Bleacher Report's Week 4 NFL Awards

You can't take anything for granted in the National Football League.

That mantra was in full effect during a surprise-filled Week 4 that saw a dominant performance by the Dallas Cowboys against the New Orleans Saints and a stunning comeback by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Pittsburgh.

In addition to those team efforts, there were a number of sterling individual performances, including a whopper of a first NFL start for a certain Minnesota Vikings quarterback.

We've gathered the National and Division Lead Writers here at Bleacher Report to put a bow on the week that was by awarding some "hardware" for the best (and worst) of Week 4.

Here's what they had to say.

Team of the Week

Tim Sharp/Associated Press

Winner: Dallas Cowboys (11 votes) 

In Week 3, the Dallas Cowboys fell behind the St. Louis Rams 21-0 before storming back to win 34-31. It was the sort of uneven performance that typified the team so far in 2014, and it led to only two of our panelists picking the Cowboys to upend the New Orleans Saints Sunday night.

Shows what we know.

The Cowboys didn't just beat the Saints. They returned the favor for last year's beatdown in the Big Easy, racing to a 31-3 lead before cruising to a 38-17 victory.

The Dallas defense played its best game in years, holding the Saints scoreless in the first half, while running back DeMarco Murray continued his torrid start to the 2014 campaign with 149 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries.

Team owner Jerry Jones was all smiles while talking about Murray with The Associated Press (via ESPN) after the game: "DeMarco is inspirational," Jones said. "Glad to see him have a game that he didn't turn the ball over. About the time New Orleans was thinking about getting some life, he'd go out and make those yards."

With quarterback Tony Romo looking healthy (he had a career-long 21-yard scramble in the game), Murray on pace to break the single-season rushing record and the Dallas defense playing much better than anticipated in September, the Cowboys are very much a contender in a wide-open NFC East. 

Others receiving votes: Kansas City Chiefs (2 votes), New York Giants (1 vote), Green Bay Packers (1 vote)

Coach of the Week

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Winner: Lovie Smith, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4 votes) 

The votes for coach of the week were all over the place in Week 4. Six candidates received at least one vote, and five of those coaches received multiple nods.

The only one who didn't, Norv Turner of the Vikings, isn't even a head coach, but the award isn't for head coach of the week, now is it?

Three voters, including NFL National Lead Writer Ty Schalter, selected Tom Coughlin of the New York Giants after their impressive win over Washington:

"

Nothing wrong with any of the fine choices available for Coach of the Week, but I have to give some love to Tom Coughlin and his staff. Effortlessly dismantled a red-hot Washington team, just three weeks after looking totally inept in Detroit. Getting better every week, and Eli Manning’s on fire.

"

However, after rallying his winless troops to their first victory of the season, it's Lovie Smith of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who was a narrow winner this week.

That victory came courtesy of backup quarterback Mike Glennon, but even after beating Pittsburgh, Smith wouldn't commit to Glennon as Tampa's Week 5 starter, according to Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com: “What I do is look at who’s available at the time and who gives us our best chance to win at all positions,’’ Smith said. “We’ll do the same thing when Josh (McCown) gets back. He’s not back yet.’’ 

Choose carefully, Lovie, or you may not be making an appearance here again in 2014. 

Others receiving votes: Tom Coughlin, New York Giants (3 votes), John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens, (3 votes), Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys (2 votes), Mike Zimmer, Minnesota Vikings (2 votes), Norv Turner (OC), Minnesota Vikings (1 vote)

Goat of the Week

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

"Winner:" Kirk Cousins, QB, Washington Redskins (5 votes) 

A few weeks ago, Kirk Cousins was the greatest thing in the nation's capital since frosted Pop-Tarts. In Week 2, he led the Redskins to a blowout win over Jacksonville. The next week Washington lost to the Eagles, but Cousins was phenomenal yet again, throwing for over 400 yards.

Well, as Doug Farrar of Sports Illustrated reported, the honeymoon's over now:

"

Fast-forward to last Thursday's 45-14 loss to the Giants, and everything that seemed sure is now in question again. Cousins had an abominable game against Big Blue, throwing four picks and fumbling once. In less than a week, he'd gone from a man under control to a liability who couldn't keep anything together. Whatever Gruden did to get Cousins ready to go, it certainly didn't work.

"

Simply put, as good as the third-year pro was against Philadelphia, he was equally awful against the Giants, and it was an unpleasant reminder of Cousins' three-game stint as the starter under center to close out last year.

Turns out maybe Robert Griffin shouldn't pack his bags just yet after all. 

Others receiving votes: Chip Kelly, HC, Philadelphia Eagles (3 votes), Dennis Allen, HC (former), Oakland Raiders (2 votes), Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots (2 votes), Pittsburgh Steelers defense (2 votes), Chicago Bears pass rush (1 vote)

Rookie of the Week

Associated Press

Winner: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Minnesota Vikings (14 votes)

As Chris Strauss of USA Today pointed out, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater didn't fare too badly in his first career NFL start.

Nope, not too badly at all:

"

Bridgewater became only the second quarterback drafted in the first round since 2011 to lead his team to a win in his first start. Beyond that honor, his stats certainly put him near the top of the other ten first-rounder debuts in that timeframe.

In addition to completing 19 of 30 passes for 317 yards and zero touchdowns or interceptions in Minnesota’s 41-28 win over Atlanta, Bridgewater ran for a 13-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Judging from the list of performances from this peers, that’s probably good enough to rank third among the top debuts from first-rounders since 2011.

"

The good times were spoiled a bit by an ankle injury Bridgewater suffered in the fourth quarter, but Ben Goessling of ESPN.com reports that Bridgewater has every intention of being on the field when the Vikings face the Green Bay Packers Thursday night. The rookie stated:

"

It's going to be very difficult, but it's something that happened in college. When I was in college (in 2012), I got hurt on a Saturday (breaking his left wrist and spraining his right ankle) and had the University of Rutgers on a short week, on a Thursday, also. I think in this situation, I'm just going to have to put extra time in the training room, spend as much time as I can around the facility and in the training room, try to get ready for Thursday.

"

It may not be certain whether Bridgewater will take the field in Week 5, but after the best debut by a rookie quarterback in franchise history one thing appears fairly certain: Teddy time has arrived in the Twin Cities.

However, there was a dissenting opinion in the form of AFC West Lead Writer Christopher Hansen:

"A road start is a heck of lot more difficult for a rookie quarterback than a home start. Teddy Bridgewater had the benefit of the home crowd, a running game and a solid defense that Blake Bortles didn't have on Sunday."

" Bortles gave the Chargers a scare in the first half, completed 78.4 percent of his passes and had a touchdown. Bortles did have two interceptions that Bridgewater didn't have, but we should consider that both came in the second half with his team trailing by two scores.

The Atlanta Falcons also have the the second-worst pass defense in the entire league as judged by yards and net yards per play and they've been especially bad on the road (they allowed 302 yards to the Bengals in Week 2).

The Falcons are also currently 31st in the league in sack percentage. The Chargers have a passable pass defense this season and are seventh in sack percentage. All things considered, Bortles had the more impressive debut.

"

For the vast majority of our voters though, Bridgewater ruled the day. 

Others receiving votes: Blake Bortles, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars (1 vote)

Best QB Performance

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

Winner: Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys (7 votes) 

You know, it wasn't that long ago, after a disastrous three-interception showing in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers, that some pundits were wondering aloud whether Tony Romo was "done."

It appears that reports of the 34-year-old's demise have been greatly exaggerated.

Romo shredded the New Orleans Saints in the Cowboys' Week 4 win, completing over 75 percent of his passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns.

Romo called the performance a team effort while speaking with ESPNDallas.com's Todd Archer after the game:

"

You can make an argument about the No. 1 receivers being similar [to past teams], but I don't know if we've ever had the depth. Jason Witten is still Jason Witten. We have a very, very good slot receiver [Cole Beasley] who really has not been able to show a ton because we have other good players. Terrance on the outside has really turned into a player that gives defenses trouble. I haven't talked about the linemen and DeMarco, which changes the game if you're able to do it.

"

Yes, having a strong offensive line and ground game are both great assets for a quarterback. But, after a shaky start to the season, Romo appears healthy and is on a hot streak.

If a suddenly balanced Cowboys offense can keep Romo on that hot streak, this is a Dallas team that will be in the thick of the NFC East hunt in 2014.

Romo wasn't the only quarterback to have a big game in Week 4, with Hansen singling out Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers after his huge game in Chicago:

"

Aaron Rodgers had four touchdowns Sunday to lead the league for the week (tied with Andrew Luck and Eli Manning) and added 302 yards on 22 completions. The few quarterbacks that were even close to as good as Rodgers played at home against nondivision opponents. Rodgers also had the highest yards per attempt (10.8) and completion percentage (78.6) in Week 4. 

"

For one week though, Week 1's "Goat of the Week" gets to see how the other half lives. 

Others receiving votes: Eli Manning, New York Giants (3 votes), Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (2 votes), Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts (2 votes), Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers (1 vote)

Best RB Performance

Tim Sharp/Associated Press

Winner: DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys (10 votes)

As we alluded to earlier, DeMarco Murray is off to quite the start in 2014.

Murray's 534 rushing yards through four games is more than 150 yards more than the next-closest back (Le'Veon Bell, 378). In fact, as Chris Chase of USA Today reports, Murray is off to one of the best starts by a tailback in league history.

"

Through four games of the 2014 season, Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray has gained 534 yards on the ground. That improbably puts Murray, who barely cracked anyone’s top 10 in preseason fantasy football rankings, on a pace for 2,136 rushing yards, a total which would break Eric Dickerson’s 30-year-old NFL record.

Among the seven members of the 2,000-yard club, Murray’s yardage through Week 4 would rank third overall. That’s because many of the best rushing seasons in history got off to slow starts. (Tree of the top four rushers weren’t even on a 100-yard per-game pace after four games.) That either means Murray is well ahead of the curve or in danger of peaking too quickly.

"

There's still a long way to go, and Murray has had some issues staying healthy to this point in his NFL career. However, if the 26-year-old can stay on the field and keeps chewing up teams like he just did to the Saints?

All this talk of a historic season may not be that far off.

Others receiving votes: Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers (4 votes), Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs (1 vote)

Best WR Performance

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

Winner: Steve Smith, Baltimore Ravens (12 votes) 

You do not want to make Steve Smith angry.

The diminutive firebrand has demonstrated that time and again over his 14 years in the National Football League, often by trying to take an opponent's (or even teammate's) head off.

Sunday, he showed it by lighting up his old team like a Christmas tree.

In his first game against the Carolina Panthers after being let go by the team in the offseason, Smith made his feelings about the situation very clear, torching his old mates to the tune of seven catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns in a blowout win for the Ravens.

Smith didn't mince words when speaking with reporters after the game, according to Jarrett Bell of USA Today.

"That film was a coaching session," Smith chided. "I'm 35 years old, and I ran around them boys like they were school-yard kids."

Like I said. You do not want to make Steve Smith angry. 

Others receiving votes: Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers (2 votes), Keenan Allen, San Diego Chargers (1 vote)

Best TE Performance

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

Winner: Larry Donnell, New York Giants (13 votes) 

Entering the 2014 season, tight end Larry Donnell of the New York Giants had three career catches for 31 yards.

He's bettered those numbers ever so slightly in his second NFL campaign.

This year's biggest surprise at his position continued his early-season assault in last Thursday's rout in Washington, hauling in seven passes for 54 yards and an eye-popping three touchdowns.

Donnell, whose 25 catches on the season ranks seventh in the NFL, has emerged as one of the most sure-handed pass-catchers in the entire league, according to Bleacher Report's Patricia Traina:

"

Per PFF, Donnell has caught 25 of 31 pass targets in four games, including seven out of eight pass targets against Washington in Week 4. In its signature stats, PFF notes that Donnell has also caught 100 percent of his catachable pass targets (25), which is the best mark out of any tight end in the NFL who has played in at least 75 percent or more of his team’s offensive snaps.

"

It was relatively easy to dismiss Donnell's big game in Week 1 as a fluke, a wacky stat line borne of the Giants getting blown out in Detroit.

However, Donnell is now averaging over six catches and a touchdown per game.

Those numbers may not be sustainable, but they also aren't a fluke. 

Others receiving votes: Martellus Bennett, Chicago Bears (2 votes)

Best Defensive Performance

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Winner: San Francisco 49ers (11 votes)

After squandering second-half leads in two straight games, the San Francisco 49ers entered Week 4 at 1-2 and badly in need of a win against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The 49ers got that win, and it was thanks in large part to their defense.

As Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle pointed out, the 49ers had by far their best defensive effort of the season:

"

As expected, the Eagles’ potent, hurry-up offense didn’t huddle when they played the 49ers on Sunday.

And here’s what else the unbeaten team’s offense coached by wunderkind Chip Kelly didn’t do: score a point, cross their own 43-yard line in the first 55 minutes, rush for more than 22 yards or move an inch when they faced 3rd-and-goal at the 1-yard line with the game in the balance late in the fourth quarter.

Thanks to a suffocating defensive effort, the Eagles no-huddle offense was rendered the No Offense in the 49ers’ come-from behind 26-21 win at Levi’s Stadium.

The Eagles (3-1), who arrived ranked second in the NFL in points scored, didn’t know what hit them. And kept hitting them. They had four turnovers, the lowest net-yardage total of the 20-game Kelly era and one play of 20-plus yards after setting an NFL record with 99 such plays in 2013.

"

It was an effort made all the more impressive by the circumstances of the game. Trailing much of the way thanks to a pair of special teams scores, the 49ers were in jeopardy of this matchup (and the entire 2014 season) getting away from them.

The defense simply couldn't afford to allow anything.

And it didn't.  

Others receiving votes: Miami Dolphins (2 votes), Baltimore Ravens (1 vote), Kansas City Chiefs (1 vote)

Best Decision

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

Winner: San Francisco 49ers getting back to the run (5 votes) 

The two leading candidates for the best decision of Week 4 both involve NFL teams getting back to what they do best.

For Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, it meant running an uptempo attack, getting wide receiver Randall Cobb involved in the offense and just blowing the doors off the Chicago Bears.

For the San Francisco 49ers, on the other hand, it meant handing the ball to running back Frank Gore and letting him bash the door in.

Gore's 55-yard touchdown catch may have been the highlight-reel play of the day, but as Ann Killion of the San Francisco Chronicle reports, it's on the ground where Gore really did damage:

"

The pass was – as Stevie Johnson said – 'legendary.' But Gore is really about the ground game, and the 49ers were smart enough to feed him the ball.  He had 24 carries for 119 yards.  It was the 36th 100-yard rushing game of his career. When Gore gets the ball more than 20 times, the 49ers are 37-7-1. When he gains more than 100 yards, the 49ers are 29-7.  It’s kind of a no-brainer.

"

Sometimes the best decisions are also the most obvious. 

Others receiving votes: Green Bay Packers' uptempo offense (4 votes), Dallas Cowboys feeding DeMarco Murray (3 votes), New York Giants throwing to Larry Donnell (1 vote), Marc Trestman's play call on Alshon Jeffery's touchdown vs. Green Bay (1 vote), Miami Dolphins calling more zone-read plays for Ryan Tannehill (1 vote)

Worst Decision

Associated Press

"Winner:" New Orleans Saints' fourth-quarter fake punt (10 votes) 

Not a whole lot went right for the Saints in their big loss at Dallas Sunday night, but for a brief moment in the fourth quarter it looked like the Saints might get back into the game.

After trailing 31-3, the Saints scored a pair of quick touchdowns to trim the margin to 31-17. Then, facing 4th-and-9 from their own 41-yard line, the Saints tried to get cute.

New Orleans attempted a fake punt, a play so laughable that as Chris Chase of USA Today reports, the Cowboys sniffed the play out easily and stopped it despite having only 10 men on the field:

"

What shouldn’t have been an option was a fake punt. If you’re going to go for it, go for it. Put your 11 best men in the huddle and have them go get the yards. If you’re going to punt, set up for the punt that pins back Dallas the most. Don’t do it halfway and try to fake. Anyway, a fake only succeeds by surprise, not when every person playing, attending or watching the game is keeping an eye out for it.

"

Bleacher Report NFC East Lead Writer Brad Gagnon also wasn't a fan of the lame-brained chicanery:

"

I don't usually have a problem with plays like these, and I know hindsight is 20-20. If it had worked, we'd probably be praising [Sean] Payton. The problem I have with this is that the Saints had a much better chance of simply converting the 4th-and-9 on a regular play from scrimmage.

It took the offense a total of seven plays to score touchdowns on the previous two drives. They finally had the Dallas defense where they're used to having them. Just let your future Hall of Fame quarterback throw it to one of his many primo receivers.

"

The rest of our panel agreed with Gagnon's assessment.

Others receiving votes: Raiders being allowed in the UK (2 votes), 44 pass attempts for EJ Manuel (1 vote), Atlanta Falcons using Levine Toilolo at right tackle (1 vote), Chicago Bears' pre-halftime play call (1 vote)

Player of the Week

Scott Halleran/Getty Images

Winner: J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans (9 votes)

It's J.J. Watt's world, folks. We're all just spectators.

It isn't just that the Houston Texans' defensive end is a force of nature and the most dominant pass-rusher in the NFL.

No, now he's just showing off.

A couple of weeks ago, it was his first career touchdown catch. In Week 4 Watt found the end zone again, this time on an 80-yard interception return.

It's only the second time in NFL history that a player has caught a touchdown pass and returned a pick for a score in the same season, and through four games Watt has more touchdowns than running backs Matt Forte of the Chicago Bears and LeSean McCoy of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Combined. 

Others receiving votes: Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys (3 votes), DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys (3 votes)