Matthew Stafford & Calvin Johnson: Best Aerial Assault in the NFL

As the season is nearly unwrapped, it is now obvious to anybody who watches “America’s Game” that Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson are the best pitch-and-catch combo in the NFL.

The dynamic duo has connected 85 times for 1,437 yards through the air, good for second best in league. More importantly, 15 of those receptions went for touchdowns, best in the NFL.

Like Crockett & Tubbs changed the way young men viewed pastel shirts and canvass loafers, Stafford and Johnson have changed the way defenses guard the aerial attack.

Before this season, had you ever seen two defensive backs in bump coverage, facemask to facemask on the same receiver at the goaline? Never, but they do it for Calvin.

Furthermore, outside of the Raiders trying to single-cover Calvin, most teams are bracketing Johnson with under coverage and help from the safety. Even with the extra defender, Stafford is finding Megatron at a record pace.

Calvin’s 15th touchdown reception, a Christmas Eve laser that beat double coverage, tied Cloyce Box for the most in Lions’ history with one game still to play. It was a throw few quarterbacks can make, as Stafford beat the safety help with velocious velocity, just another example of the rarified talent that has become routine in Detroit.

With nearly 78 percent of their connections going for first downs and a league leading nine receptions of 40-plus yards, no combination is more explosive—a far cry from the “check-down” offense that permeated Ford Field for years.

Their ability to stretch the field more than any other pairing has earned Calvin All-Pro recognition and the second consecutive year of being lei’d in Honolulu. Greg Maddux was right, “Chicks dig the long ball.” 

Stafford’s arm is allowing Calvin to mushroom into the best receiver this league has ever seen. On the other hand, many feel Calvin’s circus-like catches and abuse of smaller cornerbacks throughout the year have inflated Stafford’s statistics as well. That may be true, but Calvin didn’t have a career year with Kitna did he?

To steal a line from AC/DC, “Who made who?” Does it really matter? Did Joe Montana make Jerry Rice or did Rice make Montana? Likewise, did Bill Walsh make them both?

What I am certain of is that together, they have become the league’s most feared combination and are mutually responsible for the success the Detroit Lions have enjoyed this year.

It’s like a perfect cut of beef tenderloin and fresh king crab from the Bering Sea. Separately they are both delicacies; but together, with béarnaise, they create the perfect New Year's Eve entrée of steak oscar.

Who are some of the other great batteries in the NFL? Let’s pop the tops off a six-pack of other tandems and see if you agree.

Matt Schaub & Andre Johnson

When these two stay healthy, the sky is the limit. Back in 2009 both Schaub and Johnson played in all 16 games. The results? A league-leading 1569 yards between them on 101 catches.

The injury bug got both of them this year with Schaub suffering a season-ending Lisfranc fracture to his foot that required surgery and Andre nursing a bum hamstring throughout the season.

Before Calvin, it was Andre Johnson who was the ultimate WR, but even Andre acknowledges that he’s the second best Johnson.

Here's Andre on Dan Lebatard’s radio show on 790 The Ticket in Miami:

LeBatard: Are you the best wide receiver in football? 
Johnson: No. I’m not the best [laughs]. 
LeBatard: Come on who is better?
Johnson: There’s a lot of great guys out there man. I’m a fan of the game. You look at ... I’m a big fan of Calvin. Calvin Johnson. Right now I would probably say he is the best.”
Dan LeBatard: He's taller than you?
Johnson: He’s a pretty big guy. He’s a very talented guy. He’s my favorite guy from a fan perspective from the outside looking in.

This interview was done prior to Week 2.  What do you think he'd say now?

Ben Roethlisberger & Mike Wallace

Yes, Hines Ward is still a member of the Steelers and looking to crack an unsuspecting defensive back if given the chance, but the truly feared wideout in Pittsburgh is Mike Wallace.

The Roethlisberger to Wallace connection does not have gaudy reception numbers of only 71 but their 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns together is top-10 material.

Roethlisberger’s ability to improvise is a perfect complement to the speed Wallace possesses. Between the two of them it’s similar to a couple kids throwing the Nerf around the yard. Just run around long enough and wait for the fastest kid in class to run down the field.

It may not be the way it was drawn up in the film room, but at over 16 yards per reception and second only to Calvin in 40-plus yard receptions of seven, can you argue with their success?

Oh, did I mention they both sport Super Bowl rings?

Drew Brees & Jimmy Graham

Leave it to the most prolific passer in NFL history to make a tight end one of the top receivers in the game.

With a record 5,087 yards passing, Drew Brees has proven you don’t have to be 6’4” to be the best at slinging the rock.

Sean Payton employs a multitude of four and five receiver sets, but Brees always makes time for his tight end Jimmy Graham.

In only his second season, Graham is third in the league with 91 catches for a top-10 total of 1,213 yards.

Toss in 10 touchdowns, good for fourth in the league, and you can rightfully curse your keeper fantasy league buddy who picked up Graham in the 12th round and probably has a couple extra bucks in his pocket because of the evolution of the TE position, especially in New Orleans.

Matt Ryan & Roddy White

If there’s one thing you can say about Matt Ryan and Roddy White, it’s they are BFF.

No receiver in the NFL has more footballs thrown his way. White has a league-leading 170 targets.

Even with rookie Julio Jones making his presence felt in Atlanta with nearly 900 yards and six touchdowns on 50 grabs, White is second in the league with 96 catches for 1,227 yards and eight scores.

Let’s not forget Tony Gonzalez also gets his fair share of opportunities as well with a top-10 reception total of 79.

It is apparent the transformation from the run-first philosophy shouldered by Michael Turner has been replaced with the arm of “Matty-Ice.”

The Falcons got the best of the Lions earlier this year, but the combo of Ryan and White takes a backseat to Stafford and Johnson.

Aaron Rodgers & Greg Jennings

You can’t possibly discuss the best quarterback-receiver combination without the best team’s signal-caller right?

Aaron Rodgers leads the league with a passer rating of 122.5 and 45 touchdown tosses.

Greg Jennings has been on the receiving end of nine of those scores plus 58 other grabs for 949 yards total.

Although Jordy Nelson is having a better year with 59 catches for 1,101 yards and 12 touchdowns, it’s Rodgers to Jennings that is the pair to compare, with Jennings putting up over 1,100 yards each of the last three prior years.

Although they are the defending Super Bowl champs, the combined talent of Stafford and Johnson is the one to own going forward.

Tom Brady & Wes Welker

It’s hard to believe a castoff from the Miami Dolphins is the top receiver in football.

Yes, the 5’9” Wes Welker was unwanted in Miami and Tom Brady turned him into everybody’s favorite PPR fantasy sleeper.

This season is no different. The Brady-Welker nexus has a league-leading 116 receptions and 1,518 yards.

Although Wes has taken a back-seat to teammate Rob Gronkowski in scoring, both on the field and off, Welker has held his own with nine touchdown celebrations and is fourth in the league with 21 receptions over 20 yards.

Stafford has Johnson and Brady has the little engine that could. Brady may go down as the best QB ever, but it won't be because of the superior physical talent he throws to.

These six are winning combinations for sure, but they are all second fiddle to Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson.