Demaryius Thomas Sets Super Bowl Record with 13 Receptions

Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas set a new record for most receptions in a Super Bowl, catching 13 passes in Sunday's 43-8 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The previous record of 11 catches was held by four different players, including Hall of Famer Jerry Rice and Thomas' teammate Wes Welker.

Despite entering the record books Sunday, Thomas didn't have a very satisfying Super Bowl, as he needed 18 targets to record those 13 receptions, and his 118 receiving yards made for an average of just 9.1 yards per catch. Thomas did score the Broncos' lone touchdown, but he also lost a fumble in the third quarter on his longest reception (23 yards) of the game. 

Much like teammate Peyton Manning, who set a new Super Bowl mark with 34 completions Sunday, Thomas achieved his record through volume rather than efficiency. The record-setting numbers were largely a result of the Seahawks' game plan, which focused on taking away deep and intermediate throws. The Seattle defense was content to let Manning complete short passes all evening, and the veteran quarterback unsurprisingly honed in on Thomas and Welker, the latter of whom caught eight balls for 84 yards. As great as the Denver receivers are, the group proved to be no match for the vaunted Seattle secondary.