In 1995, the Detroit Lions had the second-best scoring offense in the NFL. Barry Sanders of course had a nice season (1,500 yards, 11 touchdowns), while much-maligned quarterback Scott Mitchell had his best season as a Lion (4,338 yards, 32 touchdowns, 12 interceptions).
Herman Moore set the then single-season NFL record for receptions (123) as Mitchell's No. 1 target, with 1,686 yards and 14 touchdowns. Brett Perriman had a nice season too, 108 catches for 1,488 yards and nine touchdowns. Those 231 catches by a duo of teammate wide receivers in the same season occupy lofty territory in history, and the 3,174 combined receiving yards is the record for a pair of wide receivers on the same team in the same season.
Records are made to be broken, and a 17-game schedule will help any quests to break a lot of records. The record for receiving yards by two wide receiver teammates in a season is no different than Calvin Johnson's single-season receiving yardage record.
Sneaky Lions' record predicted to fall this year
In a set of three bold predictions "that aren't all the crazy" for the Minnesota Vikings this season, Joe Nelson of Bring Me The News ended the list by predicting Vikings' wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison will topple Moore and Perriman's record.
"The NFL record for most yards by a pair of wide receivers in a season was set way back in 1995 when Detroit's Herman Moore and Brett Perriman combined for 231 catches and 3,174 yards. Moore had 123 catches for 1,686 yards and Perriman went for 108 receptions and 1,488 yards."
"This bold prediction says Jefferson and Addison will break that record. It certainly helps that the league plays 17 games instead of 16 and the way we expect Minnesota to be throwing the ball it makes complete sense that Jefferson and Addison will both rocket past 1,000 yards, with Jefferson perhaps getting close to 2,000 by himself."
Jefferson is lined up for a run at Johnson's aforementioned record this year, while Addison absolutely could top 1,000 yards with room to spare in his second season. So the math adds up to say the Vikings' duo could make a real run at Moore and Perriman, but it won't be easy even with a 17th game to get it done.