When ESPN wraps the 43rd season of Monday Night Football this weekend with a special Saturday night edition — the Atlanta Falcons versus the Detroit Lions (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN and WatchESPN) — there are two big storylines to watch.
(Allen Kee/ESPN Images)
First, can the Falcons secure a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a victory? And, can All-Pro Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson set the NFL single-season record for most receiving yards?
Johnson needs just 182 receiving yards in his next two games to eclipse the 17-year old mark held by ESPN NFL analyst Jerry Rice.
In the video above, the 49ers Hall of Famer — and arguably the greatest player in league history — discusses NFL records and the thought of potentially losing one of his own to Johnson. (Note: More of the interview with Rice will air during ESPN’s 90-minute Monday Night Countdown pre-game on Saturday night at 7 p.m.)
Speaking of top performances, ESPN’s MNF telecast will open with a look at the most memorable plays from the 2012 Monday Night season, including the controversial last-second Hail Mary in Seattle, which marked the end of the replacement officials; Peyton Manning and the Broncos’ big fourth quarter comeback against the Chargers in San Diego; and Robert Griffin III’s dynamic performance in the Redskins’ December win over the Giants.
Video produced by Mac Nwulu and Tonya Malinowski
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