Using sabermetrics, Lions' Calvin Johnson was better in 2011 than 2012

From the blog Shutdown Corner: The Detroit Lions fell to 4-11 in a lost and disappointing season, but there's one thing this franchise can be proud of in 2012, and that's the performance of receiver Calvin Johnson. Despite the

Simon Samano, USA TODAY Sports1:25a.m. EST December 23, 2012. CommentsShare. 2012-12-22-calvin-johnson. Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) runs after a catch during Saturday's game against the Falcons as part of his record-setting night.

(CNN) -- In a mega moment for the man called Megatron, Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson broke Jerry Rice's single-season record for receiving yards Saturday night against the Atlanta Falcons. Johnson set the record in the final minutes of the

Calvin Johnson entered Saturday night's game against Atlanta needing 182 yards to break Jerry Rice's single-season receiving yardage record. He blew past that mark with 2:57 left in the fourth quarter, on a 26-yard pass

This time, Vince Verhei of Football Outsiders takes Lions receiver Calvin Johnson's record-breaking season and compares it with performances from the past 20 years using DYAR – defense-adjusted yards above replacement. That metric “examines every