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Clash of the receivers corps in Indy

By Carlos "Big C" Holmes
Cox News Service
12/18/2006

Everyone has been quick to point out that two of the league's finest quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Carson Palmer will face off tonight. However, receiving a little less attention is the elite receiving corps that will take the field in this game. With Marvin Harrison, Chad Johnson, Reggie Wayne and an emerging T.J. Houshmandzadeh on hand you would be hard pressed to find a receiving corps of this caliber in any football game.

In his 11th year in the league, Harrison remains at the top of his game and continues to write his name in the NFL record books reaching one milestone after another. Last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Harrison became the fourth player in NFL history with 1,000 receptions, joining Jerry Rice, Tim Brown and Cris Carter.

Harrison has eclipsed the century mark already this season making this his eighth consecutive season with a 1,000 yards or more receiving.

You can be certain that Manning will look for his go-to-guy in this matchup against the Bengals.

Harrison has receptions in 154 consecutive games, the longest streak among active players (151, WR-Keyshawn Johnson).

Harrison's partner in crime, Wayne, is coming into his own this season ranked No. 2 in receiving yards with 1,129 to go along with eight touchdown receptions.

Wayne's best game of the season came against the Denver Broncos in Week 8 where he hauled in three touchdown passes from Manning and took the Broncos' young corners to school.

With Wayne maturing at the position, defenses are finding it difficult to double up Harrison, which poses a different threat for a secondary.

The receiving tandem of Harrison and Wayne is one the most lethal combinations in the game today. If you take a close look at Wayne's career numbers they are very compatible to that of Bengals WR Chad Johnson. Wayne in my opinion is the only No. 2 receiver in the league who could go on to be a productive No. 1 receiver.

Can't stop Chad

On the flip side of things, Johnson, who leads the league in receiving, is playing like the title of his latest book would suggest, I Can't Be Stopped.

That's right, Johnson has been unstoppable. He has accounted for 664 yards and five touchdowns in his last four games.

Will Johnson continue to catch fire? Against a poor Colts defense? It's likely. With this being a big Monday Night gala I'm sure Bengal fans are wondering if the flamboyant receivers will be up for the game.

Well, wonder no more.

Here's Johnson on if he gets more pumped up for Monday Night Football: "No. It doesn't matter when I'm playing. I'm always up for every game. It just happens to be that we're playing at night," he said.

Super sidekick

Johnson's sidekick, Houshmandzadeh is the perfect complement receiver and has been the go-to-guy for Palmer in clutch situations.

He leads the team in touchdown receptions finding his way into the end zone eight times this season. Houshmandzadeh is not your ordinary No. 2 receiver and Johnson will be the first to admit that.

"He's not a No. 2. We're actually two No. 1s on the same team," Johnson said.

Football fans, prepare yourself for what I believe will be a Monday night shootout when these two high-powered offenses meet tonight and set it off.