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Randy Moss, Rob Gronkowski and the Top 10 Most Receiving Touchdowns in a Single Season
Randy Moss Scoring His Record 23rd Touchdown of the 2007 Season
Here’s one of those few receiving records Jerry Rice doesn’t hold. Well, he did hold it for twenty years.
Back in 1987, Jerry Rice pulled in a then-incredulous 22 regular season touchdowns, four more than any receiver before him, or after, until 2007.
As Tom Brady and the New England Patriots tore up the offensive record books that year, en route to a 16-0 regular season and the wrong end of one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history, Randy Moss surpassed Rice’s record by one.
So, with 23 receiving TDs, Randy Moss tops this list of the top 10 players with the most receiving touchdowns in a season.
Not all are wide receivers. The Pats’ tight end, Rob Gronkowski, caught 17 touchdowns just last season for the fifth most all time. Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch was a running back and end. And Don Hutson was technically an end, but known for being the first “true” wide receiver. Hutson is often credited with “inventing” the modern position.
Both Hirsch and Hutson played defense too, by the way.
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| 1. | Randy Moss | 23 | 2007 | New England Patriots |
| 2. | Jerry Rice | 22 | 1987 | San Francisco 49ers |
| 3. | Mark Clayton | 18 | 1984 | Miami Dolphins |
| 3. | Sterling Sharpe | 18 | 1994 | Green Bay Packers |
| 5. | Carl Pickens | 17 | 1995 | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 5. | Cris Carter | 17 | 1995 | Minnesota Vikings |
| 5. | Rob Gronkowski | 17 | 2011 | New England Patriots |
| 5. | Jerry Rice | 17 | 1989 | San Francisco 49ers |
| 5. | Randy Moss | 17 | 1998 | Minnesota Vikings |
| 5. | Elroy Hirsch | 17 | 1951 | Los Angeles Rams |
| 5. | Bill Groman | 17 | 1961 | Houston Oilers |
| 5. | Don Hutson | 17 | 1942 | Green Bay Packers |
| 5. | Randy Moss | 17 | 2003 | Minnesota Vikings |
Photo: theage.com.au
Randy Moss Returning to NFL: Where Does He Rank All-Time?
Randy Moss Is Coming Out of Retirement (boston.com)
This is no rumor. Randy Moss is returning to play football next season. He is “ready to rock ‘n’ roll.” And he’ll “have no trouble finding a team to play for in 2012.” (rotoworld.com)
Well, that’s kind of exciting. There’s been a drop off – 2010 was a waste – and he is 35 (today’s his birthday, in fact), but as late as 2009, Moss had 1,200+ yards and led the league in receiving touchdowns. So, it will be good to have him back.
Where will he play, though? That’s anyone’s guess, though most are saying it will not be with the New England Patriots.
Here’s a look at where Randy Moss ranks all time amongst the best receivers to play the game, of which he is of course one…
He’s just 46 catches away from becoming the ninth receiver in history with 1,000 receptions. By season’s end he possibly will be seventh all time.
| RECEPTIONS | ||
| 1. | Jerry Rice | 1,549 |
| 2. | Tony Gonzalez | 1,149 |
| 3. | Marvin Harrison | 1,102 |
| 4. | Cris Carter | 1,101 |
| 5. | Tim Brown | 1,094 |
| 6. | Terrell Owens | 1,078 |
| 7. | Isaac Bruce | 1,024 |
| 8. | Hines Ward | 1,000 |
| 9. | Randy Moss | 954 |
| 10. | Andre Reed | 951 |
| 11. | Derrick Mason | 943 |
| 12. | Art Monk | 940 |
It is likely that Moss will wind up with the second most receiving yards in NFL history. He needs less than 1,100 yards.
| RECEIVING YDS | ||
| 1. | Jerry Rice | 22,895 |
| 2. | Terrell Owens | 15,934 |
| 3. | Isaac Bruce | 15,208 |
| 4. | Tim Brown | 14,934 |
| 5. | Randy Moss | 14,858 |
| 6. | Marvin Harrison | 14,580 |
| 7. | James Lofton | 14,004 |
| 8. | Cris Carter | 13,899 |
Moss will pass Terrell Owens this season to become sole possessor of second all-time in receiving touchdowns, behind Jerry Rice again.
| RECEIVING TD | ||
| 1. | Jerry Rice | 197 |
| 2. | Terrell Owens | 153 |
| Randy Moss | 153 | |
| 4. | Cris Carter | 130 |
| 5. | Marvin Harrison | 128 |
| 6. | Steve Largent | 100 |
| Tim Brown | 100 | |
It’s a recent group of receivers who lead the receiving yards per game list, but Moss clings to the top 10.
| RECEIVING YDS PER GAME | ||
| 1. | Andre Johnson | 79.1 |
| 2. | Larry Fitzgerald | 77.5 |
| 3. | Torry Holt | 77.4 |
| 4. | Calvin Johnson | 77.3 |
| 5. | Marvin Harrison | 76.7 |
| 6. | Jerry Rice | 75.6 |
| 7. | Lance Alworth | 75.5 |
| 8. | Michael Irvin | 74.9 |
| 9. | Anquan Boldin | 74.0 |
| 10. | Randy Moss | 73.6 |
| 11. | Terrell Owens | 72.8 |
| 12. | Sterling Sharpe | 72.6 |
| Marques Colston | 72.6 | |
Here’s an anomaly. And it’s a surprising one. Moss is 199th in yards per reception, in the company of the likes of Jeff Chadwick.
| YDS PER RECEPTION | ||
| 199. | Joey Galloway | 15.6 |
| Art Graham | 15.6 | |
| Miles Austin | 15.6 | |
| Braylon Edwards | 15.6 | |
| Dave Parks | 15.6 | |
| Don Beebe | 15.6 | |
| Elbie Nickel | 15.6 | |
| Jeff Chadwick | 15.6 | |
| Randy Moss | 15.6 | |
| J.D. Hill | 15.6 | |
| Corey Bradford | 15.6 | |
| Jake Reed | 15.6 | |
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