NFL: The Madden Curse is Alive and Well!

[RFlagg]

So far this season, here are Calvin Johnson's stats:

41 catches, 638 yards, 1 TD.

Versus last year after 7 games:

41 catches, 679 yards, 10 TDs.

And then there's this.

Quote:Sore knee hinders Calvin Johnson vs. Seattle Seahawks

The Decepticons defeated the Autobots 28-24 at Ford Field on Sunday, but Megatron didn't look like his usual otherworldly self.

Football fans, fantasy and otherwise, have been flabbergasted the past several weeks watching the usually sure-handed Calvin Johnson struggle. Johnson caught just three balls for 46 yards on Sunday against a stout Seattle Seahawks secondary. He also dropped two passes, including a wide-open would-be touchdown pass in the final minute.

Johnson said his sore knee contributed to the drop.

"I just have to get my head around," he said, according to MLive.com. "I didn't come out of my break like I wanted to. It's tough to stick my foot in the ground with my knee hurting, but that's not (an) excuse."

With Nate Burleson out for the season with a broken right leg, Megatron said he couldn't afford to sit out, even after a big third quarter hit where he fell on his back after getting his legs taken out from under him going over the middle.

"I tried to recoup, tried to get everything back, but I really couldn't come out," Johnson said. "We're down in receivers. We had three, maybe four guys active. (Brian) Robiskie is still learning the playbook and stuff, so it was tough."

And don't forget Newton, who came in 2nd.

2011: 152/252, 2,103 yards, 8 TDs, 9 INTs, 57 carries, 266 yards, 7 TDs.
2012: 121/212, 1,701 yards, 5 TDs, 8 INTs, 51 carries, 310 yards, 3 TDs.

Seems the curse is even going for the runner up this year.