The numbers for Atlanta Falcons receiver Julio Jones through three games are simply mind-boggling.
In fact, no receiver in NFL history has matched what he’s done to start the 2015 season.
Jones caught 12 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns during Sunday’s win over the Dallas Cowboys, giving him 34 receptions, 440 receiving yards and four scores through three games.
No receiver has ever caught 34 passes during the first three games of a season. Jones is on pace to catch 181, which would beat the current NFL record—held by Marvin Harrison—by 38. Speaking of shattering records, his 146.7 receiving yards per game put him on pace to beat Calvin Johnson’s single-season record of 1,964 by almost 400 yards.
While four touchdowns in three games isn’t other-worldly, he is on track to catch 21. Only two receivers in NFL history have caught 20 or more touchdowns in one season.
Jones’ current 16-game projection: 181 catches, 2,347 yards and 21 touchdowns.
His three-week game log only seems feasible on a video game:
- vs. PHI: 9 receptions, 141 yards, 2 TDs
- at NYG: 13 receptions, 135 yards, 0 TDs
- at DAL: 12 receptions, 164 yards, 2 TDs
We probably shouldn’t be surprised. Over a three-game stretch late last season, Jones caught 28 passes for 555 yards and two touchdowns. He’s picked up right where he left off.
In fact, if we tack on his last four games of 2014 to his three to start 2015, Jones has now produced 66 catches, 1,053 yards and six touchdowns over his last seven appearances on a football field.
There’s probably no way Jones can continue his ridiculous pace, but a seven-game sample size spanning two seasons is significant enough. The NFL hasn’t quite figured how to stop the game’s most dominant receiver. If they don’t fast, Jones will be re-writing the NFL record book come season’s end.