stewart, and an additional 117 yards from Steve Smith to take the game 38-23.

24. 135 Games – San Diego Chargers: The first team on the list at over 100 games the Chargers have only allowed three 200 yard games since 1960 and always manage to put more then 20 years in between each one. The first was to the Houston Oilers’ Charley Hennigan (who was a lot of teams’ first in giving up 200 yard games) in 1961 in the old AFL. The second time came in 1985 to Stephone Paige of the Chiefs who set the then record of 309 yards. Then the last time the Chargers gave up a 200 yard game to a receiver was November 12th of 2006 to Chad Johnson. The Bengals wideout caught 11 passes for 260 yards and two scores in a shootout loss for Cincy 49-41. 90 total points and 976 total yards gained in this contest as San Diego scored 42 points in the second half, on its way to a 14-2 finish. The Chargers lost in the Divisional Round meeting with the Patriots.

25. 156 Games – St. Louis Rams: We go back further for the next team as the Rams despite some bad years have not allowed a big receiving game to an individual in nine seasons. Since 1960, the Rams have only given up four 200 yard games and San Fran claims two of those. Jerry Rice was the first in 1985 and John Taylor followed him up with a record setting day in 1989 as the first player with two 90 yard receiving touchdowns in the same game. The third came in 1996 as Keenan McCardell for a young Jaguars team crossed the two century mark. But the last time it happened, October 2nd of 2005. Plaxico Burress for the Giants had 10 catches for 204 yards and two touchdowns in a 20 point Giants win. The Rams D in recent seasons has been the leader in keeping the team in games and also in stopping receivers from reaching 200 yards.

26. 225 Games – Chicago Bears: For years the Bears did not allow a single 200 yard receiver. It has happened four times since 1960 but there was a long time in between. Bernie Casey of the 49ers hit up Chicago for 225 yards back in 1966 but then the Bears tightened up for over 30 years. And then gave it up it chunks. The Bears allowed two 200 yard games in 1999 including one of only two such games by a RB (Marshall Faulk). And then another in 2000 that was a record breaker by another 49er. December 17th of 2000 Jerry Rice was the star of the day in his final game at Candlestick Park. But Terrell Owens would end up the Headliner catching a new record 20 passes for 283 yards and a score. Owens broke the old record of 18 receptions in a single game held for 50 years by Hall of Famer Tom Fears. The Bears lost the game 17-0. The Bears have not allowed another 200 yard game since, even with some rather bad defenses in the past few years.

27. 238 Games – Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens have been known for a tenacious and ravenous Defense during its rather short tenure in the NFL. But yet two receivers have gained over 200 yards in a game against this nasty D. Isaac Bruce was the first during the Ravens inaugural season in Baltimore in 1996. Then Jimmy Smith of the Jaguars was the second and so far the last. September 10th of 2000, Smith exploded on the eventual Super Bowl Champs for 15 receptions for 291 yards and three scores. The Ravens would still get the victory 39-36 behind five touchdown passes from Tony Banks (yes I said Tony Banks). Smith caught a 40 yard TD from Mark Brunell with 1:45 left in the game. Baltimore responded with a quick striking drive ending with Banks finding Shannon Sharpe for the 29 yard game winning score with 48 seconds remaining. Corey Harris intercepted Brunell with 4 seconds left to secure the win.

28. 320 Games – Denver Broncos: We now get to the teams that have gone 20 seasons or more without allowing a player to gain 200 yards receiving in a single game. For the Broncos you have to go all the way back to Christmas Eve 1994 in a game against the Saints. Third year wideout Torrance Small torched the Broncos for six catches gaining 200 yards and two scores. Small’s two touchdowns accounted for 111 of his yards including a 75 yard bomb in the third quarter that gave the Saints a 10 point lead. New Orleans pulled out the win 30-28 and both teams finished the year 7-9. Small had never had even a 100 yard game in his career to this point, and would even go another four years before having a 100 yard game while in a Colts uniform in 1998. A few players have been close since that day in 1994 but Denver has kept the string going.

29. 335 Games – New England Patriots: The Pats streak is just 15 games longer then Denver’s as the last time New England allowed a 200 yard receiver was also back in 1994. And it was to one of the franchises former Number 1 Overall Draft Picks. Irving Fryar, the top pick in the 1984 draft, came back to haunt the Patriots as a member of the Dolphins and finally displaying the downfield speed and great hands that made Fryar a top prospect. September 4th, Fryar at the age of 31 grabbed five passes for 211 yards and three long scores. His touchdowns covered 54, 50 and 35 yards with the last one being the winning score. Marino threw for 473 yards and five scores while the Pats young gunslinger Drew Bledsoe passed for 421 yards and 4 touchdowns. It was the only game that New England allowed a 200 yard receiver since 1965.

30. 456 Games – New York Giants: The Giants have been historically a team known for a tough defense. Even in the days of not having a Hall of Famer or a household name on that side of the ball, New York still seemed to represent hard nosed defense. And this is part of that proof as you have to go all the way back to 1986 to find the last time the Giants gave up a 200 yard receiving game. October 27th in a divisional showdown with the Washington Redskins, Gary Clark in only his second season in the NFL after spending some time in the USFL had a field day with 11 catches for 241 yards and a touchdown. The small and speedy Clark ran circles around the G-Men but New York would get the last laugh winning the game 27-20 and then later eliminating Washington in the NFC Championship Game 17-0 to advance to the Franchises’ first Super Bowl appearance and win. It has been 28 full seasons since the last time the Giants allowed a 200 yard receiver. Can New York make it 29?

31. 478 Games – Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks have been a bit of an oddity when it comes to this stat. For many years Seattle has been a bad team. An expansion team in 1976, the Seahawks have had some stars on offense but defense was never really its calling card. Not until recently under Pete Carroll. In its 39 season history the Seahawks have had a Top 10 overall Defense only 12 times with four of those coming in the past four seasons. There was a three year stretch from 1984-1986 in which the Seahawks ranked 5th, 8th and 8th in overall D, and that is where you have to go back to find the only time Seattle has allowed a 200 yard receiver regular season or playoffs. September 15th of 1985, the Chargers Wes Chandler wrote his name into the Seahawks record books as the first and the last to record 200 yards receiving in a single game. Chandler grabbed 13 passes from Hall of Famer Dan Fouts for 243 yards and a score. But it was another receiver from Seattle who would take the lead in this game, and no it wasn’t Steve Largent. Daryl Turner, a tall second year receiver out of Michigan State had the game of his life with seven catches for 121 yards and four touchdowns. Seattle scored four straight times from the third to the fourth quarter, including three touchdowns from Turner, and took the lead for good getting the win 49-35.

And now for the team that has gone the longest time without allowing a 200 yard receiver.

32. 612 Games – Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The 612 games played by the Bucs are the team’s entire franchise history. That is correct, so stop rubbing your eyes and pinching yourself to see if you have imagined this information. Tampa has yet to allow a single player to have a 200 yard receiving game. Even in 15 playoff games no player has achieved this mark. Through the 0-26 franchise start, 23 seasons of double digit losses and 19 seasons of the Defense ranking 20th or worse the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have never allowed anyone a 200 yard receiving day. And so in the Buccaneers Media Guide, on page 410 under the heading “Opponents Records/Individual” you will see this

That’s right the best receiving game ever against the Bucs is a 199 yard game by Hakeem Nicks for the Giants September 16th of 2012 in a 41-34 New York win.

So now you have a great piece of info that you can amaze your friends with. How much longer will the Buccaneers go before someone, anyone can gain 200 yards receiving against the Franchise from west Florida? Ah part of the fun of watching.

The Last Time: A Franchise Allowed a 200 Yard Receiver Part I

Eric Decker had the most recent 200 yard receiving game.

Ever wonder when was the last time a player had a big game, the last time there was a return of 100 yards or more, the last time a team allowed a big game to an individual, etc, etc? I do all the time. And being in broadcasting team media guides and game notes are a great place to find this information.

But have you ever wanted to see a certain stat or type of game for each team in one place? Me to. That is why I am beginning this series of “The Last Time:”

For the first in this series of “The Last Time,” I take a look at the last time that each NFL Franchise allowed a 200 yard receiver in a single game since the NFL/AFL Merger in 1970. There have been 118 total games in which a player hit the two century mark in a game. In fact the first to get to 200 after the merger was Rich Caster a Tight End for the New York Jets in 1972. He had six catches for 204 yards and three scores in a 44-34 win over the Baltimore Colts. Caster finished the season with 833 yards and 10 touchdowns both career highs.

You can even see the rise of the passing game in correlation with the increase in the number of 200 yard games. In the 1970’s there were 11 such individual performances. In the 1980’s there were 23, the 1990’s also had 23. The biggest increase has come after the turn of the century. In the first decade the total increased from 23 to 28. And even though we are only half way through this decade there have already been 33 games in which a player had 200 yards receiving.

And now on to the main part of this article. When was the last time a franchise allowed a 200 yard receiver? 19 teams have permitted a player from the opposing team to gain 200 yards of open field in the past five seasons (since 2010). However, some have kept a string going for many years of not allowing an individual to get to 200.

So here is the first half of the teams in order of the most recent to the most amount of games since “The Last Time.”

1. 0 Games – Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins had made it almost through a 19th season without allowing a 200 yard game but Miami just couldn’t quite finish it out. Eric Decker of the New York Jets grabbed 10 passes for 221 yards and a score December 28th of this past season. In the final game of the year Decker’s performance helped propel the Jets to a 37-24 win. Decker finished the season 38 yards short of his third straight 1,000 yard season, in his first campaign with the Jets. For Miami in fact, the last time before this that the Dolphins let a receiver gain 200 yards was Isaac Bruce of the Rams in the last game of the 1995 season. Once again breaking an almost 19 season run (1976 by Ron Jessie of the Los Angeles Rams).

T2. 3 Games – Pittsburgh Steelers: After the merger, the Steel Curtain did not allow a single receiver to gain 200 in a game until Eddie Brown of the Bengals in 1988. Pittsburgh went another 10 years before it happened again by another Bengal (Carl Pickens) in 1998. It happened again in 1999, but then the Defense put together some great years until just recently. Pittsburgh’s defense has been going through a transition and has had a few rough seasons. Josh Gordon lit up Pittsburgh in 2013 but it wasn’t the last time. In the 13th game of 2014, December 7, A.J. Green from the Cincinnati Bengals (Cincinnati for a third time) roughed up the Steeler D with 11 catches for 224 yards and a touchdown. Luckily for the weakened Steel Curtain, Pittsburgh’s offense had an incredible year and put up the points for the 42-21 win.

T2. 3 Games – Green Bay Packers: The Packers have had an issue with allowing receivers over 200 yards (four times in the past three years). And what is worse about this stat is that the Packers had not allowed a single 200 yard receiving game since even 1960 until 2012. The most recent came on a Monday Night December 8th of this past season with the Falcons Julio Jones exploding for 11 catches and 259 yards with one TD. Green Bay with its offensive firepower was still able to push out the win 43-37.

4. 4 Games – Tennessee Titans: The Titans have only allowed two 200 yard games since the 1970 merger. And both have gone to receivers from the Houston Texans. How ironic. The first was Andre Johnson in 2008 and the most recent belonged to DeAndre Hopkins. November 30th of this past year in the 12th game of the season, Hopkins torched the Titans Defense with nine receptions for 238 yards and two touchdowns as Houston (Texans that is) won the game 45-21 over the former Houston franchise (Oilers that is).

5. 6 Games – Washington Redskins: We go back to only the 10th game of this past season November 16th and it was a rookie that dominated deep downfield against Washington. The Redskins Defense couldn’t stop the Buccaneers’ Mike Evans as the big kid from Texas A&M grabbed seven passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns. The offensive malfunctions in our Nation’s Capital could not keep pace with Evans as Tampa won the game 27-7. But, Washington has been able to put long distances between allowing such games since 1970. The Redskins gave way to five of these games in the 1960’s but after the merger it took until Jerry Rice in 1986. The next came in 1993 (Reggie Langhorne of the Colts) and now 21 years later the big rookie broke the string.

6. 10 Games – Houston Texans: J.J. Watt is a dominant defensive force but he needs help behind him. And the Texans had a hard time trying to contain the speedy T.Y. Hilton. The third year explosive receiver caught nine passes for 223 yards and a score October 9th of 2014. Houston lost the game 33-28 as the Colts were beginning to take control of the AFC South yet again. Hilton has become one of Andrew Luck’s favorite targets and with his speed he could very easily be the name on this list for another team this coming season.

7. 12 Games – Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals from St. Louis, kept receivers from gaining 200 yards until a Replacement Player named Anthony Allen of the Washington Redskins exploded for a Washington team record 255 yards in 1987. Since, Arizona has been tagged with five more for a total of six, tied for fourth worst since the merger. We are still in the 2014 season and even with the great Defense of the Cardinals, Denver’s Demaryius Thomas had his way with Arizona. In the 41-20 victory, Thomas caught eight balls for 226 yards and two touchdowns. Even with an excellent Defense, the Broncos were able to carve its way downfield with Thomas leading the way for his first of what may be several 200 yard games.

8. 14 Games – New York Jets: And finally the last, or rather the first of 2014, Jordy Nelson and the Green Bay Packers had the fireworks to make it by the Jets 31-24. September 14th Nelson caught nine passes for 209 yards and a score. For Nelson it was his first career 200 yard game and the first for the Packers since Javon Walker in 2004. Jordy Nelson also broke a long string of games for the Jets as Gang Green had not allowed a 200 yard receiver since Mark Duper in 1985.

T9. 20 Games – Jacksonville Jaguars: Head Coach Gus Bradley is looking to make the Jags D over into his image that he helped create in Seattle. Well, on a high note from a rough 3-13 season in 2014, Jacksonville did not allow a single receiver to gain over 200. Gave up an average of 243 yards a game but not 200 to one player. The Jaguars last time was December 1, 2013 during Josh Gordon’s amazing season. Gordon became the only weapon for the Cleveland Browns during a four win season and grabbed 10 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns in this one. Jacksonville won the game however 32-28. This was only the third such game since Jacksonville joined the NFL in 1995.

T9. 20 Games – Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings have been known for great defenses. The Purple People Eaters, the Chris Doleman led group in the late 80’s, John Randle running amuck and Jared Allen with the Williams Wall but lately there have been some issues on this side of the line for Minnesota. But it has been at least since December 1st of 2013 allowing a 200 yard receiver. Alshon Jeffery for the Bears put up his second two century game of the year (see the New Orleans Saints) grabbing 12 passes for 249 yards and two scores. However, the Vikings got the win in OT by a Blair Walsh field goal powered by 211 yards rushing by Adrian Peterson who reached 10,000 career rushing yards in this game. Of course, this game features a future research project for myself as in a receiver and a runner both with 200 yard games from opposite teams.

T11. 24 Games – Indianapolis Colts: Since the 1970 merger, the Colts have been the team to allow the most 200 yard individual receiving games with nine. Five of those have come since 2001. The last time was November 3, 2013 as Andre Johnson blew up the Colts with nine grabs for 229 yards and three touchdowns. The Texans were in the midst of an awful season and were looking to play a little spoiler on Andrew Luck and the Colts. Johnson scored the only TDs of the game for Houston and got all three in the first half. T.Y. Hilton scored three times in the last 16 minutes to get the win for Indy 27-24. The Texans finished the season 2-14.

T11. 24 Games – Dallas Cowboys: When the Cowboys do something they go big. And this game was no different. Calvin Johnson went for an almost record 329 yards October 27, 2013 for the Lions. Johnson had 14 catches in the game and one touchdown (of only 5 yards). Dallas could not stop Megatron as Matthew Stafford found his big target every time the Lions needed a big gain to keep it going. The Cowboys had the lead 30-24 with 1:02 left in the game but once again could not stop Johnson. Along with a 40 yard grab by Kris Durham, Johnson gained his final 39 yards to go over 300 as Detroit got down to the one and Stafford broke the goal line. David Akers hit the extra point and the Lions escaped with a 31-30 win at home. For Dallas it was the first 200 yard game since back to back weeks in 2010.

13. 27 Games – New Orleans Saints: Here was Alshon Jeffery for the first time of the year as he showed his incredible ability to go up and pull down the tough catch. The Saints since the merger are the third worst in allowing 200 yard receiving games with seven. However, none of those games came during the franchises early “Aint’s” days. All seven have come since 1987, once New Orleans had turned into a potential perennial playoff contender (say that three times fast). In this one, Jeffery grabbed 10 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown as the Bears lost (also lost to Vikings as Jeffery and the Bears are 0-2 in his 200 yard days) 26-18 October 6, 2013.

14. 33 Games – Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons are the second worst when it comes to allowing receivers to gain over 200 yards with eight all since 1979. But, Atlanta seems to have some good luck with a 4-3-1 record in those games. And the last time December 22nd of 2012 was no different. Calvin Johnson dominated a defensive backfield once again as he has done so many times. Megatron pulled in 11 passes for 225 yards but Atlanta kept him out of the end zone. The Falcons won 31-18 on the way to a 13-3 record and making it to the NFC Championship Game for the third time in franchise history.

15. 50 Games – Oakland Raiders: It had been 34 years since the Raiders allowed John McDaniel of the Bengals 201 yards in a game in 1976. But then it happened two seasons in a row. Malcolm Floyd for the Chargers in 2010 and then Calvin Johnson as the last time in 2011. The Raiders have now been able to string together a little success but only in this particular department. December 18th of 2011 Calvin Johnson hauled in nine passes for 214 yards and two scores including the game winning score with 39 seconds to go. The Raiders lost 28-27 despite leading by 13 with 7:47 left in the game. Calvin Johnson appears on this list three times and if he can stay healthy all season long in 2015, there is a good chance he can be on again, even with Golden Tate on the other side.

16. 61 Games – Buffalo Bills: The Bills had typically gone long periods in between allowing a 200 yard receiving game. The first after the merger was Mark Duper in 1983 for Miami. Then it took 22 years until Chris Chambers of once again the Dolphins in 2005. Well this time it only took six years, but at least this time it was to another team. Although, he did play for the Dolphins once. Wes Welker of the Patriots September 25, 2011 achieved his first 200 yard game in his 114th career game. Welker set career highs with 16 catches for 217 yards and two touchdowns. Tom Brady torched the Bills in the first half with three quick scoring strikes including one to Welker. But Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bills got the best of Brady intercepting Tom Terrific three times in the second half and scoring 17 points in the final quarter to get the 34-31 win. The teams went in opposite directions as Buffalo started the year 3-0 but then fell apart going 3-10 after the win over New England. The Patriots finished 13-3 and went on to another Super Bowl against the Giants (we all know what happened there).

So there is the first half of the list. Stay tuned as later today the second half will be coming up including teams that have not allowed a 200 yard receiving game to anyone in over 30 years. Or for that matter ever. Tune in for Part II to find out.