Calvin Johnson Has Most Productive Day in Two Years

The Detroit Lions won their first game of the 2015-16 NFL regular season on Sunday when they defeated NFC North rivals the Chicago Bears. The Lions are now 1-5 and in dead last in the NFC North five games behind first place Green Bay.

In Sunday’s overtime win, it was the connection between quarterback Matthew Stafford and All-Pro wide receiver Calvin Johnson that set up the winning field goal in OT.

Johnson ran deep during the overtime period and saw his quarterback crow hop and knew the ball was coming his way. He knew a big play was possibly coming, as long as he was able to produce it.

That was how his reception of 57 yards that set up the Lions winning field goal played out. The knowledge the two players have of one another after seven years together, helped to make that play work to give the Lions the 37-34 win over the Bears.

On this Sunday, the Johnson who came to play was the same one that everyone has expected – six receptions for 166 yards including a touchdown and a number of big plays.

Johnson said the team put emphasis this past week in practice on going downfield and it paid off. There were a number of plays more on Sunday downfield than have been happening and the big plays helped lead to touchdowns, said Johnson after the game.

It is strange that not until the sixth game of the season has this offensive formation taken place. On Sunday, Stafford had four touchdown passes, but it was the big plays downfield to Johnson that were what stood out. That was due to them being obviously missing for the first five weeks of the Lions season.

If Johnson can get going, the entire offense will follow and big plays to Johnson will open things up for other receivers as well as the running attack that has been almost non-existent.

What a coincidence that Johnson has a great game and Lance Moore is able to rush for 100 yards and overall the Lions ran the best they have all season.

Sunday’s Detroit game was the biggest of Johnson since October of 2013 when he had 179 yards on six receptions.

Johnson had gone six games between 100-yards receiving.

Calvin is back, said Stafford and that means the Lions offense should get back to where it was in 2013 and part of 2014.

Everything is opened up when the offense goes through Johnson as not only does he make great catches but also his receptions open the field for other receivers to make plays and for the running game to keep the defenses off balance.

However is it already too late for them to be relevant this season?