Next Gen Stats cites Tyler Johnson’s catch-and-run as ‘most incredible’ of Week 1

Is Tyler Johnson’s 63-yard catch better than Tyreek Hill’s 80-yard touchdown?

Was Tyler Johnson’s 63-yard catch and run for the L.A. Rams against the Detroit Lions “the most incredible play” of Week 1? Probably not, but in one way the NFL is citing it as “the most incredible” moment of Week 1 in that the 61 yards after catch is considered to be 59 yards more than the expected amount of YAC for that play. According to NFL’s Next Gen Stats, Johnson’s 63-yard catch ended up being their “most incredible YAC” play of Week 1, eclipsing an 80-yard touchdown by Tyreek Hill that “only” had 36 yards after catch above expectation.

No other Rams moment had a top-20 “incredible YAC” in Week 1. Other stats you can now find on Next Gen Stats also include “Fastest Sacks”, “Longest Tackles”, “Improbable Completions”, and “Remarkable Rushes”. There were no Rams in any of those top-20s.

But for Johnson, a receiver who will need to step up in Puka Nacua’s absence while on IR, just getting this far after barely playing in the past two seasons is already…Incredible.