if there was any doubt about whether Dez Bryant and Calvin Johnson are on the same level, there should be none now.
They’re not.
Johnson confirmed he’s the best receiver in the NFL by coming within seven yards of the single-game receiving record. With 329 yards on 14 catches, Johnson provided the biggest single-game performance since former Rams receiver Flipper Anderson on November 26, 1989.
Anderson set the record with 336. Johnson finished second, besting Stephone Paige’s 309-yard game from 1985.
Meanwhile, Bryant had nearly as many tantrums as catches. While he had two touchdowns on three receptions, cameras showed Bryant on at least two occasions lashing out against teammates and coaches. Late in the game, inactive defensive end DeMarcus Ware had to intervene as Dez Bryant was jawing with tight end Jason Witten.
Johnson now has 829 yards in seven games this year, which puts him behind the pace necessary to match his single-season mark of 1,964 set last year.
For his career, Johnson now has 8,657 receiving yards -- which still puts him very far behind Jerry Rice, who retired with 22,895.