Another Sunday, another individual offensive record set by a New Orleans Saints player.
When wide receiver Michael Thomas caught his second pass in Sunday's Week 11 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, it marked the 482nd reception of his career. With that figure, Thomas surpassed Cleveland Browns WR Jarvis Landry for the most catches through a player's first five seasons in NFL history.
Thomas was named AP Offensive Player of the Year in 2019 after posting 149 catches — now the single-season NFL record. He accumulated 1,725 yards and nine TDs, and he became the first wide receiver to win the award since San Francisco 49ers legend Jerry Rice in 1993.
Ironically, Thomas' latest record-setting reception was not thrown by the quarterback who has tossed the vast majority of his catches. Saints star Drew Brees — who seems to set his own passing records on a weekly basis — is out with broken ribs, resulting in Taysom Hill getting the first start of his career.
Four of Hill's first five completions were thrown to Thomas, for 40 yards. He has targeted Thomas six times thus far, including this 22-yard strike over the middle:
Taysom Hill drifts to his left and delivers to @cantguardmike for 22 yards. #Saints
📺: #ATLvsNO on FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/XvGQdBFS2I pic.twitter.com/pgkQP0zilg— NFL (@NFL) November 22, 2020
Thomas did uncharacteristically drop an easy would-be completion to stall a drive in the second quarter:
I legit think this is the first time I've ever seen Michael Thomas drop a pass. 👀 pic.twitter.com/9fmQ0kpTz6
— WhiskeyRanger (@WhiskeyRanger29) November 22, 2020
Thomas would have likely broken Landry's record earlier in the season if not for a series of injuries. The Saints wide receiver was not active from Week 2 through Week 9.
Overall, the 27-year-old has 14 receptions for 135 yards on the season (at time of writing). The Falcons lead the Saints, 6-3, midway through the second quarter at the Superdome.
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