History Tracker: An update on Michael Thomas’ journey to 144

The New Orleans Saints have one player on par to make history, and we’re going to keep a weekly tracker on Michael Thomas’ historic journey.

After a dominant performance from Michael Thomas against the Panthers, it looked like he was primed for another big-time game in the team’s rematch with the Atlanta Falcons. While the Saints did win, they weren’t led by Thomas.

Jared Cook as actually had the most receiving yards on the team while Thomas totaled just 48 yards. The yardage isn’t what is going to break records for Thomas; it’s the receptions that’ll get his name in the record books.

On Thursday, he failed to hit the average he needed to sustain to ensure he’d break Marvin Harrison‘s single-season reception record. Harrison’s record is currently at 143.

Coming into Week 13, Thomas would’ve needed exactly eight receptions each week in the remaining five games to break the record. Against the Falcons, a team he secured 13 receptions on in Week 10, Thomas had just six.

He now has a league-high 110 receptions on the season, 34 shy of the record.

That means, in the team’s remaining four games, he’ll need 8.5 per game. While that should be feasible, Thomas would need a huge game against the best pass defense in the league in Week 14, something easier said than done.

The Saints’ Week 14 matchup will be against the 49ers, a team that’s had just one loss and was the league’s last undefeated team. With two elite corners, the 49ers will be looking to halt Thomas’ dominant season.

To end the season following Week 14, he will get games against the Colts, Titans, and Panthers. Thankfully, all three of those teams are in the bottom half of the league in opponent’s passing yards per game, so hopefully, Brees can get going and find Thomas to break the record.

That said, Thomas had a lacking Week 13, but he should be able to find some rhythm against the 49ers given that he’ll be a priority target for Brees and the Saints.