Historically, players who are featured on the cover of the “Madden NFL” franchise experience significant drops in their offensive production. NFL.com is tracking the performance of Calvin Johnson and the Detroit Lions over the course of the 2012 season because we believe Johnson will debunk the Madden curse. Happy Thanksgiving! Welcome to the Detroit Lions’ 73rd Thanksgiving Game. The Lions played host to AFC South division leader Houston Texans. The Texans are closing in on a playoff spot and the Lions just needed a win. Megatron‘s ready. Are you? ————————————————————————————————————————————– FIRST QUARTER ————————————————————————————————————————————– Matt Stafford is sacked on the first play of the game. Hello, J.J. Watt. Stafford shakes it off and puts together this drive: Big throw to Ryan Broyles on 3rd […]

Historically, players who are featured on the cover of the “Madden NFL” franchise experience significant drops in their offensive production. NFL.com is tracking the performance of Calvin Johnson and the Detroit Lions over the course of the 2012 season because we believe Johnson will debunk the Madden curse. The Detroit Lions, last in the NFC North and rapidly following out of the playoff race, faced a must-win game against division rival Green Bay Packers. Megatron needed a big game. ————————————————————————————————————————————– FIRST QUARTER ————————————————————————————————————————————– Late in the first quarter, a failed fourth down conversion by the Green Bay Packers leads to this big play by Calvin Johnson. Cue tape! The Detroit Lions are in the red zone with Matt Stafford‘s 53-yard pass to Megatron. […]

Historically, players who are featured on the cover of the “Madden NFL” franchise experience significant drops in their offensive production. NFL.com is tracking the performance of Calvin Johnson and the Detroit Lions over the course of the 2012 season because we believe Johnson will debunk the Madden curse. Calvin Johnson on battling injury this season: “I’m feeling all right.” That’s all we needed to hear, Megatron. On to the game! ————————————————————————————————————————————– FIRST QUARTER ————————————————————————————————————————————– The Minnesota Vikings start off strong against a sleepy Lions defense. And offense. First Vikings possession of the game. Christian Ponder connects with rookie wide receiver Jarius Wright for a touchdown. On the following Lions possession, Matt Stafford is intercepted by Chad Greenway. Soon after the turnover, the Vikings […]

Can Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson be trusted in light of his injury revelation?

Our Adam Rank takes a look back at the fantasy weekend that was.

Historically, players who are featured on the cover of the “Madden NFL” franchise experience significant drops in their offensive production. NFL.com is tracking the performance of Calvin Johnson and the Detroit Lions over the course of the 2012 season because we believe Johnson will debunk the Madden curse. Our hero Calvin Johnson did not practice all week due to a lingering knee injury, but was active against the Jacksonville Jaguars. WR bigplaycj will start today at Jacksonville (photo: G. Smith/Detroit Lions) @ EverBank Field instagr.am/p/RnVhiQx9GX/— Detroit Lions (@DetroitLionsNFL) November 04, 2012 Would Megatron have it any other way? Move along Madden, nothing to see here. It’s game time folks! ————————————————————————————————————————————– FIRST QUARTER ————————————————————————————————————————————– The Lions are unable to score on their first […]

Is Detroit Lions wideout Titus Young the real deal, or is he just the latest waiver wire darling?

Start Philip Rivers and all of your Chargers with confidence this week. This is a Norv Turner game where this team rallies for a somewhat meaningless win in October. These were all my rally cries prior to the Chargers game in Cleveland.

So much for that.

Historically, players who are featured on the cover of the “Madden NFL” franchise experience significant drops in their offensive production. NFL.com is tracking the performance of Calvin Johnson and the Detroit Lions over the course of the 2012 season because we believe Johnson will debunk the Madden curse. In case you missed it, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman appointed himself “Optimus Prime” in advance of the team’s road trip to Detroit. Megatron is unfazed. Wonder whose side this guy is on? Enough talk. Let’s get to the game. ————————————————————————————————————————————– FIRST QUARTER ————————————————————————————————————————————– The Lions win the toss and their first drive results in a punt. The Seahawks respond with a field goal. Nothing exciting there. On Detroit’s 2nd possession, Matthew Stafford leads the squad […]

Historically, players who are featured on the cover of the “Madden NFL” franchise experience significant drops in their offensive production. NFL.com is tracking the performance of Calvin Johnson and the Detroit Lions over the course of the 2012 season because we believe Johnson will debunk the Madden curse. It’s Monday Night Football! Time for a good ol’ NFC North matchup. Lions at Bears. Does it get any better than this? Here’s our hero Calvin Johnson AKA Megatron. “Nobody gets the football like Megatron”  - Jon Gruden Madden. Agree or Disagree? Let the game begin! ————————————————————————————————————————————– FIRST HALF ————————————————————————————————————————————– The Bears score a touchdown on their first possession and a field goal moments later to take the early lead. Meanwhile Calvin Johnson has a […]

Historically, players who are featured on the cover of Madden see significant drops in their offensive production. NFL.com is tracking the performance of Calvin Johnson and the Detroit Lions over the course of the 2012 season because we believe Calvin Johnson will debunk the Madden curse. It seems as though many have written off the Detroit Lions. As depicted in an animated video by the Philadelphia Eagles, the Lions are nothing to be afraid of. Not so fast, Eagles.   Coming into week 6, the Lions hold last place in the NFC North and face a must win game to save their season. Would their efforts be foiled by the Madden Curse? Let’s take a look. ————————————————————————————————————————————– FIRST HALF ————————————————————————————————————————————– The Eagles […]

Is the “Madden” curse a reality or just hype? NFL.com tracks Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson to see how the cover boy fares on a week-to-week basis.

Historically, players who are featured on the cover of Madden see significant drops in their offensive production. NFL.com is tracking the performance of Calvin Johnson and the Detroit Lions over the course of the 2012 season because we believe Calvin Johnson will debunk the Madden curse. In the first two weeks of the 2012 season, Calvin Johnson recorded 14 receptions for 205 yards and 0 touchdowns. Zero. Gone are the two touchdown games and the 14+ yard receptions from last season. Memories. Let’s not digress though, new season, new week and the Detroit Lions are on the road against the Tennessee Titans. ————————————————————————————————————————————– FIRST HALF ————————————————————————————————————————————– Calvin Johnson finished the first half with one catch for six yards, while Jason […]

Historically, players who are featured on the cover of Madden see significant drops in their offensive production. NFL.com is tracking the performance of Calvin Johnson and the Detroit Lions over the course of the 2012 season because we believe Calvin Johnson will debunk the Madden curse. This week in Madden Curse Watch the Detroit Lions head to Candle Stick Park to face the San Francisco 49ers. Last week, Madden cover boy, Calvin Johnson escaped Week 1 unscathed. Would he be so lucky in Week 2? Scroll to find out. But before we begin… Are the coaches frenemies now? Nothing to see here folks. On to Madden Curse Watch! ————————————————————————————————————————————– Week 2 started with some omnious news. RT @ttwentyman: WR Calvin Johnson listed on Lions injury report with […]

Historically, players who are featured on the cover of Madden see significant drops in their offensive production. NFL.com is tracking the performance of Calvin Johnson and the Detroit Lions over the course of the 2012 season because we believe Calvin Johnson will debunk the Madden curse. Detroit Lions superstar and fantasy stud Calvin Johnson will keep the superstitious on edge throughout the season spending every week escaping the Madden Curse. Possible? We’ll find out. Calvin Johnson made his debut as team captain against the St. Louis Rams. The Lions community is fired up. Even Barry Sanders! @DetroitLionsNFL @Bigplaycj – Leading by example – on and off the field. I would follow CJ into battle anyday— Barry Sanders (@BarrySanders) September 09, […]