Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson has played six games on Thanksgiving during his career with some solid, but largely unspectacular results; look for the seventh one to be the charm.
Here’s what he’s done in the past:
2007 – L 26-37 vs. Green Bay Packers: seven receptions, 83 yards, one touchdown
2008 – L 10-47 vs. Tennessee Titans: five receptions, 66 yards, zero touchdowns
2009 – L 12-34 vs. Green Bay Packers: two receptions, 10 yards, one touchdown
2010 – L 24-45 vs. New England Patriots: four catches, 81 yards, one touchdown
2011 – L 15-27 vs. Green Bay Packers: four catches, 49 yards, one touchdown
2012 – L 31-34 vs. Houston Texans: eight catches, 140 yards, one touchdown
Add it all up and Johnson has recorded 30 receptions, 429 yards and five touchdowns on Thanksgiving, good for per-game averages of five catches, 71.5 receiving yards and 0.83 scores.
Unfortunately for Johnson and the Lions, the most important statistic – wins – has been missing from his Thanksgiving stat lines. That could certainly change this year as the banged-up Packers roll into Motown after playing to a tie with the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday in a game where they were forced to play Matt Flynn and Scott Tolzien in lieu of Aaron Rodgers. Considering how tight the NFC North is right now, the Thanksgiving showdown between the Lions and the Packers has big-time playoff implications.
NFC North
Detroit Lions 6 -5
Chicago Bear 6-5
Green Bay Packers 5 – 5 – 1
Minnesota Vikings 2 -8 – 1
Given that Detroit plays their divisional foes more than other teams, Johnson’s numbers within the division are obviously more inflated, but there’s one team that he has done particularly well against throughout his career. He’s averaged 4.8 catches, 71.4 receiving yards and scored four TDs in 13 career games against the Bears and put up 5.2 catches, 72.8 receiving yards and gotten in the end zone five times in 12 games against the Vikings. That only leaves the Packers, a team that Johnson has ripped for 5.9 catches, 96.5 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in 11 career games.
Based on those averages, Johnson has actually under-performed against the Packers on Thanksgiving in the past. Taking into account how important this game is in the standings and how well Johnson has been playing (42 catches, 861 yards and seven scores in his last five games), look for No. 81 to get it done for your fantasy team while you’re munching turkey.
Evan Bleier is a freelance writer based out of wherever he can plug in his laptop. You can send him questions, comments and Buffalo wing suggestions @itishowitis or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
Photo Credit: Getty
