Jerry Rice's 22TD in 1987?

[caneaddict]

So last night I was watching an interview with Randy Moss and they asked him if he has any specific personal records that he wants. He said he never really thinks about all the lifetime record stuff (B.S.) but that the only record he has always kept in his mind is the single season TD record.

I went back and saw the single season record is held by Jerry Rice: 22 TD's in 12 games!!!!!!

It was during the 1987 season (I'm assuming the missed 4 games were due to the strike).

Obviously 22 TD's in 12 games at WR is absolutely mind blowing. However, while Rice did usually post big numbers back then, non of his other (full 16 game) seasons came even close to that per game average.

I was too young, so my question is for those who remember it. Were other players out of shape because of the strike? Was it that he was just so great that year that if it had been a normal year he would have had 30 TD's? I have to think something happened. Did some of the striking players not come back for an extra few weeks? Was it that the defenses rythms were off?

Anyone remember that season can shed some light?

 

[Agent51]

So last night I was watching an interview with Randy Moss and they asked him if he has any specific personal records that he wants. He said he never really thinks about all the lifetime record stuff (B.S.) but that the only record he has always kept in his mind is the single season TD record.

I went back and saw the single season record is held by Jerry Rice: 22 TD's in 12 games!!!!!!

It was during the 1987 season (I'm assuming the missed 4 games were due to the strike).

Obviously 22 TD's in 12 games at WR is absolutely mind blowing. However, while Rice did usually post big numbers back then, non of his other (full 16 game) seasons came even close to that per game average.

I was too young, so my question is for those who remember it. Were other players out of shape because of the strike? Was it that he was just so great that year that if it had been a normal year he would have had 30 TD's? I have to think something happened. Did some of the striking players not come back for an extra few weeks? Was it that the defenses rythms were off?

Anyone remember that season can shed some light?

I was only 3 man, so I can't really shed any light, but the record is insane huh? 22 Rec TDs in a season that was only 12 games, DAMN.

 

[caneaddict]

Yeah, it's nuts. That's why I'm posting this because it just seems like such an aberration (even for Rice). The previous year he had 15 TD's in 16 games. The following year he had 9TD's in 16 games. Yet that season he was on pace for 30TD's.

I figured some of the older guys here would remember.

 

[JoeRobStad4ever]

Yeah, it's nuts. That's why I'm posting this because it just seems like such an aberration (even for Rice). The previous year he had 15 TD's in 16 games. The following year he had 9TD's in 16 games. Yet that season he was on pace for 30TD's.

I figured some of the older guys here would remember.

Well, you see, it's like this...Rice was taking an illegal drug called -EPO for just that year, and so he was able to run faster, jump higher, and catch better due to this. Oh, and he could also cycle faster, but he never took advantage of it...This must explain it!!! If only we had the tainted French lab B samples to prove it!

Other than that I have no explanation, I was only 7, don't remember it. I saw the stat too, thought it was an error! It's totally insane. Maybe SanFran didn't have any other receivers out on the field that year???