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Week Eight ROY Meter
Saints go marching up and down
By Court E. Mann
Nov. 1, 2006
This much is clear: The Saints acquitted themselves well in April. Not only did one of the most electrifying rookies in recent memory fall into their lap, but they found themselves a quality starting lineman (ORG Jahri Evans) in the fourth round and struck 14-karat gold in the wee hours of Sunday night. After 251 players were selected, New Orleans plucked a relatively unknown kid from Hofstra, and he just so happens to be the current Rookie of the Year front-runner.
Note: This feature is designed to handicap the race for the Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards. It takes into account both past performance and future potential. Thus, occasionally, you may find players who rank ahead of others despite relatively less production at that point. For example, Matt Leinart was on our ROY radar before he even threw an NFL pass because his debut was very much anticipated.
The top nominees
1. Saints WR Marques Colston
Season stats: 33 catches, 577 yards, six TDs
Week Eight stats: six catches, 163 yards, two TDs
Last week’s ranking: 1
Stock: STEADY
Colston’s Week Eight effort against the Ravens was a big-time feather in his cap as it relates to his ROY candidacy. While many of the players on this list are beginning to show signs of slowing down in the marathon grind of the NFL season, Colston handed in his most productive day of the year. He now leads the rookie class in receiving by an astounding 200 yards.
2. Patriots RB Laurence Maroney
Season stats: 94 rushes, 395 yards, three TDs; nine catches, 110 yards
Week Eight stats: eight rushes, 34 yards; two catches, 33 yards
Last week’s ranking: 2
Stock: STEADY
If you happened to catch the Patriots’ whipping of the Vikes on Monday night, you smelled what we’ve been cooking all season. Maroney admittedly had another quiet effort on the ground but added 33 yards in receiving and broke off a 77-yard kick return just when the Pats needed it most. Maroney leads the NFL with a kick-return average of 30.4 yards.
3. Bears DE Mark Anderson
Season stats: 13 tackles, 7½ sacks, one pass defended, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery
Week Eight stats: two tackles, one sack, one forced fumble
Last week’s ranking: 5
Stock: STEADY
Whether it has come with the Bears trailing by 20 points in the second half or leading by 31 points in the fourth quarter, Anderson continues to make big plays. Even with starter Adewale Ogunleye back last week, Anderson extended his streak of at least one sack to four consecutive games, and he’s forced a fumble in three straight, as well.
4. Titans QB Vince Young
Season stats: 54-of-118, 599 yards, four TDs, four INTs; 123 rushing yards, two TDs
Week Eight stats: 7-of-15, 87 yards, one TD; 44 rushing yards, one TD
Last week’s ranking: 9
Stock: RISING
None of the three rookie quarterbacks is piling up stellar numbers, but while both Matt Leinart and Bruce Gradkowski have struggled the last couple of weeks, Young has recorded two straight wins. Young threw for only 87 yards vs. Houston, but he accounted for two TDs (one rushing) and did not turn the ball over.
5. Colts RB Joseph Addai
Season stats: 87 attempts, 447 yards, one TD; 19 catches, 144 yards, one TD
Week Eight stats: 17 rushes, 93 yards; five catches, 37 yards
Last week’s ranking: 10
Stock: RISING
With an impressive, career-high 93-yard output at Denver against those stingy Broncos, Addai took over the first-year rushing lead from Maroney. In the month of October, the LSU product has earned more looks by posting 103 total yards per game. This week’s spotlight will be on Manning and Brady, but this meter will be watching Addai vs. Maroney just as closely.
6. Cardinals QB Matt Leinart
Season stats: 79-of-153, 899 yards, five TDs, five INTs
Week Eight stats: 14-of-35, 157 yards, one TD, one INT
Last week’s ranking: 4
Stock: FALLING
Leinart has admittedly struggled in consecutive weeks, but he does lead the rookies in passing yards and touchdown tosses. With the Cardinals reeling, he’ll have every opportunity to find his rhythm in the second half, and the future is certainly bright with Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald out wide.
7. Buccaneers QB Bruce Gradkowski
Season stats: 80-of-155, 672 yards, four TDs, one INT
Week Eight stats: 20-of-48, 139 yards
Last week’s ranking: 6
Stock: FALLING
Like Leinart, the last few weeks have been a struggle for Gradkowski. In his last two outings, he’s managed only 243 passing yards with zero TDs, zero INTs, and three fumbles. Having said that, he is 2-2 as a starting quarterback with only one pick, which is pretty impressive for a rookie.
8. Texans LB DeMeco Ryans
Season stats: 63 tackles (50 solo, 13 assists), 1½ sacks, one pass defended
Week Eight stats: 10 tackles (six solo, four assists)
Last week’s ranking: 7
Stock: RISING
It didn’t take long for Ryans to regain his spot atop the leaderboard in tackles among rookies. The second-rounder was busy as usual against the Titans, logging his third double-digit tackle effort of the season.
9. Packers WR Greg Jennings
Season stats: 21 catches, 378 yards, three TDs
Week Eight stats: DNP (ankle)
Last week’s ranking: 8
Stock: STEADY
We’ll learn a lot about Jennings in the coming weeks as he battles back and plays through a Week Seven ankle injury that threatens to linger. Head coach Mike McCarthy suggested that Jennings was awfully close to playing last week, which considering he was doubtful, indicates the kid is plenty tough. Despite the inactivity, he’s still second among rookies in receiving yardage and third in catches.
10. Saints RB Reggie Bush
Season stats: 70 rushes, 212 yards, zero TD; 42 catches, 290 yards, zero TD; one punt-return TD
Week Eight stats: five rushes, 16 yards; four catches, five yards
Last week’s ranking: 3
Stock: FALLING
Playing for the team’s biggest surprise and leading the rookie class in catches can only take Reggie so far, especially when you consider that the Saints’ turnaround arguably has more to do with Drew Brees, Colston and head coach Sean Payton. Bush has yet to score an offensive TD, and his total yardage has essentially declined on a weekly basis. He’s now gimpy, as well.
Honorable mention (in no particular order)
Lions LB Ernie Sims: Lions may cut his snaps for fear of wearing him out.
Jets RB Leon Washington: Took a step back, but second in rookie rushing.
Broncos DL Elvis Dumervil: Even veteran pass rushers can’t get to Peyton.
Bears PR Devin Hester: NFL’s best punt returner nearly broke another vs. S.F.
Bills SS Donte Whitner: Young Bills secondary looking to regroup after a bye.
Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew: Fifth among rookies in catches; second in TDs.
Chargers OLT Marcus McNeill: L.T. pounded that left side for 183 rushing yards.
Colts S Antoine Bethea: Seven more stops in Mile High upset.
Panthers CB Richard Marshall: Fumbled kick return hurt the Panthers.
Falcons RB Jerious Norwood: Fourth among rookies in rushing despite limited touches.
Chiefs DE Tamba Hali: Quiet finish to monster October.
Texans DE Mario Williams: Suddenly tied for third in rookie sacks.
Browns DE Kamerion Wimbley: Seven tackles and a fumble recovery vs. Jets.
Patriots ORT Ryan O’Callaghan: Brady had a couple of hours to throw on Monday.
Titans DB Cortland Finnegan: Eight tackles and a pass defended even without starting.
Jets C Nick Mangold: Taking charge of the Jets line as a rookie.
Texans TE Owen Daniels: Second only to Colston in receiving scores.
Ravens S Dawan Landry: Two picks on Sunday propelled him to the rookie lead.
Best of the rest (in no particular order)
Bears S Danieal Manning
Jets OLT D’Brickashaw Ferguson
Saints OG Jahri Evans
Patriots WR Chad Jackson
Bills FS Ko Simpson
Bills LB Keith Ellison
Niners OLB Manny Lawson
Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams
Broncos RB Mike Bell
Lions OT Jonathan Scott
Packers LB A.J. Hawk
Jets WR Brad Smith
Dolphins WR Derek Hagan
Bills DT Kyle Williams
Steelers WR Santonio Holmes
Rams TE Joe Klopfenstein
Niners RB Michael Robinson
Seahawks DE Darryl Tapp
Raiders SS Michael Huff
Raiders LB Thomas Howard
Broncos QB Jay Cutler
Texans RB Wali Lundy
Patriots PK Stephen Gostkowski
Bengals LB Rashad Jeanty
Ravens DT Haloti Ngata
Bengals DT Domata Peko
Browns LB D’Qwell Jackson
Saints S Roman Harper
Rams CB Tye Hill
Eagles DT Broderick Bunkley
Seahawks P Ryan Plackemeier
Dolphins CB Jason Allen
Cowboys LB Bobby Carpenter
Chargers CB Antonio Cromartie
Buccaneers OG Davin Joseph
Bengals CB Johnathan Joseph
Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis
Giants DE Mathias Kiwanuka
Lions S Daniel Bullocks
Giants WR Sinorice Moss
Titans RB LenDale White
Browns RB Jerome Harrison
Packers OG Jason Spitz
Packers OG Tony Moll
Packers OG Daryn Colledge
Broncos TE Tony Scheffler
Jets QB Kellen Clemens
Lions RB Brian Calhoun
Raiders OL Paul McQuistan
Cowboys OL Pat McQuistan
Eagles WR Hank Baskett
Cowboys TE Anthony Fasano
Cowboys FS Pat Watkins
Giants NT Barry Cofield
Cardinals TE Leonard Pope
Texans OT Charles Spencer
Saints P Steven Weatherford
Ravens P Sam Koch
Ravens CB Ronnie Prude
Vikings S Greg Blue
49ers TE Vernon Davis
Week Eight MVP Meter
Barber, Brady lie like sleeping giants in MVP race
By Eric Edholm
Oct. 31, 2006
How did we overlook them? Tom Brady, player that he is, gets complimented for the way he walks across the street, for crying out loud. There isn’t a guy in America who wouldn’t trade places with him, his team has lost only one game and yet the MVP talk around him is relatively low. Why is that? Considering what the Patriots lost this offseason  both starting receivers and the best clutch kicker in the past 25 years  Brady’s performance this season has been terrific. And Tiki Barber’s recent retirement talk has somehow taken away from what he has done for a Giants team that smells blood in the NFC East and could be in line for a nice run. All Barber has done to this point is lead the NFL in rushing yards and catch 29 passes. How did we overlook these guys?
1. Colts QB Peyton Manning  Sunday was perhaps the greatest passing game in Manning’s career, considering whom he was facing and how good his numbers were. Colts receivers were credited with three drops, and the Broncos had three passes defended. Manning was 32-of-39 passing for 345 yards and three touchdowns. So basically, that means if the Colts pass catchers weren’t dropping it and the Broncos’ defenders weren’t making a play on the ball, Manning was perfect with 32 of his 33 other passes. Wow.
2. Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson  Another monster game both running and passing lifts him up into the second slot because his numbers are just so far superior to any other back. When you think that teams gear up to stop him every week and that he is backed up by one of the best backs in the league in Michael Turner, Tomlinson’s production is nothing short of staggering.
3. Patriots QB Tom Brady  Sure, he’s only 11th in the league in passing yards, but his total of 14 TDs is tied for third and, most of all, the guy wins. No matter what game plan you throw at him  witness Monday’s spread formation attack vs. the Vikings  Brady executes it to near-perfection.
4. Giants RB Tiki Barber  The zero touchdowns are an eyesore, but Barber has 59 more rushing yards on only five more carries. And with all the talk of him being a distraction to his teammates, the Giants have gone about their business to win four straight since the bye, making themselves a legit Super Bowl contender.
5. Chiefs RB Larry Johnson  A few bad weeks have tempered our overall enthusiasm for him, but Johnson’s season-long output, buoyed by some recent monster efforts, cannot be overlooked. He’s helping Damon Huard look sharp as a starter and keeping the Chiefs in the playoff race, which is all you can ask of a workhorse back. His 39 carries Sunday proved that’s what he is.
6. Eagles QB Donovan McNabb  You can’t ignore what he had done before Sunday’s miserable effort, but the fact remains that the Eagles have sunk to third in the NFC East with a 4-4 mark and McNabb’s play against the Jaguars looked downright listless. Still, he’s the kind of guy who can rally a team quickly.
7. Saints QB Drew Brees  His statistics against the Ravens will make it look like he was in the zone for at least part of the game, but much of it came in garbage time. Still, it’s a quarterback’s job to make sure his team never gives up, and Brees certainly did that.
8. Panthers DE Julius Peppers  Peppers has been the most dominant defensive player this season (save for perhaps Shawne Merriman or Champ Bailey), but he was shut down by Cowboys ORT Marc Colombo, who held Peppers to two tackles. It was his second game in a row without a sack, too, which is a long time for him.
9. Broncos CB Champ Bailey  Bailey was only victimized by Manning a handful of times. Instead, the Colts picked on Darrent Williams across the field.
10. Bears LB Brian Urlacher  Only one tackle on Sunday, but Urlacher’s athletic interception, falling backward, is the kind of play people remember when they vote for this kind of award  especially on a team that has yet to lose.
Others to mention: Rams RB Steven Jackson; Panthers WR Steve Smith; Rams QB Marc Bulger; Falcons RB Warrick Dunn; Bears QB Rex Grossman; Falcons CB DeAngelo Hall; Giants QB Eli Manning; Bills RB Willis McGahee; Eagles RB Brian Westbrook; Broncos RB Tatum Bell; Colts WR Marvin Harrison; Rams WR Torry Holt
Players of the week :
Offense
QB Peyton Manning
Indianapolis Colts
How good was Manning against Denver’s nearly inpenetrable defense? He completed a mind-boggling 32-of-39 passes for 345 yards and three TDs (all to Reggie Wayne) vs. a Broncos “D†that had allowed only one team to throw for more than 195 yards this season.
Defense
FS Dawan Landry
Baltimore Ravens
What a homecoming. Landry, a Louisiana native, intercepted Saints QB Drew Brees twice, running one back for a TD. It was a remarkable effort considering Landry sprained his MCL two weeks ago and didn’t even start in the win against the Saints.
Special teams
PK Adam Vinatieri
Indianapolis Colts
You don’t write game-ending scripts without Vinatieri in mind. Once more, he enhanced his reputation as the game’s best clutch kicker with a 37-yarder  his fourth field goal of the game  with two seconds remaining in the Colts’ 34-31 win in Denver.
Saints go marching up and down
By Court E. Mann
Nov. 1, 2006
This much is clear: The Saints acquitted themselves well in April. Not only did one of the most electrifying rookies in recent memory fall into their lap, but they found themselves a quality starting lineman (ORG Jahri Evans) in the fourth round and struck 14-karat gold in the wee hours of Sunday night. After 251 players were selected, New Orleans plucked a relatively unknown kid from Hofstra, and he just so happens to be the current Rookie of the Year front-runner.
Note: This feature is designed to handicap the race for the Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards. It takes into account both past performance and future potential. Thus, occasionally, you may find players who rank ahead of others despite relatively less production at that point. For example, Matt Leinart was on our ROY radar before he even threw an NFL pass because his debut was very much anticipated.
The top nominees
1. Saints WR Marques Colston
Season stats: 33 catches, 577 yards, six TDs
Week Eight stats: six catches, 163 yards, two TDs
Last week’s ranking: 1
Stock: STEADY
Colston’s Week Eight effort against the Ravens was a big-time feather in his cap as it relates to his ROY candidacy. While many of the players on this list are beginning to show signs of slowing down in the marathon grind of the NFL season, Colston handed in his most productive day of the year. He now leads the rookie class in receiving by an astounding 200 yards.
2. Patriots RB Laurence Maroney
Season stats: 94 rushes, 395 yards, three TDs; nine catches, 110 yards
Week Eight stats: eight rushes, 34 yards; two catches, 33 yards
Last week’s ranking: 2
Stock: STEADY
If you happened to catch the Patriots’ whipping of the Vikes on Monday night, you smelled what we’ve been cooking all season. Maroney admittedly had another quiet effort on the ground but added 33 yards in receiving and broke off a 77-yard kick return just when the Pats needed it most. Maroney leads the NFL with a kick-return average of 30.4 yards.
3. Bears DE Mark Anderson
Season stats: 13 tackles, 7½ sacks, one pass defended, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery
Week Eight stats: two tackles, one sack, one forced fumble
Last week’s ranking: 5
Stock: STEADY
Whether it has come with the Bears trailing by 20 points in the second half or leading by 31 points in the fourth quarter, Anderson continues to make big plays. Even with starter Adewale Ogunleye back last week, Anderson extended his streak of at least one sack to four consecutive games, and he’s forced a fumble in three straight, as well.
4. Titans QB Vince Young
Season stats: 54-of-118, 599 yards, four TDs, four INTs; 123 rushing yards, two TDs
Week Eight stats: 7-of-15, 87 yards, one TD; 44 rushing yards, one TD
Last week’s ranking: 9
Stock: RISING
None of the three rookie quarterbacks is piling up stellar numbers, but while both Matt Leinart and Bruce Gradkowski have struggled the last couple of weeks, Young has recorded two straight wins. Young threw for only 87 yards vs. Houston, but he accounted for two TDs (one rushing) and did not turn the ball over.
5. Colts RB Joseph Addai
Season stats: 87 attempts, 447 yards, one TD; 19 catches, 144 yards, one TD
Week Eight stats: 17 rushes, 93 yards; five catches, 37 yards
Last week’s ranking: 10
Stock: RISING
With an impressive, career-high 93-yard output at Denver against those stingy Broncos, Addai took over the first-year rushing lead from Maroney. In the month of October, the LSU product has earned more looks by posting 103 total yards per game. This week’s spotlight will be on Manning and Brady, but this meter will be watching Addai vs. Maroney just as closely.
6. Cardinals QB Matt Leinart
Season stats: 79-of-153, 899 yards, five TDs, five INTs
Week Eight stats: 14-of-35, 157 yards, one TD, one INT
Last week’s ranking: 4
Stock: FALLING
Leinart has admittedly struggled in consecutive weeks, but he does lead the rookies in passing yards and touchdown tosses. With the Cardinals reeling, he’ll have every opportunity to find his rhythm in the second half, and the future is certainly bright with Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald out wide.
7. Buccaneers QB Bruce Gradkowski
Season stats: 80-of-155, 672 yards, four TDs, one INT
Week Eight stats: 20-of-48, 139 yards
Last week’s ranking: 6
Stock: FALLING
Like Leinart, the last few weeks have been a struggle for Gradkowski. In his last two outings, he’s managed only 243 passing yards with zero TDs, zero INTs, and three fumbles. Having said that, he is 2-2 as a starting quarterback with only one pick, which is pretty impressive for a rookie.
8. Texans LB DeMeco Ryans
Season stats: 63 tackles (50 solo, 13 assists), 1½ sacks, one pass defended
Week Eight stats: 10 tackles (six solo, four assists)
Last week’s ranking: 7
Stock: RISING
It didn’t take long for Ryans to regain his spot atop the leaderboard in tackles among rookies. The second-rounder was busy as usual against the Titans, logging his third double-digit tackle effort of the season.
9. Packers WR Greg Jennings
Season stats: 21 catches, 378 yards, three TDs
Week Eight stats: DNP (ankle)
Last week’s ranking: 8
Stock: STEADY
We’ll learn a lot about Jennings in the coming weeks as he battles back and plays through a Week Seven ankle injury that threatens to linger. Head coach Mike McCarthy suggested that Jennings was awfully close to playing last week, which considering he was doubtful, indicates the kid is plenty tough. Despite the inactivity, he’s still second among rookies in receiving yardage and third in catches.
10. Saints RB Reggie Bush
Season stats: 70 rushes, 212 yards, zero TD; 42 catches, 290 yards, zero TD; one punt-return TD
Week Eight stats: five rushes, 16 yards; four catches, five yards
Last week’s ranking: 3
Stock: FALLING
Playing for the team’s biggest surprise and leading the rookie class in catches can only take Reggie so far, especially when you consider that the Saints’ turnaround arguably has more to do with Drew Brees, Colston and head coach Sean Payton. Bush has yet to score an offensive TD, and his total yardage has essentially declined on a weekly basis. He’s now gimpy, as well.
Honorable mention (in no particular order)
Lions LB Ernie Sims: Lions may cut his snaps for fear of wearing him out.
Jets RB Leon Washington: Took a step back, but second in rookie rushing.
Broncos DL Elvis Dumervil: Even veteran pass rushers can’t get to Peyton.
Bears PR Devin Hester: NFL’s best punt returner nearly broke another vs. S.F.
Bills SS Donte Whitner: Young Bills secondary looking to regroup after a bye.
Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew: Fifth among rookies in catches; second in TDs.
Chargers OLT Marcus McNeill: L.T. pounded that left side for 183 rushing yards.
Colts S Antoine Bethea: Seven more stops in Mile High upset.
Panthers CB Richard Marshall: Fumbled kick return hurt the Panthers.
Falcons RB Jerious Norwood: Fourth among rookies in rushing despite limited touches.
Chiefs DE Tamba Hali: Quiet finish to monster October.
Texans DE Mario Williams: Suddenly tied for third in rookie sacks.
Browns DE Kamerion Wimbley: Seven tackles and a fumble recovery vs. Jets.
Patriots ORT Ryan O’Callaghan: Brady had a couple of hours to throw on Monday.
Titans DB Cortland Finnegan: Eight tackles and a pass defended even without starting.
Jets C Nick Mangold: Taking charge of the Jets line as a rookie.
Texans TE Owen Daniels: Second only to Colston in receiving scores.
Ravens S Dawan Landry: Two picks on Sunday propelled him to the rookie lead.
Best of the rest (in no particular order)
Bears S Danieal Manning
Jets OLT D’Brickashaw Ferguson
Saints OG Jahri Evans
Patriots WR Chad Jackson
Bills FS Ko Simpson
Bills LB Keith Ellison
Niners OLB Manny Lawson
Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams
Broncos RB Mike Bell
Lions OT Jonathan Scott
Packers LB A.J. Hawk
Jets WR Brad Smith
Dolphins WR Derek Hagan
Bills DT Kyle Williams
Steelers WR Santonio Holmes
Rams TE Joe Klopfenstein
Niners RB Michael Robinson
Seahawks DE Darryl Tapp
Raiders SS Michael Huff
Raiders LB Thomas Howard
Broncos QB Jay Cutler
Texans RB Wali Lundy
Patriots PK Stephen Gostkowski
Bengals LB Rashad Jeanty
Ravens DT Haloti Ngata
Bengals DT Domata Peko
Browns LB D’Qwell Jackson
Saints S Roman Harper
Rams CB Tye Hill
Eagles DT Broderick Bunkley
Seahawks P Ryan Plackemeier
Dolphins CB Jason Allen
Cowboys LB Bobby Carpenter
Chargers CB Antonio Cromartie
Buccaneers OG Davin Joseph
Bengals CB Johnathan Joseph
Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis
Giants DE Mathias Kiwanuka
Lions S Daniel Bullocks
Giants WR Sinorice Moss
Titans RB LenDale White
Browns RB Jerome Harrison
Packers OG Jason Spitz
Packers OG Tony Moll
Packers OG Daryn Colledge
Broncos TE Tony Scheffler
Jets QB Kellen Clemens
Lions RB Brian Calhoun
Raiders OL Paul McQuistan
Cowboys OL Pat McQuistan
Eagles WR Hank Baskett
Cowboys TE Anthony Fasano
Cowboys FS Pat Watkins
Giants NT Barry Cofield
Cardinals TE Leonard Pope
Texans OT Charles Spencer
Saints P Steven Weatherford
Ravens P Sam Koch
Ravens CB Ronnie Prude
Vikings S Greg Blue
49ers TE Vernon Davis
Week Eight MVP Meter
Barber, Brady lie like sleeping giants in MVP race
By Eric Edholm
Oct. 31, 2006
How did we overlook them? Tom Brady, player that he is, gets complimented for the way he walks across the street, for crying out loud. There isn’t a guy in America who wouldn’t trade places with him, his team has lost only one game and yet the MVP talk around him is relatively low. Why is that? Considering what the Patriots lost this offseason  both starting receivers and the best clutch kicker in the past 25 years  Brady’s performance this season has been terrific. And Tiki Barber’s recent retirement talk has somehow taken away from what he has done for a Giants team that smells blood in the NFC East and could be in line for a nice run. All Barber has done to this point is lead the NFL in rushing yards and catch 29 passes. How did we overlook these guys?
1. Colts QB Peyton Manning  Sunday was perhaps the greatest passing game in Manning’s career, considering whom he was facing and how good his numbers were. Colts receivers were credited with three drops, and the Broncos had three passes defended. Manning was 32-of-39 passing for 345 yards and three touchdowns. So basically, that means if the Colts pass catchers weren’t dropping it and the Broncos’ defenders weren’t making a play on the ball, Manning was perfect with 32 of his 33 other passes. Wow.
2. Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson  Another monster game both running and passing lifts him up into the second slot because his numbers are just so far superior to any other back. When you think that teams gear up to stop him every week and that he is backed up by one of the best backs in the league in Michael Turner, Tomlinson’s production is nothing short of staggering.
3. Patriots QB Tom Brady  Sure, he’s only 11th in the league in passing yards, but his total of 14 TDs is tied for third and, most of all, the guy wins. No matter what game plan you throw at him  witness Monday’s spread formation attack vs. the Vikings  Brady executes it to near-perfection.
4. Giants RB Tiki Barber  The zero touchdowns are an eyesore, but Barber has 59 more rushing yards on only five more carries. And with all the talk of him being a distraction to his teammates, the Giants have gone about their business to win four straight since the bye, making themselves a legit Super Bowl contender.
5. Chiefs RB Larry Johnson  A few bad weeks have tempered our overall enthusiasm for him, but Johnson’s season-long output, buoyed by some recent monster efforts, cannot be overlooked. He’s helping Damon Huard look sharp as a starter and keeping the Chiefs in the playoff race, which is all you can ask of a workhorse back. His 39 carries Sunday proved that’s what he is.
6. Eagles QB Donovan McNabb  You can’t ignore what he had done before Sunday’s miserable effort, but the fact remains that the Eagles have sunk to third in the NFC East with a 4-4 mark and McNabb’s play against the Jaguars looked downright listless. Still, he’s the kind of guy who can rally a team quickly.
7. Saints QB Drew Brees  His statistics against the Ravens will make it look like he was in the zone for at least part of the game, but much of it came in garbage time. Still, it’s a quarterback’s job to make sure his team never gives up, and Brees certainly did that.
8. Panthers DE Julius Peppers  Peppers has been the most dominant defensive player this season (save for perhaps Shawne Merriman or Champ Bailey), but he was shut down by Cowboys ORT Marc Colombo, who held Peppers to two tackles. It was his second game in a row without a sack, too, which is a long time for him.
9. Broncos CB Champ Bailey  Bailey was only victimized by Manning a handful of times. Instead, the Colts picked on Darrent Williams across the field.
10. Bears LB Brian Urlacher  Only one tackle on Sunday, but Urlacher’s athletic interception, falling backward, is the kind of play people remember when they vote for this kind of award  especially on a team that has yet to lose.
Others to mention: Rams RB Steven Jackson; Panthers WR Steve Smith; Rams QB Marc Bulger; Falcons RB Warrick Dunn; Bears QB Rex Grossman; Falcons CB DeAngelo Hall; Giants QB Eli Manning; Bills RB Willis McGahee; Eagles RB Brian Westbrook; Broncos RB Tatum Bell; Colts WR Marvin Harrison; Rams WR Torry Holt
Players of the week :
Offense
QB Peyton Manning
Indianapolis Colts
How good was Manning against Denver’s nearly inpenetrable defense? He completed a mind-boggling 32-of-39 passes for 345 yards and three TDs (all to Reggie Wayne) vs. a Broncos “D†that had allowed only one team to throw for more than 195 yards this season.
Defense
FS Dawan Landry
Baltimore Ravens
What a homecoming. Landry, a Louisiana native, intercepted Saints QB Drew Brees twice, running one back for a TD. It was a remarkable effort considering Landry sprained his MCL two weeks ago and didn’t even start in the win against the Saints.
Special teams
PK Adam Vinatieri
Indianapolis Colts
You don’t write game-ending scripts without Vinatieri in mind. Once more, he enhanced his reputation as the game’s best clutch kicker with a 37-yarder  his fourth field goal of the game  with two seconds remaining in the Colts’ 34-31 win in Denver.
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