Amon-Ra St. Brown carried his amazing stretch to end last season into Week 1 on Sunday, tying an NFL record along the way.
Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown had an amazing closing stretch to his rookie season, with 51 receptions over the final six games. He became the first rookie in NFL history, in the Super Bowl era, to have at least eight receptions in five straight games–and he did in six straight.
Rookies or not, St. Brown was able to join an elite list if he had at least eight catches in Sunday’s season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. Only four other players had reached that catch mark in at least seven straight games.
“The Sun God” got that done on Sunday, with eight catches for 64 yards and a touchdown against Philadelphia. He can tie the record streak of eight-plus catch games in Week 2 against the Washington Commanders, eight, currently shared by Michael Thomas (2019) and Antonio Brown (2014).
Amon-Ra St. Brown tied an NFL record against the Eagles
Via Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports, St. Brown tied a different NFL record in Week 1. His fifth straight game with eight or more receptions and a touchdown tied him with T.J. Houshmandzadeh for the record streak with those marks.
Amon-Ra St. Brown tied an #NFL record in Week 1.
— Jeff Kerr (@JeffKerrCBS) September 11, 2022
He finished with 8 catches for 64 yards and a TD, the 5th consecutive game he had 8+ receptions and a receiving TD in a game.
St. Brown tied T.J. Houshmandzadeh (2007) for the all-time mark. #Lions #OnePride pic.twitter.com/D2LKMvszeF
Rumors of St. Brown’s production demise when T.J. Hockenson and D’Ande Swift were healthy appear to be greatly overstated, albeit based on one game. He had a 32.4 percent target share on Sunday,12 targets on 37 pass attempts by Jared Goff, as the clearly the Lions’ wide receiver Goff trusted most.
Amon-Ra St. Brown had a 32.4% target share in the Week 1, leading the team by a decent gap. Would like to note a bunch of dudes didn't need to be hurt for this to happen today.
— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) September 11, 2022
With another eight-plus catch game and a touchdown next week against the Commanders, St. Brown will own one NFL record by himself (passing Houshmandzadeh). He can also tie another league record, with two guys (Thomas and Brown) who had two of the most productive seasons we’ve ever seen from a wide receiver when they had their streaks with eight or more catches.