Where Does Julio Jones’s Week 14 Performance Rank in NFL History?

On Monday, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones had a career night, catching 11 passes for 259 yards and one touchdown. His 259-yard performance is the top single-game yardage total by a wide receiver in 2014, and it broke the Falcons’ franchise record for single-game receiving yards. It was also a single-game career high for the former Alabama wide receiver. Jones is now second in the league with 94 receptions and leads the league with 1,428 receiving yards.
So where does Jones’s Monday night performance rank among the top individual single-game receiving performances in NFL history? The answer: He barely broke the top 20. His 259-yard career night was good for the 18th best single-game receiving yardage total in NFL history. Here’s a look at the top 10 single-game receiving yardage totals in the history of the league.
All statistics are courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.

10. Andre Johnson, Houston Texans
- Yards: 273
- Date: November 18, 2012
- Opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars

9. Terrell Owens, San Francisco 49ers
- Yards: 283
- Date: December 17, 2000
- Opponent: Chicago Bears

8. John Taylor, San Francisco 49ers
- Yards: 286
- Date: December 11, 1989
- Opponent: Los Angeles Rams

7. Jerry Rice, San Francisco 49ers
- Yards: 289
- Date: December 18, 1995
- Opponent: Minnesota Vikings

6. Jimmy Smith, Jacksonville Jaguars [tie]
- Yards: 291
- Date: September 10, 2000
- Opponent: Baltimore Ravens

6. Cloyce Box, Detroit Lions [tie]
- Yards: 291
- Date: December 3, 1950
- Opponent: Baltimore Colts

4. Jim Benton, Cleveland Rams
- Yards: 303
- Date: November 22, 1945
- Opponent: Detroit Lions

3. Stephone Paige, Kansas City Chiefs
- Yards: 309
- Date: December 22, 1985
- Opponent: San Diego Chargers

2. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions
- Yards: 329
- Date: October 27, 2013
- Opponent: Dallas Cowboys

1. Flipper Anderson, Los Angeles Rams
- Yards: 336
- Date: November 26, 1989
- Opponent: New Orleans Saints