After an incredible 2021 NFL season, Los Angeles Rams WR Cooper Kupp has the potential to break both the NFL receiving yards and receptions records. Entering Week 18 of the NFL season, how close is Kupp to breaking the records? If he does, should they be treated differently coming in a 17-game season?
Cooper Kupp could break the NFL receiving yards and receptions records
In a fantastic NFL season for Kupp, he is within sight of setting the NFL records for both receiving yards and receptions. Kupp enters Week 18 with 1,829 yards and 138 receptions. He needs 11 receptions and 135 receiving yards to match the current records. Thus, 12 receptions and 136 receiving yards would set new records for both categories.
The current records are held by Calvin Johnson and Michael Thomas. Johnson had 1,964 receiving yards in the 2012 season for the Detroit Lions. An interesting element to the receiving yards award is that Matthew Stafford was also the QB when Johnson set the record. Meanwhile, Thomas had 149 receptions in the 2019 season for the New Orleans Saints.
Kupp could top off a superb year with the receiving triple crown
Alongside setting the records, Kupp has the chance to clinch the receiving triple crown as the year-long leader in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. Entering Week 18, Kupp has 138 receptions, 1,829 receiving yards, and 15 touchdowns.
It seems unlikely that he will lose the lead in any of those categories, but receiving touchdowns is the most likely. Kupp has a 2-touchdown lead over Ja’Marr Chase and is 3 TDs ahead of Mike Evans and DK Metcalf.
It is uncertain whether Chase will even play this week, with Joe Burrow having already been ruled himself out. The same is the case for Davante Adams, who has 11 touchdowns. With the Packers having clinched the No. 1 seed, they will likely rest their starters. That makes Metcalf and Evans the two main threats. Nevertheless, they would need 3 touchdowns to match Kupp and 4 to beat him — assuming Kupp fails to find the end zone himself.
In terms of the other two records, Kupp has comfortable leads. He is 21 receptions in front of Adams in second and 28 in front of Tyreek Hill in third. When it comes to receiving yards, his closest challenger is Justin Jefferson at 1,509. Jefferson would need 320 receiving yards to even match Kupp’s current number with one more game to play.
Should we treat the NFL receiving records separately for the 17-game season?
When the NFL decided to expand to 17-game seasons, this was always going to be a debate. Should season-long records be treated differently when set in 17 games compared to a 16-game season? Depending on who you are a fan of, your opinion probably changes. Lions and Saints fans are likely screaming “yes” right now, while Rams fans are vigorously shaking their heads no.
This is not the first time the NFL has expanded its season. They have gone from 12 to 14 to 16 regular-season games in the past. Most likely, these discussions over how to treat new records were held at the time. However, since then, the new records have become accepted, and that will likely be the case with records broken in a 17-game campaign.
There is a case to be made for treating the records on a “per-game” basis. Yet, that would completely shake up the records and open up discussion over how many games are required to qualify for the record. If a receiver has five straight 15-reception games and then gets injured, is that as impressive as what Kupp or Thomas have done over the course of 16 or 17 games? In some ways, yes, but in others, no.
The simple answer is that records are made to be broken. The NFL is continuously evolving, and there is a realistic chance they might yet go to an 18-game season. The best thing to do is to sit back and enjoy the superb performances being put on in front of you, rather than getting hung up arguing over which NFL records mean what.