Bleacher Report's Week 5 NFL Awards

Wild doesn't even begin to describe Week 5 in the NFL.

There were no fewer than five double-digit comebacks from Detroit to Dallas, including the biggest comeback by a road team in the history of the National Football League.

Sunday also had its share of huge individual performances, including yet more career milestones for a pair of future Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Denver and Boston.

In a week filled with dominant studs and flailing duds, there was no shortage of worthy candidates for the Week 5 edition of the Bleacher Report NFL awards.

Here's whom the national lead and division lead writers selected as the winners (or losers, as the case may be).

Team of the Week

Steven Senne/Associated Press

Winner: New England Patriots (13 votes)

Just one week ago, the sky was falling in New England.

After getting drubbed in Kansas City, many fans and pundits sounded the death knell for the reign of Darth Hoodie. The Patriots no longer ruled the AFC East with an iron fist. Tom Brady's days as an elite quarterback were over.

As CBS Boston reported, ESPN's Chris Mortensen went so far as to report that friction was growing between Brady and the New England coaching staff, and that backup Jimmy Garoppolo could replace the three-time Super Bowl winner under center "sooner than later.”

Then Sunday night's game with the undefeated Cincinnati Bengals got underway, and order was restored to the universe.

As the Patriots have done so many times during the Brady-Belichick era, the team circled the wagons, blowing out Cincy, 43-17.

It was a classic Patriots rebound. Brady was efficient in throwing for 292 yards and two scores, New England ran the ball as well as it has all season and the two-tight-end sets implemented by Belichick flummoxed the Bengals defense.

ESPN's Mike Reiss reported that the game signified the return of "Patriots football":

"

Patriots football is back. After a week of scrutiny following their embarrassing Monday night loss to the Chiefs, which included quarterback Tom Brady under fire, the team responded with its best effort of the season. They played with energy, passion and emotion, something that had been lacking in Kansas City, and took the fight to the previously undefeated Bengals. The Patriots improve to 3-2.

"

I'd posit that Patriots football never left, and that maybe, just maybe, we all overreacted just a tad to New England's early struggles in 2014.

It's not their first rodeo, folks.

Others receiving votes: Cleveland Browns (1 vote), San Diego Chargers (1 vote)

Coach of the Week

Steven Senne/Associated Press

Winner: Bill Belichick, New England Patriots (14 votes)

As we've already mentioned, the demise of Darth Hoodie was apparently greatly exaggerated.

It's not exactly surprising that Belichick and the Patriots' struggles were celebrated in so many circles. Whether it's his success, his personality, his wardrobe or the ever-lingering specter of "Spygate," Bill Belichick is the coach America loves to hate.

The Patriots listened to the media and fans proclaim them dead and buried all week long, and then came out and did all the shoveling against the Bengals. Afterward, as Dan Shaughnessy of The Boston Globe reports, Belichick was his usual jovial self while speaking to the media:

"

Q: How needed was this win . . .?

A: I don’t know. It was the next game. It was good to win.

Q: Was this a satisfying victory given all the criticism and questions that were asked this week about the team?

A: Criticism from who?

Q: The media. People in this room. The fans.

A: With all due respect, I mean really. Look, we have a job to do. We’re focused on doing that job. We’re not going to sit around and listen to what everybody else says.

"

Captain personality he isn't, and you don't have to like him, but it's nigh impossible not to respect Belichick after seeing the Patriots bounce back with a vengeance Sunday night.

Others receiving votes: Mike McCoy, San Diego Chargers (1 vote)

Goat of the Week

Joe Sargent/Getty Images

"Winner": Alex Henery, K, Free Agent (9 votes)

Yep, that's right. Alex Henery's goat-ness in Week 5 was so bad that it cost the fourth-year pro his job.

What it isn't is surprising. Henery, whom the Detroit Lions brought in a few weeks ago to replace rookie Nate Freese, missed all three of his field-goal attempts in the Lions' 17-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Henery admitted to Justin Rogers of MLive.com that he's fully aware 0-of-3 isn't going to get it done.

"I blame myself," Henery said. "As a man, I stand up. I'm the one kicking the ball. As the kicker, I've got to make those kicks. I'm not looking to blame anyone else."

Teammate Golden Tate was just as honest and equally frustrated. "This is the National Football League," Tate said. "We cannot leave points out there like that, point blank, end of story."

Lions management apparently agreed. After missing a staggering four of the five field goals Henery attempted for Detroit, the Lions cut the 27-year-old Monday, per Josh Katzenstein of The Detroit News.

Others receiving votes: Geno Smith, QB, New York Jets (3 votes), New York Jets quarterbacks (1 vote), Rex Ryan, HC, New York Jets (1 vote), Ken Whisenhunt, HC, Tennessee Titans (1 vote)

Rookie of the Week

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Winner: Branden Oliver, RB, San Diego Chargers (7 votes)

Entering Week 5, the New York York Jets had the NFL's stingiest defense against the run. The team was allowing only three yards a carry and just over 63 yards a game.

As Andy Behrens of Yahoo Sports pointed out, apparently San Diego Chargers running back Branden Oliver was not the least bit impressed by those numbers:

"

And then the Jets met San Diego rookie back Branden Oliver. New York's run defense suddenly seems vulnerable. Oliver exploded for 182 total yards and two TDs on Sunday as the Chargers obliterated Gang Green, 31-0. By himself, he actually out-gained the entire Jets offense (182 to 151). He was a quick-cutting wrecking ball, decisive and shifty and powerful. His first touchdown was a 15-yard run into the teeth of New York's feared front. His second was a nine-yard receiving score. Oliver produced a pair of 50-plus yard plays against the Jets, one on the ground and another via the air.

"

An undrafted free agent from the University of Buffalo, Oliver opened the season fourth on the depth chart. But with Ryan Mathews, Danny Woodhead and Donald Brown all injured, the Chargers had no choice but to turn to the 5'7", 210-pounder.

As Kevin Acee of U-T San Diego reports, Chargers tight end Antonio Gates had a message for Oliver after his second touchdown.

“You belong in this league,” Antonio Gates said to him. “Whoever told you that you didn’t belong in the league was sadly mistaken. You deserve to be in this league.”

That doesn't appear in dispute any longer.

Others receiving votes: Odell Beckham, WR, New York Giants (6 votes), Joel Bitonio, G, Cleveland Browns (1 vote), Andre Williams, RB, New York Giants (1 vote)

Best QB Performance

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Winner: Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos (9 votes)

So you may have heard this before, but that Peyton Manning guy is pretty good at the whole throwing a football thing. In fact, sometimes he makes playing quarterback in the NFL look ridiculously easy.

Sunday was one of those days.

Against the Arizona Cardinals, Manning set a career high in a career that's been filled with them, throwing for 479 yards in an easy Denver win.

Manning also became the second quarterback in NFL history to throw 500 touchdown passes in his career.

As Barry Petchesky of Deadspin reports, Chase Stuart of Football Outsiders crunched the numbers on how long it took each NFL team to get their last 500 touchdown passes.

It took the Cleveland Browns 12 more years than Manning:

"

In reverse chronological order, including non-QB passers, and with the number of TD passes in parentheses:

Brian Hoyer (8); Jason Campbell (11); Brandon Weeden (23); Spencer Lanning (1); Thaddeus Lewis (1); Colt McCoy (21); Seneca Wallace (6); Mohamed Massaquoi (1); Jake Delhomme (2); Derek Anderson (46); Brady Quinn (10); Charlie Frye (14); Trent Dilfer(11); Kelly Holcomb (26); Luke McCown (4); Jeff Garcia (10); Tim Couch (64); Kevin Johnson (1); Doug Pederson (2); Ty Detmer (4);Vinny Testaverde (47); Eric Zeier (4); Mark Rypien (4); Todd Philcox (7); Bernie Kosar (116); Mike Tomczak (7); Brian Hansen (1);Mike Pagel (7); Eric Metcalf (1); Don Strock (6); Gary Danielson (12); Jeff Christensen (1); Herman Fontenot (1); Brian Brennan (1);Paul McDonald (14); Brian Sipe (5)

"

It makes Manning's career look all the more remarkable, and yardage-wise, there hasn't been a better day in that career than Week 5.

Others receiving votes: Tom Brady, New England Patriots (4 votes), Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers (2 votes)

Best RB Performance

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Winner: Arian Foster, Houston Texans (7 votes)

Given that he's been nursing a balky hamstring most of the season, there was more than a little doubt as to whether Houston Texans running back Arian Foster would even play in Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys.

Oh, he played all right.

Foster essentially was the offense for the Texans in a 20-17 overtime loss, picking up 157 yards on 23 carries and scoring both of Houston's touchdowns.

Now, fresh off that award-worthy performance, Foster has a short week to recuperate before the Texans face the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night with first place in the AFC South on the line.

And as Foster told Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle, he isn't happy about that short turnaround.

"(The NFL) emphasize(s) concussions when they start getting hit with lawsuits and then they care about the player safety but Thursday Night Football is putting every player on the football field in danger," Foster said.

Tell us how you really feel, Arian.

Others receiving votes: Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers (5 votes), Branden Oliver, San Diego Chargers (2 votes), Matt Forte, Chicago Bears (1 vote)

Best WR Performance

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Winner: Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos (15 votes)

Before Week 5 got underway, many were wondering aloud what was "wrong" with Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. After topping 1,400 receiving yards and scoring double-digit touchdowns in both 2012 and 2013, Thomas had managed only 13 catches for 141 yards and a touchdown through three games.

Well, no one's wondering anymore.

Thomas set a new franchise record for receiving yards in Sunday's big win over the Arizona Cardinals, hauling in eight catches for a staggering 226 yards and two long touchdowns.

Had a third long score not been called back due to a penalty, Thomas would have been only the sixth player in NFL history to eclipse 300 receiving yards in a game.

While speaking with Jeff Legwold of ESPN, Thomas downplayed both the big game and his early-season woes.

"I don’t think it’s a slump. You have some bad games, you have some good ones," Thomas said. "I can say I never had three like my first three, but to come back on a game like this, I think it helped me out and my team."

Arizona cornerback Antonio Cromartie gave credit where it was due:

"

Everything we saw on film, they came out and did. For me, it’s probably by far the worst game of my career. There were opportunities when I fell. Playing against a receiver like him, you can’t get into situations where you fall. He got the best of me. When you give up 238 damn yards to any damn receiver, that’s not your best day.

"

238, 226...whatever. The point is it was a lot.

Best TE Performance

Larry French/Getty Images

Winner: Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers (12 votes)

You know a tight end had a big game when 100 receiving yards and a touchdown aren't enough to get New England's Rob Gronkowski the nod from our panel.

Well, that and the fact that said tight end's old team now admits trading him was a mistake.

That's what Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo told the Kap and Haugh Show (h/t Tony Andracki of CSN Chicago) about the 2011 deal that sent Greg Olsen to the Carolina Panthers:

"

He's met [expectations]. It was a mistake to trade him. I understand he wasn't the ideal fit in the scheme, but we let our best receiver go. Obviously, it was Cutler's favorite receiver at the time, and we let him out the door.

That's on me. I understand what the coaches were saying, but you don't let your best player - one of your better players - out the door. Everything he's doing hasn't surprised me. He's an excellent player, particularly in the passing game. He's Newton's favorite target. I'm happy for Greg; he's not only a great player, but a great kid. Like Matt Forte, [he has] an insatiable work ethic.

"

Just in case there were any doubts that Angelo spoke the truth, Olsen went out and lit his old team up for six catches, 72 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner.

Message delivered.

Others receiving votes: Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots (3 votes)

Best Defensive Performance

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Winner: Luke Kuechly, MLB, Carolina Panthers (7 votes)

For the past two seasons, strong safety Roman Harper watched Luke Kuechly as an opponent. Harper watched Kuechly lead the NFL in tackles as a rookie, then win the Defensive Player of the Year award a season ago.

However, Harper told Jonathan Jones of The Charlotte Observer that he didn't truly appreciate just how good Kuechly was until he played alongside him:

"

I’ve been on the other side when Luke had 20-some tackles, and I blamed the rain for that. But now I know that’s just who this guy is, and I tip my hat to him. I just gave him a big hug and I said, ‘Man, I appreciate you.’

And the fact that he continues to lead us and never bats an eye, never points fingers, always positive and just flies around and makes plays. I understand all the ‘Luke’ chants in the crowd.

"

After tallying 15 total tackles in Carolina's huge comeback win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday, it looks like our voters appreciate Kuechly's efforts quite a bit as well.

Others receiving votes: Marcell Dareus, DT, Buffalo Bills (4 votes), Bjoern Werner, OLB, Indianapolis Colts (2 votes), Michael Griffin, FS, Tennessee Titans (1 vote), Gerald McCoy, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 vote)

Best Decision

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

Winner: New England Patriots two-tight-end sets (7 votes)

As is the case every week, there were a number of nominees for the best decision of Week 5, but the majority of experts looked to the New England Patriots' beatdown of the previously unbeaten Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night.

In that game, the Patriots pulled a number of old tricks out of their bag. They ran an uptempo offense to prevent the Bengals from substituting. The Patriots isolated cornerback Darrelle Revis on wide receiver A.J. Green, just as they did with Aqib Talib in the past.

With that said, what really set the tone was the Pats' usage of Rob Gronkowski and Tim Wright in two-tight-end sets.

Simply put, the Bengals had no answer for it. Wright and Gronkowski accounted for both of Tom Brady's touchdowns and well over half his passing yards.

It's an offense the team used with great success in recent years with Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, and if Wright can string together a few more games like that, maybe that Logan Mankins trade wasn't such a catastrophe after all.

Others receiving votes: Putting Revis on Green (2 votes), Denver Broncos ditching the run (2 votes), Patriots going uptempo (1 vote), Indianapolis Colts defensive game plan (1 vote), San Francisco 49ers fake field goal (1 vote), Carolina Panthers uptempo offense (1 vote)

Worst Decision

Alex Goodlett/Getty Images

"Winner": Atlanta Falcons going for it deep in their own territory (5 votes)

For every comeback, there's a blown lead, and given all of both that happened around the NFL in Week 5, there was no shortage of shady decisions for our voters to choose from.

Still, head coach Mike Smith of the Atlanta Falcons brought home the award no one wants in Week 5, courtesy of a decision to go for it on fourth down from their own 29-yard line late in their loss to the New York Giants.

ESPN's Vaughn McClure has both the blow-by-blow and Smith's response to those who think he, well, blew it:

"

The Falcons had three timeouts and trailed by a touchdown at 27-20, but obviously did not trust the defense to hold up. A pass play was called out of the shotgun, and quarterback Matt Ryan was sacked for a 9-yard loss as left guard Harland Gunn -- one of three new starters along the offensive line -- gave up pressure to Giants defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins.

'We had talked all through the week that if that came up in the ballgame that we would go for it,' Smith said. 'Felt like we had a good play. We didn't execute it. To me, it was a very makeable fourth down.

'In this position, you make decisions and you can't have regrets. You make those decisions and those are the decisions that you think are the best for you and your football team to win the ballgame. And that was the thing that I felt like was going to give us the best opportunity to win the game. We needed to convert and go down and score a touchdown.'

"

Smith was far from alone in Week 5, but this week at least the Golden Gaffe is his.

Others receiving votes: Detroit Lions abandoning the run with a fourth-quarter lead (2 votes), Tennessee Titans going for it on fourth down on their side of the field with a late lead (2 votes), Jay Cutler's fourth-quarter interception (1 vote), Alex Smith's fourth-quarter interception (1 vote), Julius Thomas chop-blocking Calais Campbell (1 vote), Andy Dalton forcing deep passes (1 vote), Andy Reid's play-calling (1 vote), Christian Ponder's Ponder-ness (1 vote)

Player of the Week

Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

Winner: Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos (6 votes)

Like there was any real doubt.

With Manning passing the 500-touchdown mark and Tom Brady hitting 50,000 career passing yards, and both stars leading their teams to huge home wins over the NFL's last two undefeated teams, there was little question one of the pair would be named Bleacher Report's Player of the Week.

It was a close call, but Manning got the nod. As he usually does, Manning downplayed the significance of his latest individual accolade while talking with Troy Renck of The Denver Post:

"

I do think about how many people helped me throughout my career, and when something like this happens, how grateful I am for that support. Football is the ultimate team game. One man has to accept the honor, but I really accept it on behalf of a lot of coaches and teammates.

"

Of course, when you've done everything there is to do, won the Super Bowl and have a sock drawer filled with MVP trophies, it's a lot easier to yawn over little things like throwing more touchdown passes than all but one quarterback in history.

And he'll pass Brett Favre before the season's out.

Others receiving votes: Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots (4 votes), Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers (2 votes), Brian Hoyer, QB, Cleveland Browns (2 votes), Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos (1 vote)