NFL History: 50 greatest quarterback-wide receiver tandems in NFL history

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 27: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions celebrates with teammate Calvin Johnson #81 after a first quarter touchdown the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Ford Field on October 27, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

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Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

The 14th greatest quarterback-wide receiver duo in NFL history: Matthew Stafford & Calvin Johnson

It’s almost a shame that this duo doesn’t get more love and adulation for what they were able to accomplish during their time together.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson were joined at the hip. Admittedly, it doesn’t quite matter who was the signal-caller for Johnson, he was always going to be great. In only his second season in the league, one year before Stafford got there, Johnson finished the year with 1,331 receiving yards. Bear in mind that Johnson had Dan Orlovsky, Jon Kitna, and the remains of Daunte Culpepper throwing him the ball. Once Stafford arrived in 2009, the pair immediately clicked.

Johnson became the best receiver in the league in short order and in 2012, he had one of the best seasons ever. He finished his year catching 122 balls for 1,964 receiving yards. In short, Johnson was terrific but Stafford was great as well. In their final five seasons, the former number one overall pick threw for no less than 4,257 yards.

Essentially, they were unstoppable but the Detroit Lions as a whole were a train wreck. The franchise only made two appearances to the postseason in those seven years and they were never considered a title contender.

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