:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49590421/usa-today-8989724.0.jpg)
Adam Stites of SB Nation wrote last week about the top receiver/quarterback combos of the last decade, and unless you're a bona fide Matt Ryan hater, it shouldn't surprise you that the Atlanta Falcons made the list twice. Both Julio Jones and Roddy White appear on the list with Matt Ryan.
Stites based his rankings on total receiving yard and touchdowns for each duo, and Matt Ryan and Roddy White, who was cut by the team prior to the start of free agency, were actually second on the list, just behind New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Marques Colston, who was cut by the Saints last offseason. White and Ryan combined for 8,422 yards and 52 touchdowns over the course of their joint Falcons tenure.
Julio Jones was drafted by the team in 2011, so he has only had five seasons to rack up receiving yards and touchdowns with Matt Ryan, but the duo still makes an appearance on the list. Ryan and Jones have combined for 6,155 yards and 34 touchdowns. Jones, of course, is still around and will undoubtedly continue to add to this total, especially following a season where he very nearly broke the record for the most receptions in a single season.
Stites' article has a cool interactive chart, and it's worth checking out. The Falcons weren't the only team to make the list twice. The San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelersand New England Patriots all shared in that honor.
Philip Rivers appeared on the list with tight end Antonio Gates and receiver Malcom Floyd. Tom Brady is joined by tight end Rob Gronkowski and wide receiver Wes Welker, and the Cowboys' Tony Romo was paired with tight end Jason Witten and wide receiver Dez Bryant. Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger and tight end Heath Miller, as well as wide receiver Antonio Brown, made the list.
Peyton Manning appeared twice on the list, but based on his pairings with receivers from different teams. Manning and Reggie Wayne of the Indianpolis Colts were eighth on the list, and Manning and Demaryius Thomas of the Denver Broncos were 17th on the list, which is pretty impressive given Manning's short tenure in Denver. The Falcons do have the distinction of being the only team to have two wide receivers make the list.