Christian McCaffrey breaks RB receptions record he set last year

INDIANAPOLIS -- Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey broke one NFL record and put himself in position to tie an even bigger one during Sunday's 38-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

McCaffrey broke the record he set last year for the most catches by a running back in a season. His 15 catches gave him 109 for the year, two more than he had in 2018.

That set the stage for next week. The 2017 first-round pick out of Stanford needs 67 yards receiving in the season finale against New Orleans to become the third player in NFL history to have 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in the same season.

The only members of the 1,000/1,000 club are Roger Craig and Marshall Faulk.

But as much as McCaffrey might want to join them, he wants to end Carolina's seven-game losing streak more.

"Those things are cool, but it doesn't matter if you're not winning,'' McCaffrey said of records. "I just want to win. If those things can help winning, it would be great.''

Safety Tre Boston understands but noted McCaffrey still deserves all the recognition he can get for the effort and fight he has put into a 5-10 season.

"What he's doing is spectacular,'' Boston said. "A lot of guys are asking was it a wasted season because of how bad we're playing and how well he's playing. Christian is a highlight of what's going on, cause if we didn't have him I can only imagine.''

McCaffrey had 119 yards receiving against Indy to go with 54 yards rushing for his 16th game with at least 50 yards in both categories. That tied him for the most by a player in his first four seasons, and McCaffrey is in only his third.

"That game right there, we saw like 10 dumps to the flats and just him doing whatever he can with the ball,'' Boston said. "We shouldn't need that. You want to know why the Patriots are good? Because when they look downfield and they don't have it they check it down to those running backs. It can't be our first option.''

McCaffrey said winning should be Carolina's first objective, reiterating records mean something only when the team is relevant. He said everyone needs to elevate their game against the Saints.

"Because collectively, we're just not getting it done,'' McCaffrey said. "That's just the facts.''

McCaffrey's accomplishments aside, Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen called this season that cost head coach Ron Rivera his job a few weeks ago a "collective failure.''

"In 13 years, I've never been a part of what these last weeks have been like,'' Olsen said. "It's just s---ty. We took a lot in building this thing the right way. A lot of guys are trying to finish this chapter out. We failed. We failed collectively. It's a tough pill to swallow riding this thing out.

"We just failed. Overall we failed. As players and all the people that are involved in how this game goes. It's about as rock bottom as it gets.''

McCaffrey didn't point fingers, "because it's not what I do.''

"But I can tell you this, though,'' he said. "We have a lot of guys on this team who are fighters and it's a shame we're not getting it done for each other. Everyone deserves better.''

That's why McCaffrey's focus against New Orleans will be on victory, not joining the 1,000-1,000 club.

"It's a blessing to play in the NFL,'' he said. "All of us have talent. It would be a shame to waste that talent.''