Images via Facebook and Instagram ————————————————————————————————————————————– Check out more 2012 NFL-ballooza content: Top Ten NFL Pop Culture Moments in 2012 5 Favorite NFL Research Nuggets Our Favorite NFL Images of the Year The Drop – The Jets Season Explained in One Play The Year on the Fringe…Fantasy My Favorite 2012 Football Card – Tim Tebow Unexpected (and expected) Year in Review Memories of Experiencing Chuck Strong

We’re still in holiday mode, even though Santa didn’t bring our favorite team a playoff spot. However, jolly old St. Nick has been generous with a few other teams.  The NFC playoff spots are still up for grabs.  But even if you’ve been naughty or nice, we’re going to present you with out generous gift of content for this past week. Sunday: RG3 Zone – RG3 makes a comeback against the Eagles.  It’s like he’s never left. Madden Curse Watch – Megatron transforms Jerry Rice’s all-time record. Adrian Peterson – All Day Zone – All the highlights from every game Adrian Peterson’s played in as he inches closer to breaking Eric Dickerson’s all-time season rushing record. Monday: Week 16: Curse, […]

Welcome to week 16, where we saw several records be broken… by kickers! There was also a 50-burger dropped in Green Bay, a real record broken in Detroit, and a heart-warming moment as the cherry on top of a wild Sunday. Let’s get to the unexpected (and expected) for week 16.

One more week to get those holiday gifts.  Week 15 featured a merry band of big games, an Adrian Peterson rushing explosion and another Jets collapse. Need we mention an awesome Russell Wilson/Hobbit trailer.  It’s all covered for you in this week’s Rewind. Sunday: Russell Wilson: An Unexpected Journey – Check out our cool mashup of Russell Wilson and The Hobbit.  A very funny surprise awaits at the end! Monday: Madden Curse Watch – Megatron inches closer to Jerry Rice’s all-time record. Week 15: Curse, Coincidence or Superstition – Brandon Marshall channels his inner Charlie Brown. Expected, Unexpected – You shouldn’t spike a man with glasses and Statement Sunday. Rookie Bucket List – No RG3, but a little Luck and […]

It’s week 13, and the Detroit Lions badly needed a win against the resurgent Indianapolis Colts to keep any hope of a trip to the playoffs alive. Let’s see if Megatron and co. brought their A-game.

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 […]

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 […]

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 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. 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, […]