Bleacher Report's Week 9 NFL Awards

If there was a theme to Week 9 across the NFL, it was showdowns that turned into blowouts.

The big meeting between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning was over early. Same for Sunday night's big AFC North battle between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Arizona Cardinals, who now possess the NFL's best record at 7-1, made short work of the Tony Romo-less Dallas Cowboys.

Given the lopsided nature of these games, there were more than a few big individual performances. There were also a few games that players would probably rather just forget.

Too bad we won't let them.

Here's a look back at the best (and worst) of Week 9, courtesy of the National Lead and Division Lead Writers here at Bleacher Report.

Team of the Week

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

Winner: New England Patriots (13 votes)

The most anticipated matchup of Week 9 took place in Beantown, where Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos met the New England Patriots in a battle of AFC heavyweights.

The 16th career meeting between Manning and Tom Brady was a second-round knockout.

The Patriots exploded for 24 points in the second quarter, racing to a 27-7 halftime lead that they never came close to relinquishing en route to a 43-21 win.

It was New England wide receiver Julian Edelman who delivered the knockout punch. In the second quarter, he scored a pair of touchdowns (including an 84-yard punt return) in less than four minutes of game time, drawing raves (and a nickname) from Brady.

"Minitron can do so many things, he's so quick," Brady said of Edelman in his postgame press conference. "What he did on the punt return was incredible."

There's still a long way to go, but the Patriots now possess the inside track to home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. That could carry more than a little significance come January, as Sunday's loss dropped Manning to 2-7 in his career at Gillette Stadium.

Others receiving votes: Arizona Cardinals (2 votes)

Coach of the Week

Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

Winner: Bruce Arians, Arizona Cardinals (9 votes)

It's looking more and more like Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians had better clear off some more space on the mantle, because the 2012 NFL Coach of the Year is on a collision course with his second such award in three seasons.

Sunday's win over the Dallas Cowboys elevated the Cardinals to an NFL-best 7-1, and as ESPN's Mike Sando (subscription required) reports, Arians led the way in a recent midseason straw ballot for Coach of the Year.

One NFL personnel director pointed out that despite Arians' success two years ago in Indy (and last year in Arizona), he wasn't getting a lot of run in the NFC West before the season:

"

Going into the year, everyone was talking about Seattle and San Francisco and their coaches, and even Jeff Fisher in St. Louis. Arians was perceived to be the No. 4 guy in that division, and he has done a fabulous job coaching with different quarterbacks.

"

Another lauded Arians' ability to find diamonds in the rough:

"

I think he doesn't get enough credit for his ability to find talent. Whether it was helping to find a T.Y. Hilton in Indy or this John Brown kid in Arizona, he has an eye for players. And then all of a sudden you have a John Carlson, who was doing nothing for Minnesota and could not even get on the field, and he is catching touchdowns.

"

There hasn't been a bigger surprise in the NFL this year than the Redbirds, who just keep rattling off wins despite numerous injuries and personnel losses. A great deal of the credit for that roll goes to Arians, whether it's for his ability to evaluate talent or his aggressive play calls.

It's time for people to stop being surprised.

Others receiving votes: Bill Belichick, New England Patriots (6 votes)

Goat of the Week

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

"Winner:" Brandon Weeden, QB, Dallas Cowboys (8 votes)

Fans of the Dallas Cowboys discovered something Sunday that fans of the Cleveland Browns could have filled them in on.

As starting quarterbacks go, Brandon Weeden makes for a good backup.

Starting in place of the injured Tony Romo against the Cardinals Sunday, Weeden was mostly abysmal, completing fewer than 55 percent of his passes while throwing a pair of interceptions.

As ESPN Dallas' Todd Archer wrote, it was a performance that made fans yearn for the return of the neckbeard:

"

Weeden, who entered Sunday with 20 career starts, however, did not move the Cowboys the way Kyle Orton did last December. He struggled. Weeden completed 18 of 33 passes for 183 yards. He threw a touchdown to Dez Bryant but did not complete a pass to the Cowboys’ leading receiver until 1:50 remained in the game, and the Cardinals cashed in. Weeden was intercepted twice, including one in the red zone in the third quarter. He stared down Terrance Williams on his fourth-quarter interception.

"

Dallas has now dropped two in a row in advance of Sunday's matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and you can bet the rent money that Jerry Jones is doing everything this side of calling this guy to get Romo back on the field in Week 10.

Others receiving votes: Jim Harbaugh, HC, San Francisco 49ers (2 votes), Greg Roman, OC, San Francisco 49ers (2 votes), Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers (2 votes), Mike McCoy, HC, San Diego Chargers (1 vote)

Rookie of the Week

David Kohl/Associated Press

Winner: Jeremy Hill, RB, Cincinnati Bengals (9 votes)

With starting running back Giovani Bernard battling a hip injury, the Cincinnati Bengals turned to rookie Jeremy Hill to carry the load for the team against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9.

To say that Hill didn't disappoint would be an understatement.

The former LSU standout gashed the Jaguars for 154 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 24 carries. That included a 60-yard scamper that ESPN.com's Coley Harvey believes could be a sign of things to come in the Queen City:

"

From the first time the rookie running back lined up in the Cincinnati Bengals' backfield this preseason, he has been adamant about telling anyone who will listen that he wants to rip off as many 15-yard-plus touchdown runs that he could. Long, explosive, game-changing carries were what he was seeking.

It took almost three months, but he finally obtained that goal Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. When he did, he and his blockers showed exactly how good the Bengals' run game could be. It's a run game that has fared better than perceived, but one that still hasn't come close to reaching the expectations set this offseason by offensive coordinator Hue Jackson.

When everything came together on Hill's 60-yard touchdown run that gave the Bengals enough breathing room late to beat Jacksonville 33-23 on Sunday, they got a glimpse of exactly what Jackson has been preaching.

'That's what they drafted me here to do,' Hill said. 'That's what they envisioned for me, especially with me and Giovani [Bernard] working together.'

"

That's great news for the Bengals and their fans. The rest of the AFC North, on the other hand, probably doesn't feel all that happy about it.

Others receiving votes: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Minnesota Vikings (4 votes), Anthony Barr, OLB, Minnesota Vikings (1 vote), Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 vote)

Best QB Performance

Gene Puskar/Associated Press

Winner: Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (13 votes)

At the rate things are going, we're going to have to rename this award "The Big Ben," because Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers is locking this bad boy down.

Roethlisberger was ridiculous for the second straight game in Sunday night's win over the Baltimore Ravens, passing for 340 yards and six touchdowns. It was Roethlisberger's second game in a row with six scoring strikes, setting a new NFL record.

Roethlisberger's explosion in recent weeks has jaws scraping the ground across the NFL, but Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin insisted to reporters that he wasn't surprised.

"I don't think any of us are surprised by anything he does," Tomlin said of his signal-caller. "We have been looking at it for some time."

In related news, Mike Tomlin is full of it.

Others receiving votes: Tom Brady, New England Patriots (2 votes)

Best RB Performance

AJ Mast/Associated Press

Winner: Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals (13 votes)

As we've already mentioned here, rookie running back Jeremy Hill had a huge game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9, topping 150 yards on the ground and scoring a pair of touchdowns in a win for the Bengals.

As ESPN.com's Coley Harvey wrote, Hill was unsurprisingly the BMOC in the locker room after the game:

"

Jeremy Hill was a popular interview subject Sunday afternoon. For nearly 45 minutes, the rookie running back chatted with various reporters about his career day. He rushed 24 times for 154 yards and two touchdowns in relief of Giovani Bernard, who sat because of a pair of injuries. Hill was still dressed, shoulder pads and all, nearly the whole time. It was just before a radio interview that he finally took off his pads and jersey. Most of the time, Hill stood directly in front of Bernard's locker (which is next to his). Bernard tried to wait him out to give his congratulations in person but eventually took off. (He'll see him Monday, anyway.) While Hill chatted with reporters, some players shouted their support as they walked behind cameras or leaned between the mass of bodies to offer up fist bumps. Cornerback Adam Jones was one of those who butted in for a bump.

"

With the Bengals facing a short turnaround before Thursday night's big AFC North battle with the Cleveland Browns, Hill told Geoff Hobson of the team's website he expects to receive a "similar workload" Thursday against the Browns.

Given how Hill looked in Week 9 (great) and how the Cleveland run defense has looked all season (the opposite of great), there's a pretty good chance we'll be talking the youngster up again in this space a week from now.

Others receiving votes: Matt Asiata, Minnesota Vikings (1 vote), Andre Ellington, Arizona Cardinals (1 vote)

Best WR Performance

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

Winner: Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles (10 votes)

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin has overcome a number of obstacles in his return to NFL prominence in 2014, not the least of which being a torn ACL that cost him the entire 2013 season.

Now, however, the sixth-year veteran faces his greatest challenge of all, a challenge that has reduced more than one NFL player to tears.

Catching passes from Mark Sanchez.

The change at quarterback for the Eagles didn't seem to bother Maclin in Week 9's win over the Houston Texans. Maclin hauled in six catches for 158 yards and a pair of touchdowns, his second straight game with over 150 receiving yards and two scores.

In fact, Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com believes that as things stand today, Maclin should be in the conversation for the 2014 NFL MVP:

"

All around Maclin, things are crumbling. His offensive line hasn't been able to keep anyone upright. His running back is having, at best, a disappointing season. His fellow receivers can't get open, and now, his starting quarterback is gone.

Throughout it all, Maclin hasn't missed a beat. He is on pace to put up one of the best seasons in Eagles history, and is arguably the biggest reason his team stands at 6-2.

After hauling in two more touchdowns in the Eagles' win over the Houston Texans on Sunday, Maclin has 45 catches for 790 yards and eight touchdowns. If he keeps up this pace, Maclin will finish with 16 touchdowns, which would be a franchise record.

"

That may be pushing it (a wide receiver has never been named MVP), but there's no denying Maclin is having a phenomenal year.

Others receiving votes: Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers (5 votes)

Best TE Performance

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

Winner: Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots (14 votes)

In many respects, it doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out why a New England Patriots offense that sputtered early in the year has been a meat grinder of late.

Gronk is back.

Tight end Rob Gronkowski has been on an absolute tear. Over the past two games, the fifth-year veteran has an eye-popping 18 catches for 254 yards and four touchdowns, including nine catches for 105 yards and a score against the Broncos in Week 9.

As wide receiver Brandon LaFell told Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports after beating the Broncos, Gronkowski's effect goes well beyond just catching passes and scoring touchdowns.

"Man, when Gronk is on the field we know they are either going to play zone, or they are going to double him," said LaFell, who finished the day with six catches for 53 yards and a score. "So that leaves us with man-on-man coverage."

Wetzel, for his part, didn't beat around the bush when it comes to Gronkowski's importance to the team:

"

Brady has been brilliant, and undefeated, since that Week 4 debacle in Kansas City made fans and media so crazy they started predicting the Jimmy Garoppolo Era was at hand. Still, as many times as we've seen Brady get just about any collection of skill players deep into the playoffs, it's clear more is needed to finish the job. Gronkowski is the X-factor.

"

And right now, that X-factor is excelling at being excellent.

Was that excessive? Sorry. No excuse for such an exhibition.

Others receiving votes: Charles Clay, Miami Dolphins (1 vote)

Best Defensive Performance

Bob Levey/Getty Images

Winner: J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans (7 votes)

I'm really starting to run out of things to say about Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, who has spent so much time in this slot this year that his mail is now delivered here.

Did you know he subscribes to Cat Fancy? Well, he doesn't. Don't be silly.

The Philadelphia Eagles certainly weren't laughing after Sunday's game. Watt racked up seven tackles and 1.5 sacks in the loss, raising his season total in the sack department to 8.5. The 25-year-old now has at least one sack in six of nine games this season.

Watt told USA Today's Jim Corbett that he isn't about to take this year's success for granted:

"

I saw what it took to get here, how much I had to sacrifice and how many things I had to overcome. Hard work is what got me here and hard work is what will continue to breed success.

I want to be great at one thing—Football.

"

Um, mission accomplished, Justin. Great you are.

Others receiving votes: James Harrison, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers (3 votes), Vontae Davis, CB, Indianapolis Colts (2 votes), Patrick Peterson, CB, Arizona Cardinals (1 vote), Brandon Browner, CB, New England Patriots (1 vote), Brent Grimes, CB, Miami Dolphins (1 vote)

Best Decision

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

Winner: Bill Belichick's defensive game plan (6 votes)

I'm going to drop a couple revelations on you. The first is that the Denver Broncos are a good football team offensively.

I know. You're floored.

The second is that New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has a tendency to make even the best of offenses look bad.

I'll wait and allow you a moment to collect yourself after those bombshells.

"Darth Hoodie" was at his Machiavellian best in Week 9's win over Denver, confusing and frustrating Peyton Manning and the Broncos with any number of defensive looks and personnel groupings.

Hell will freeze over before you'll get Belichick to take pleasure publicly in his defense's performance against Denver, but while speaking to Christopher L. Gasper of The Boston Globe, cornerback Darrelle Revis wasn't as reluctant:

"

We just switched things up, disguised very well. We just gave him different looks to not just be stale out there. If you be stale against Peyton, he’ll figure it out just like that and tear a defense apart, just like that. We just wanted to mix it up, and we did a very good job disguising across the board.

"

It was a masterful performance that could have a huge impact on the playoff picture in the AFC.

Now all Belichick has to do is pull it off again in the postseason. No pressure.

Others receiving votes: Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive game plan (5 votes), Julian Edelman's punt return cutback (1 vote), Arizona Cardinals sticking with the run (1 vote), Miami Dolphins turning Ryan Tannehill loose (1 vote), Cardinals targeting Larry Fitzgerald in key situations (1 vote)

Worst Decision

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

"Winner:" San Francisco 49ers' fourth-quarter play calls (11 votes)

As is often the case with this category, there were a number of votes that are essentially variations of the same theme.

In Week 9, that theme was that the San Francisco 49ers screwed the pooch in the fourth quarter against the St. Louis Rams.

Despite playing against the NFL's 31st-ranked run defense, the 49ers gave running back Frank Gore only 14 carries against the Rams. With time running out and the Niners only a few feet from a game-winning touchdown, San Francisco ignored Gore, instead settling on a Colin Kaepernick sneak that ended with a controversial fumble.

Gore, for his part, told Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area that the loss wasn't the fault of the play-calling of embattled offensive coordinator Greg Roman:

"

(We) just got to make our mind up, do what we feel we’re good at and just go do it. I still think we have a great coordinator. I still believe in our coordinator. He’s been successful since he got here. As players, we just got to look at ourselves in the mirror. And whenever he makes a call, we got to go do it. I don’t want to put it on him. It’s also us. We’re out there playing. I feel he put us in good situations. We’re just too up and down.

"

Gore has a point, but that doesn't change the fact that Roman has seemingly forgotten that running the ball is what got San Francisco to the top of the NFC.

If they want to get back there, the 49ers had best get back to doing what they do best.

Others receiving votes: Baltimore Ravens activating only three cornerbacks (2 votes), Robert Griffin's interception just before halftime (1 vote), New York Jets deactivating Geno Smith (1 vote)

Player of the Week

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Winner: Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers (9 votes)

If you ask 10 people who the NFL's best quarterback is, you'll get any number of responses. Peyton Manning will no doubt be mentioned. So will Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Tom Brady and maybe even Russell Wilson.

However, unless you're asking the question in Western Pennsylvania, you probably won't hear Ben Roethlisberger mentioned, despite the fact that the 32-year-old has as many Super Bowl rings as Brees and Manning combined.

It's time that changed, as Roethlisberger is playing as well as anyone in the league right now. The 11th-year veteran trails only Andrew Luck in passing yardage. His passer rating of 110.6 trails only Manning and Rodgers this season. Roethlisberger now has 22 touchdown passes against only three interceptions.

After tossing six touchdown passes for the second straight game, Roethlisberger was an easy call for our voters as Bleacher Report's Player of the Week in Week 9, and who knows?

Headed into a matchup with a New York Jets team allowing the most touchdown passes in the NFL this year, maybe Roethlisberger can tie another NFL record by throwing seven touchdown passes in Week 10.

Or he could throw eight and just break that record too. Whatever works.

Others receiving votes: Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots (6 votes)