Though the outcomes couldn’t have been much different, a pair of wide receivers hit milestone numbers Sunday.
With 51 yards on three receptions in a win over the Bucs, Panthers wideout Steve Smith moved into the top 20 all-time in receiving yards.
He now has 12,084 yards, and moved ahead of Derrick Mason and Hines Ward today for a spot in the top 20, with Charlie Joiner up next at 12,146.
While Smith has transitioned into a new role for the Panthers (he’s practically turned into his position coach, Ricky Proehl), he’s still able to make big plays. And for a team that has won eight straight, those plays are becoming bigger than ever.
Meanwhile in Houston, Andre Johnson caught eight passes for 121 yards, giving him 900 receptions in his career. He’s the second-fastest to reach that mark, trailing only Marvin Harrison, and is 15th on the all-time list.
And suffice it to say, Harrison played with a better degree of passers than Johnson has had lately, which is only part of the reason the Texans have lost 10 straight.