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Packers' Davante Adams, Aaron Rodgers 'on the same page' right into record books

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Two years ago, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams entered the final week of the season one catch away from Sterling Sharpe's franchise record for receptions in a single season. He finished that way because a knee injury rendered him inactive in Week 17.

The year 2018 was another near miss for Adams.

That year, it was 111 catches when the team record is 112.

In 2016, he finished a measly 3 yards short of his first 1,000-yard season -- a feat he would accomplish in 2018.

As (bad) luck would have it, he finished with 997 again last season.

Unless something unexpected befalls Adams between now and Sunday's regular-season finale at the Chicago Bears (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox), the only question for this season will be how many milestones and records he sets.

With one game to go, Adams ranks third in the NFL in catches (109), fourth in receiving yards (1,328) and first in touchdowns (17). It's a long shot to catch the Bills' Stefon Diggs in catches (120) and yards (1,459), but he has a two-touchdown-catch lead over the Chiefs' Tyreek Hill.

Sharpe's reception record seems like a forgone conclusion, given that Adams averages more than eight catches per game this season. He needs one more touchdown grab to match Sharpe's single-season TD catch record of 18 set in 1994, one year after his receptions record. With one more touchdown catch, Adams would move into the top five all time for a single season, behind Randy Moss (23 in 2007), Jerry Rice (22 in 1987), Mark Clayton (18 in 1984) and Sharpe's 18.

Among other milestones and accomplishments Adams has hit this season:

  • A streak of eight consecutive games with a touchdown catch, tying Don Hutson's franchise record.

  • Five games with two or more touchdown catches, the second most in a season in team history behind only Hutson (six in 1942).

  • Four games with 10-plus catches and two-plus touchdowns, joining Cris Carter (in 1995) as the only players in NFL history to do that in a single season.

  • He's just the third player in NFL history with 100-plus catches and 17-plus touchdowns, joining Carter (1995) and Moss (2003).

Oh, and Adams has done it all in 13 games. He missed two full games and half of another because of a hamstring injury.

Adams and Aaron Rodgers overtook Donald Driver and Brett Favre for most receptions between a receiver-quarterback combination in team history with 491 (Favre and Driver had 486) with Adams' 11 catches (for 142 yards and three touchdowns) in last Sunday's win over the Titans.

"I've said for so long that Charles [Woodson] was the best player that I played with -- and Charles could dominate in a way that I've never seen a nickel corner dominate before. It's probably time to start putting Davante in that conversation," Rodgers said after the Titans game. "Because he is that type of player. He's a special player."

Adams still trails Jordy Nelson in terms of touchdown passes from Rodgers, 65 to 56. Nelson and Rodgers have the most combined by a receiver-quarterback combination in Packers history, but there's little doubt Adams has forged a Nelson-like connection with Rodgers.

"Being with that guy, it's allowed me to know what true greatness is," Adams said of Rodgers. "I don't get too excited by minor things at this point, just seeing how he is. He goes out and throws a ball a little behind me and I catch it and get 15 yards, he's apologizing and pissed off that he didn't lead me to be able to get a touchdown.

"Just being around him has made it so much better for me and made the game so much more fun. Obviously, the success has come due to having a strong guy like him be able to throw me the ball as well."

Packers coach Matt LaFleur said he noticed that connection immediately.

"I don't think you get a real appreciation until you're in a building and you can see how two guys work so well together," LaFleur said. "They're always on the same page. And just their ability to go out there and just take advantage of certain looks when teams know we're going to go towards him and they know we're going to target him.

"If they switch the coverage up for whatever reason and you get a one-on-one out there, their ability to go to it right away and attack it, I think is pretty impressive. I think it takes a lot for the quarterback to be able to do that. They're always on the same page."