Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford just completed the best regular season by a QB in Detroit Lions history. He threw for 5,038 yards, completed 63.5% of his passes, and threw for 41 touch downs. Those were all team records. In fact Stafford led the an aerial attack that while record setting may only be the second best aerial attack in this team's history.
Of course I speak of 1995. Then Scott Mitchell led an impressive attack that featured Herman Moore and Brett Perriman. Mitchell's numbers that year were 4,338 yards, 59.3 completion percentage, and 32 TD's. That season has him ranked third on the Lions single season leaders list. Jon Kitna is second for his 2006 performance of 4,208 yards, 62.4 completion percentage, and 21 TD's.
We rank the 1995 season ahead because of the team's overall record, and the fact that Moore and Perriman are one-two on the Lions all time single season receivers list based on what they did that year. Kitna had Mike Furrey and Roy Williams who ranks 7th and 10th respectively for their accomplishments in 2006.
This brings us to Stafford’s receiving corps. Calvin Johnson’s 2011 numbers have him ranked six on the single season receiving list for this team, and TE Brandon Pettigrew winds up 8th on this list. Johnson caught 96 balls for 1,691 yards and 16 TD's. However, he ranks just sixth on this list. Herman Moore's numbers for 1995, 1996, and 1997 all bested him. Along with Perriman form that same year and Furrey in 2006.
Let's focus in on that incredible 1995 year. Moore caught 123 balls for 1,686 yards and 14 TD's, and Perriman snagged 108 balls for 1,488 yards and 9 TD's. When we add Pettigrew's 83 receptions for 777 yards and five TD's. With those numbers we see that the 1995 Lions had a superior air attack.
Of course to be fair we should add in Nate Burleson's numbers. Nate clocked in with 73 receptions for 757 yards and three TD's. It ranks him 19th all the Lions single season receiving list, but shows that the 2011 Lions may just be a better receiving unit. Granted the 1995 Lions also had Barry Sanders to help run the ball, and that may be the biggest difference between the two squads.
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