Bleacher Report's Week 10 NFL Awards

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm about to tell you something terrifying, something that may well be a portent of the coming apocalypse.

The Cleveland Browns are 6-3 and in first place all by their lonesome this late in the season for the first time in nearly two decades.

Repent, ye sinners—the end is nigh.

Cleveland's Thursday night beatdown of the Cincinnati Bengals was hardly the only the surprise of Week 10. After all, the Browns wouldn't have first place to themselves had the Pittsburgh Steelers not laid a dinosaur-sized egg against the one-win New York Jets.

With that in mind, and with the 2014 season barreling toward the stretch run, the National Lead and Division Lead Writers at Bleacher Report gathered to take one last look back at the best (and worst) of Week 10.

Here's what they had to say.

Team of the Week

Tom Lynn/Getty Images

Winner: Green Bay Packers (6 votes)

The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears enjoy one of the oldest and most storied rivalries in the NFL.

That is, if you can call it a rivalry anymore.

Over their last 15 meetings, the Packers are a staggering 12-3 against their NFC North rivals, the latest meeting being Green Bay's 55-14 demolition of the Bears Sunday night.

As quarterback Aaron Rodgers told NBC's Michele Tafoya, via Doug Farrar of Sports Illustrated, the beatdown at Lambeau Field was a team effort:

"

We just got things going early, hit a rollout, and hit a couple of busts in coverage as well. The line did a good job of giving me time to extend plays and look down the field. [Receiver] Jordy [Nelson] made a couple of nice catches, and [running back] Eddie [Lacy], you throw a pass for three yards and it turns into a 60-yard touchdown. Guys made plays, the defense did a good job and it's a good win for us. We did a good job of putting extra time in, refocusing on the bye week, and we had a good performance.

"

It was also a performance that led more than one pundit to anoint the Packers the class of the NFC North, if not the entire conference.

Others receiving votes: New York Jets (3 votes), Cleveland Browns (3 votes), Arizona Cardinals (2 votes), Detroit Lions (1 vote)

Coach of the Week

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Winner: Rex Ryan, New York Jets (9 votes)

New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan has caught his fair share of flak this season, both here and elsewhere. Most of it has been justified. At 2-8, it's been another mess of a season for the Jets. Ryan is likely out of a job soon.

Still, for one week the clouds have parted and the sun is shining after the Jets stunned the Pittsburgh Steelers, 20-13.

It was the Jets' first win since Week 1, and while it certainly didn't erase another miserable year for Gang Green, Ryan told the Associated Press via the Boston Herald, that he's going to savor the win all the same:

"

We needed a win, there's no question about it. This was basically a game, really, that we had worked so hard for. It's just like the sum of so many weeks of hard work among the coaches, players, the whole organization, and then finally we won a game. I think that's really what it was and hopefully it'll lead us to other victories as well. But, we needed that victory. There's no question about it.

"

There's also no question that for the first time in a long time, the Jets have something to celebrate as the team heads into its bye week.

Others receiving votes: Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers (4 votes); Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs (2 votes)

Goat of the Week

Mike Roemer/Associated Press

"Winner": Marc Trestman, head coach, Chicago Bears (10 votes)

Rock bottom.

There's no other way to describe the Chicago Bears right now. Coming off allowing 51 points to the New England Patriots and with an extra week to prepare, the Bears' were in a tough spot heading into Sunday night's showdown with the Green Bay Packers.

The Bears "responded" to that challenge by allowing 55 points to Green Bay in a 41-point embarrassment that lies squarely on Trestman's shoulders, according to Bleacher Report's NFL National Lead Writer, Mike Tanier:

"

I see a couple of guys laying Sunday's debacle at Jay Cutler's feet, and hey, Cutler stunk. Does he block for punts? Cover Jordy Nelson? Tackle Eddie Lacy? Call plays? Marc Trestman knew he had a locker room problem after the Dolphins loss, failed to get it under control against the Patriots, and somehow let it become a forest fire during the bye week. That game represented a lack of managerial control. I loved the Trestman hire and thought he did a great job last year, but it looks like controlling the locker room and getting the team to bounce back from adversity is not only beyond him, but something that he may actually make worse.

"

Steve Rosenbloom of the Chicago Tribune (subscription required) wasn't nearly as diplomatic:

"

Geez, it was 42-0, Packers, at halftime, so how much worse could it be if the coach had been whacked after two quarters? Trestman’s team has allowed 80 points in the last two first halves combined, so again, how much worse could it be without the guy?

Trestman deserves it. Bears fans deserves to see him whacked. What happened on Sunday night in front of God and NBC was a pathetic excuse for preparation and execution by a coach who has become a disaster at preparing his team to execute.

"

Trestman wasn't fired Sunday, and he was not fired Tuesday. But make no mistake: He is going to get fired.

Others receiving votes: Jay Cutler, quarterback, Chicago Bears (3 votes); Mike Shula, offensive coordinator, Carolina Panthers (1 vote); Mel Tucker, defensive coordinator, Chicago Bears (1 vote)

Rookie of the Week

USA TODAY Sports

Winner: Chris Borland, ILB, San Francisco 49ers (8 votes)

Chris Borland has been a very busy young man of late.

With Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis sidelined by a toe injury, Borland has been thrust into the starting lineup for the 49ers. Over the past two games, Borland has been up to the task and then some, racking up an eye-popping 35 tackles and recovering the fumble that sealed the win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 10.

As David Fucillo of SBNation reports, the former Wisconsin star drew the praise of head coach Jim Harbaugh after the game:

"

Fun to watch. He's doing a great job. He does have a, he's got a sense for the ball. I've been watching it in practice and you watch it in the games he's like a thief in the night, he's going to get under somebody, get around somebody. You look how far he went to get that fumble. He was the furthest guy away from that pile, that point where the ball was and slashed in there and then secured it. I thought it was a great play. In on a lot of tackles, covering a lot of ground. He plays the game, it means a lot to him, he cares, you can see that by the way he plays and is doing an outstanding job.

"

As well has Borland has played, the pressure on the youngster is only going to increase. That's because as Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee reports, Willis is now expected to need season-ending surgery on his balky toe.

No pressure, Chris.

Others receiving votes: Odell Beckham, WR, New York Giants (4 votes); Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3 votes) 

Best QB Performance

Kiichiro Sato/Associated Press

Winner: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (15 votes)

"Relax."

That was Aaron Rodgers' admonition to fans in Green Bay a few weeks back, after the Packers started the season 1-2.

Since then, Green Bay has reeled off five wins in six games, including Sunday night's evisceration of the Chicago Bears.

Rodgers certainly looked relax in that game. To say Rodgers had his way with the Bears would be an understatement. The 10th-year veteran eclipsed 300 passing yards and threw six touchdown passes—by halftime.

It was the first time since 1969 that a quarterback tossed half a dozen touchdown passes in a half, but Rodgers told Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com that it was just another day at the office:

"We just kind of got things going our way. The line did a good job of giving me time to extend plays. If you extend plays, you look down the field and there's Jordy Nelson. He made some nice catches."

Our voters, on the other hand, found Rodgers' performance to be anything but ordinary.

Best RB Performance

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

Winner: Marshawn Lynch, RB Seattle Seahawks (15 votes)

There have been any number of theories bandied about regarding what's "wrong" with the Seattle Seahawks this season. Many of those theories involved running back Marshawn Lynch, who hadn't topped 100 rushing yards in a game since Week 1.

Until Sunday's matchup with the New York Giants, that is.

"Beast Mode" was most certainly in effect Sunday against the G-Men. The Seahawks gained a franchise-record 350 yards on the ground against the Giants, spearheaded by Lynch's 140 yards on 21 carries.

Lynch also found the end zone an eye-popping four times, a performance that drew raves from teammate J.R. Sweezy, according to The Associated Press, via USA Today:

"I feel like we really truly feed off of him a lot," Sweezy said. "He's just a physically and mentally tough player and he's one of the greats. We love blocking for him."

There's been a great deal written in recent weeks about Lynch's uncertain future in the Emerald City, but for one week, at least, it's all smiles where Lynch is concerned.

Best WR Performance

USA TODAY Sports

Winner: Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys (10 votes)

With quarterback Tony Romo banged up and the Cowboys coming off back-to-back losses, concern was growing that another late-season swoon was in the offing for Dallas.

However, Romo was back in the Cowboys' Week 10 romp over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, and the main beneficiary of that return was wide receiver Dez Bryant.

Bryant scorched the Jaguars for 158 yards and two scores on six grabs, but according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, all is not well where Bryant is concerned in Big D:

"

This is a genuine concern. The Cowboys, I am told by multiple sources involved in the situation, do not trust Dez Bryant off the field. They feared -- and they have feared for a while -- that it will all blow up in his face, that a variety of small incidents will all come back to haunt him. ...

I went to the DeSoto (Texas) City Police Department. I found six instances of police coming to Dez Bryant's house -- that's where he lives, in DeSoto. Among the incidents -- and none of these were convictions -- there was a harassment incident, there was a robbery at his house, the fire department had to come and unlock his car that had a sleeping baby inside. All of these things give the Cowboys cause for concern. He's had anger management; they have a manager with him at all times. But they are very nervous, and this is one reason they have not wanted to give him the guaranteed money that most elite receivers get.

"

Of course, the fact that these concerns are being leaked now has nothing whatsoever to do with Bryant's expiring contract.

Nah. That couldn't be.

Others receiving votes: Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers (5 votes)

Best TE Performance

USA TODAY Sports

Winner: Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints (14 votes)

Jimmy Graham's 10 catches for 76 yards and two touchdowns Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers may have been enough to get the fifth-year superstar the nod as Week 10's top tight end, but it was the play that Graham didn't make that has everyone talking.

After appearing to reel in the game-winning Hail Mary at the end of regulation, Graham was flagged for offensive pass interference, wiping the score off the board and setting the stage for the Saints to fall in overtime.

For his part, Graham insisted to Mike Triplett of ESPN.com that he didn't push off:

"That's why I left basketball, so I could stop being penalized for hitting people. It's interesting how guys grab me everywhere on the field, and I put literally two fingers on somebody and you make that kind of call. It was definitely not a push-off."

The only problem with that, of course, is that Graham totally pushed off.

Sorry, Jimmy.

Others receiving votes: Julius Thomas, Denver Broncos (1 vote)

Best Defensive Performance

USA TODAY Sports

Winner: Marcell Dareus, DT, Buffalo Bills (7 votes)

There may not have been a player in the entire NFL who was happier to see the 2014 NFL season get underway than Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus.

After a pair of offseason arrests, Dareus showed up for camp out of shape. Since the season began, however, the 24-year-old has been all business, and Dareus' three sacks of Alex Smith in the Bills' Week 10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs gives Dareus 10 for the season, good for fourth in the NFL.

According to Matthew Fairburn of Syracuse.com, Dareus has a good reason for his 2014 explosion—because, that's why:

"

It doesn't really need to be a why. I just want to do it. If I'm going to take over the league, then I'm going to do it. One of the goals that I wanted to reach when I came out of college was to be the best player and be the best person I can possibly be. Why wait until a contract year like most guys do? Or wait for someone else? I want to do it. I want to do it now. Last year I started to get the ball rolling and now I'm on cruise control. I'm ready to have fun. We're out there playing off of each other.

"

That reason works for us.

Others receiving votes: Connor Barwin, OLB, Philadelphia Eagles (2 votes); Clay Matthews, ILB, Green Bay Packers (2 votes); Jaiquawn Jarrett, SS, New York Jets (2 votes); Ndamukong Suh, DT, Detroit Lions (2 votes)

Best Decision

USA TODAY Sports

Winner: Andy Reid's 4th-and-1 toss to Jamaal Charles (7 votes)

As is usually the case with this category, there were a number of candidates for Best Decision of the Week. However, one play call was the runaway winner in Week 10.

In the fourth quarter of Sunday's matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills, the Chiefs faced a 4th-and-1 from the Buffalo 39 trailing by 10 points.

Not only did the Chiefs go for it, but head coach Andy Reid hit the jackpot on his call, dialing up a fake handoff and pitch play that running back Jamaal Charles took to the house.

As Bleacher Report's Farzin Vousoughian reports, the play personified Kansas City's recent hot streak:

"

Reid pulled out all stops against the Bills in the fourth quarter with several gutsy play calls, including a 4th-and-1 play where the Chiefs executed a fake handoff and pitch to Jamaal Charles, resulting in a 39-yard touchdown run to start the comeback rally. Alex Smith capped off the rally with a touchdown run of his own, giving Kansas City the lead for the first time in the game.

"

Reid has received more than a little criticism over the years for his play-calling and clock management miscues, but this time Reid came up with the perfect call at the perfect time for the 6-3 Chiefs.

Others receiving votes: Bruce Arians dialing up a long pass play for Drew Stanton (3 votes); Seahawks getting back to the run game and zone read (2 votes); Everything Aaron Rodgers did (1 vote); Jets naming Mike Vick the starter at quarterback (1 vote); San Francisco 49ers giving the ball to Frank Gore at the goal line (1 vote)

Worst Decision

USA TODAY Sports

"Winner": Chicago's "defense" against Green Bay Packers (5 votes)

Week 10 apparently wasn't a banner week for brains across the National Football League. In fact, no fewer than 10 gaffes got at lest one vote for Worst Decision of the Week.

However, as the dust settles around what's left of the Chicago Bears' 2014 season, there's no denying that the Bears didn't do a lot right against the Green Bay Packers.

Whether it was Chicago's Cover-2 defense, the atrocious play of their safeties or simply showing up, the hapless Bears were the runaway winner of the award no one wants in Week 10.

While speaking with the Associated Press, via ESPN, head coach Marc Trestman took responsibility for the Bears' pathetic play Sunday night.

"I'm responsible for the play of this football team -- and it's not good enough right now. That's where we are," Bears coach Marc Trestman said.

Where the Bears are is last place in the NFC North and headed nowhere fast.

Others receiving votes: Joe Philbin's clock management (2 votes); New York Jets not turning to Vick sooner (1 vote); Doug Marrone going for it on 4th-and-10 at the Chiefs' 15 with 2:32 to play down four points with all three timeouts (1 vote); Steelers abandoning run game vs. Jets (1 vote); Andy Dalton showing up to play vs. Browns (1 vote); New York Giants defense on Seahawks' zone read (1 vote); Bills being pass-happy against the Chiefs (1 vote); Jimmy Graham's push-off (1 vote); Cowboys leaving Tony Romo on the field in a blowout (1 vote)

Player of the Week

USA TODAY Sports

Winner: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers (11 votes)

When you throw six touchdown passes in a game, you're going to get some dap from the writers here at Bleacher Report.

When those six touchdown passes come in the first half, as Aaron Rodgers' did against the Bears Sunday night, you're a virtual shoo-in for Player of the Week honors.

According to Tyler Dunne of The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, in the opinion of Green Bay defensive end Datone Jones, there's one glaring difference between the Bears and Packers:

"

I feel like we believe in Aaron, as our leader. That's what separates us from the Bears. I feel like the Bears really don't believe in (Jay) Cutler. He's their franchise quarterback, so they need to believe in him. And I know how they feel. I've had a few quarterbacks in college where I was like 'Oh, man,' but you can never turn your back on your quarterback.

"

Wait, you mean that Cutler isn't as good as Rodgers?

Who knew?

Well, besides the Packers. And the Bears. And anyone with eyes. Or ears.

But other than that, who knew?

Others receiving votes: Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle Seahawks (4 votes)