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Calvin Johnson has come up just short of end zone several times this season

Lions WR Calvin Johnson has been tackled inside the opponent's 2-yard line five times this year, which is part of why he only has one touchdown reception after eight games.

By Bryan Kilpatrick
Ronald Martinez

Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson only has one touchdown catch this season, after hauling in 16 scoring receptions a year ago. Lions.com blogger Tim Twentyman uncovered a big reason why that number is so low: Johnson has been stopped inside the 2-yard line on five occasions in 2012.

Johnson leads the Lions, and is third in the NFL, with 767 receiving yards through eight games, so his production hasn't dropped much from last year in that regard. And, if Johnson had been able to get into the end zone on each of those five instances, he would be tied with Pittsburgh's Heath Miller, Tampa Bay's Vincent Jackson and Green Bay's Randall Cobb for seventh in the league in touchdown receptions.

However, as it sits now, Johnson and quarterback Matthew Stafford are left answering questions about why they haven't shown the ability to connect for scores like they did in 2011. Now, there's some evidence for coincidence representing at least part of the reason.