Cleveland Browns pass-catcher Josh Gordon wasn't named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week. That award went to Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker, just days after Gordon broke an NFL record with 200-plus receiving yards in back-to-back weeks.
Maybe a third consecutive titanic outing will do the trick?
No receiver in football owns a higher yards-per-game average than Gordon's 124.9. That will be tested Sunday against the New England Patriots, who haven't allowed a wideout to haul in more than 121 yards all year.
After frying Pittsburgh's Ike Taylor and a Jacksonville secondary that starts three rookies, Gordon won't have it so easy against New England cornerback Aqib Talib.
"I'm pretty sure he'll make some plays, but I'm definitely going to make more plays," Gordon said Thursday, per The Plain Dealer.
"NFL cornerback is a hard position to play, and (Talib's) doing a great job right now for that defense. He's a real physical, scrappy player. But I'm going to come out there and do the same, go out there and make plays myself and try to make sure that nobody can stop me."
Said Talib: "(Gordon) reminds you of those names, the Calvin Johnsons, the Andre Johnsons, it's bigger guys with little-guy speed and quickness. He can turn an 8-yard curl into a touchdown in a heartbeat."
Gordon, only 22, needs just 41 receiving yards to top the Browns' single-season franchise record (1,289), set by Braylon Edwards in 2007. That's a dire testament to the dearth of wideout talent on this team dating back to the days of Webster Slaughter and Reggie Langhorne, but Gordon has the tools to be better than any of them.
In an era when the air attack is blowing up, fans are being treated to a new wave of young pass-catchers. We talked this week about Alshon Jeffery in Chicago; Keenan Allen is shaping up as a Rookie of the Year favorite for the Chargers; and Gordon -- as we hoped -- has made the leap.
Just imagine if he had a quarterback.
The latest "Around The League Podcast" debates the Seahawks' Super Bowl chances and asks "Who do you trust?" as the playoffs approach.
