Big Days
Megatron's Sunday was mega in just about every respect—except fantasy. Sure, Detroit's Calvin Johnson scored 36.9 points for his owners (page 45), but these performances were worth more.*
1 Billy Cannon,Houston Oilers vs. New York Titans, Dec. 10, 1961. The 1959 Heisman winner has been credited with putting the AFL on the map. This game exemplified how: 216 yards rushing, 114 yards receiving, five TDs. POINTS: 63.0
2 Clinton Portis,Broncos vs. Chiefs, Dec. 7, 2003. Sheriff Gonna Getcha got K.C., running for 218 yards and five scores. Portis (below) celebrated by flexing while wearing a belt that proclaimed him HEAVYWEIGHT RUNNING BACK OF THE WORLD. POINTS: 55.4
3 Cookie Gilchrist,Bills vs. Jets, Dec. 8, 1963. Plucked from the CFL in 1962, Gilchrist set a pro record (since broken) with 243 yards rushing, tacking on five TDs. POINTS: 54.3
4 Abner Haynes,Dallas Texans vs. Oakland Raiders, Nov. 26, 1961. The AFL's first Player of the Year, Haynes racked up 158 yards and four TDs on the ground, and 84 yards and another score through the air. POINTS: 54.2
HONORABLE MENTION:
Jerry Rice,49ers vs. Falcons, Oct. 14, 1990. The best fantasy day ever by a receiver (and seventh- best overall) saw Rice grab 15 passes for 225 yards and five TDs. "I had a decent game today," he said. Uh-huh. POINTS: 52.5
*Since formation of AFL in 1960. Data from pro-football-reference.com, using NFL.com scoring
POP CULTURE GRID...
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What athletes are thinking | Favorite Halloween candy | My coach should dress as ___ for Halloween | Jason, Freddy or Michael Myers | Star I'd like to dance with | Favorite commercial | I'd like to get into the Octagon with ____ |
Paul PierceNets F | Candy corn | Mr. Incredible | Freddy | Beyoncé | Old Spice guy on horse | Nobody |
Jordan MatthewsVandy WR | Reese's cups | Red Ranger | Jason | Rihanna | Nike: Kevin Durant/Dwyane Wade nightmare | Every SEC defensive back |
Brad EvansSounders M | Reese's cups | Little Bo Peep | Freddy | Heidi Klum | Skittles bunny | Will Johnson |
+ Evans says, "I'm obsessed with peanut butter and chocolate," but Pierce is less of a candyholic. "Halloween is the one time of year I eat it," he says.
+ "That mask is pretty dope."
+ "That's kind of how I operate," says Matthews, who set the SEC career receiving-yardage mark (3,172) against Texas A&M last Saturday. "I'll have a bad dream, and it'll make me get to work."
They Said It
"We've left plenty of room up there for Stanley Cup banners."
Tim LeiwekeMaple Leafs Sports & Entertainment president, explaining the decision to raise a banner at Air Canada Centre in honor of Bon Jovi. The New Jersey rockers have played the arena 17 times since 2000. Toronto last won the Stanley Cup in 1967.
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HELEN H. RICHARDSON/THE DENVER POST/GETTY IMAGES (PORTIS)
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BRENT LEWIN/BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGES (LEIWEKE)
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ROBERT BECK/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (BEYONCÉ)
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NEW LINE CINEMA/PHOTOFEST (FREDDY)
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PIAI/FOTOLIA.COM (MASK)
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EVERETT COLLECTION (POWER RANGER)
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GUZEL STUDIO/FOTOLIA.COM (CANDY CORN)
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TED S. WARREN/AP (EVANS)
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MARK HUMPHREY/AP (MATTHEWS)
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SIMON BRUTY/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (PIERCE)
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