Where does Jones rank among best single-game feats of past decade?
Julio Jones put the league on notice Sunday, with 12 receptions, 300 receiving yards, and a touchdown in a 48-33 victory over the Carolina Panthers, quickly emerging as the day's top story.
Jones eclipsed his totals for the season, recording 188 yards during his first three games.
After the best game of his career, we rank where Jones' performance compares among the best single-game feats of the past decade.
1. Adrian Peterson, 296 rushing yards, 2007 vs. Chargers
Adrian Peterson's 296-yard, three-touchdown game against the Chargers symbolized a passing of the torch, outshining LaDainian Tomlinson, though both running backs were eventually named as first-team All-Pros later that year. In the eighth game of his career, Peterson displayed the form that would eventually make him the preeminent running back of his generation. Peterson would eventually win MVP in 2012 after a 2,097-yard season but no running back ever had a better game than his opus.
2. Calvin Johnson, 329 receiving yards, 2013 vs. Cowboys
It often felt like Calvin Johnson was the best player on the field in every game of his nine-year career, and the man nicknamed "Megatron" submitted one of the superlative performances in NFL history against the Dallas Cowboys. Johnson was simply unstoppable, catching 14 passes on 16 targets for 329 yards as the Lions edged the Cowboys 31-30. For context, Johnson gained more receiving yards than 13 teams did that week, adding validity to the notion that he was a one-man show.
3. Peyton Manning, 7 passing touchdowns, 2013 vs. Ravens
Manning set the tone for a record-setting Denver Broncos offense in 2013, throwing seven touchdowns in a clinical 49-27 dissection of the Baltimore Ravens on opening night. The legendary quarterback dominated the reigning Super Bowl champions, delivering a pair of touchdowns to Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas, and Wes Welker, while Andre Caldwell posted a single score. Eight players in history, including Drew Brees, passed for seven touchdowns, but Manning gets the nod due to the caliber of his opponent.
4. Jones, 300 receiving yards, Sunday vs. Panthers
Many fans and sportswriters alike were worried about the severity of Jones' calf injury, after posting one reception for 16 yards in Monday's victory over the New Orleans Saints. Six days later, Jones alleviated all fears by dominating the Panthers' secondary, en route to a 48-33 win over his team's principal rival. Four games into the year, Jones' performance may embody a changing of the guard in the NFC South.
5. Brandon Marshall, 21 receptions, 2009 vs. Colts
Brandon Marshall became Plan A, B, and C for the Broncos during a 28-16 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in December 2009, setting the single-game record with 21 receptions. Marshall, in the midst of his second of six Pro Bowl campaigns, became the only viable option for his team and tried to carry the club on his back during an otherwise banal offering from the Broncos. Following the game, Marshall won praise from Terrell Owens, after supplanting him in the record books.