Best:
Ezekiel Elliott, Running Back Dallas Cowboys
This seems like its been a theme here, putting Zek Elliott on this list, but its been happening. Lets not misconstrue the facts the big three right now in Dallas, Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott and Dez Bryant, actually managed to out play the Steelers big three of Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. Of the big three in Dallas, Ezekiel Elliott stole the show out of everybody. Zek rushed for 116 yards on 21 carries, scoring twice on the ground, including the game-winner with just seconds remaining on the clock in the fourth quarter, on a fantastic play. He also caught two passes for 95 yards, including an incredible 83-yard touchdown on a screen pass, his first NFL receiving TD. It doesn't hurt that the Cowboys have the best line in the league. But I think with all the talent this guy has, he can be special all by himself.
Worst:
Jay Cutler, Quarterback Chicago Bears
One of the biggest things that was a plus for Jay Cutler is that he has fantastic arm strength. He can make plays that some other Quarterbacks can't make at all. Which is why he's hung around as long as he has in the NFL. At the same time, he also has terrible judgement. Think about this, since entering the NFL as a rookie out of Vanderbilt in 2006, Cutler has averaged more than one interception per game. Sunday, it wasn't a good day against the Bucks, as Tampa downed the Bears 36-10. The real Jay Cutler came to play Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Before halftime, he had already thrown two interceptions…on consecutive drives. The second interception resulted in six points the other way as Chris Conte took a terrible throw by Cutler to the end zone for a touchdown Here's what the day looked like for Chicago on Sunday. Punt, INT, INT TD, FG, Fumble, Fumble, Punt, Hail Mary TD, Punt, Punt, Safety, Punt, End of Game. Not a good day for Jay or the Bears.
Best:
Ryan Matthews, Running Back Philadelphia Eagles
Its been a very weird year in Philly this year, more so when it comes to the running back position. That's been a revolving door, who knows who's going to be taking the handoffs. This week, Philly went back to Ryan Matthews. He had 19 carries for 109 yards and two touchdowns in Philly’s 24–15 win over the Falcons, which was a huge victory for the Eagles. He added a key two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter, and looked every bit the part of the lead back in the Eagles offense. Matthews had the hot hand this week, because he ran with explosiveness and vision, carrying the ball up the gut and bouncing it outside when nothing opened up in the middle. Will he go back to taking the ball next week? Who knows. But at least this week he was feeling it against Atlanta.
Worst:
Phillip Rivers, Quarterback San Diego Chargers
Rivers is a good quarterback. I'll even go so far as to say he maybe even a hall of fame quarterback. But every once in a while, a great quarterback has an off week. That's what happened to Rivers this week. It was nowhere near as bad as the week that Jay Cutler had, but still it was a bad week. He had 326 yards and three touchdowns. That was good. Now here's the bad. Rivers threw four interceptions in the fourth quarter, all of which sunk the San Diego Chargers in a 31-24 loss. His worst play was a pick-six to linebacker Kiko Alonso in the final two minutes of a tie game. Alonso showed blitz before the snap, dropped into coverage, and Rivers never seemed to see Alonso before he broke on a short pass to Tyrell Williams. Alonso went 60 yards for the game-winning score with 1:01 left. With this loss, the Chargers now sit at 406 and with how tough their division is, it may make it almost impossible for them to make the playoffs.
Best:
Marcus Mariota, Quarterback Tennessee Titans
Some people start to wonder about the play of Mariota this year. Sometimes his inconsistencies passing the ball have shone through, but this weekend he was FEELING it right from the word go. He completed 19 of 26 passes against a good Green Bay defense for 295 yards and four touchdowns while keeping his rushing to a minimum. All four touchdowns came at big moments in the game as the Titans rolled over the Packers. It was a display more of what he can be than what he has been so far. If it can continue then the Titans offense, which is already one of the better rushing attacks in the NFL, could become truly deadly. Mariota has finally started to show a little bit of why he was a top five pick in the draft. Now can he keep it going over the coming weeks? Only time will tell
Worst:
New Orleans Saints
You talk about a rough way to get beat, look no further then Sunday between Denver and New Orleans. This is on this list not for what the Saints did, but for what happened to cose them to lose the game. It was late in the game. Drew Brees threw an unbelievable pass to Brandin Cooks, who made a great catch in the end zone, and all the Saints needed was the extra point to go ahead with 1:23 left. And then before the celebration over Cooks’ touchdown could even die down, the Broncos were taking a blocked extra point the other way. According to reports, this is only the third time an extra point has been returned for two points by the defense. That rule went into effect in 2015. It was the first time in NFL history that a returned extra point accounted for the winning points in a game. On top if it all, it looked like Broncos defensive back Will Parks stepped out of bounds on the return, but his white cleats near the white sideline provided enough doubt that the call on the field wasn’t overturned. Talk about a very crappy way to lose a game.
Best:
Kansas City Chiefs Defense
For three quarters, the Kansas City offense was stumbling. The Panthers had dominated the game. That's why the NFL plays four quarters and not just three. Down by 11 points in the final stanza, Kansas City’s defense roared to life. All-Pro safety Eric Berry got things started when he picked off Cam Newton and miraculously took the ball 42 yards to the house for a touchdown. Then the offense took over. Alex Smith hit Travis Kelce on the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to three points. Then the offense scored its second field goal of the fourth quarter shortly afterwards to tie the game at 17-17. Once again the Defense came up big thanks to Marcus Peters. Newton hit receiver Kelvin Benjamin in stride for a first down. Peters ripped the ball from Benjamin, setting up the Chiefs in field-goal range. Three plays later, the game was over after Cairo Santos drilled a 37-yard field goal as time expired to give the Chiefs an incredible three-point road win. That win helped keep KC in the hunt in the AFC West.
Worst:
New York Jets vs Los Angeles Rams
Horrible, horrible football game. Los Angeles came away with a 9-6 win over the Jets in a game in which New York scored the only touchdown. In half of the Rams’ wins this season, they didn’t score a touchdown. Los Angeles got three field goals on Sunday in a truly awful game. The Rams became the first team since the 1997 Buffalo Bills to win two games with just three field goals in each. Jets quarterback Bryce Petty got his first NFL start and he looked overmatched. Rams quarterback Case Keenum wasn’t much better, and even with the Rams win, it wasn't enough as Jared Goff will get the start this week. There were 15 combined points and 15 combined punts. If you sat through this game, I’m sorry
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