Bleacher Report's Week 11 NFL Awards

Week 11 in the National Football League was a textbook example of why you can't take anything for granted in the NFL.

The Denver Broncos got smoked by the St. Louis Rams. Yes, you read that right. A three-win Rams squad shellacked the defending AFC champions.

The defending Super Bowl champs, on the other hand, fell at Kansas City. It was the Seattle Seahawks' fourth loss of the 2014 campaign—more than the team had all of last year.

So, in a week where the Arizona Cardinals kept right on winning, the Oakland Raiders kept right on losing, and the New England Patriots established themselves as the class of the AFC, here's one last look back at the week that was with the Week 11 NFL Awards, as voted on by the National Lead and Division Lead Writers here at Bleacher Report.

Team of the Week

AJ Mast/Associated Press

Winner: New England Patriots (7 votes)

The New England Patriots have gone from the outhouse right back to the penthouse.

It wasn't that long ago that many pundits wrote the Patriots off as dead after a blowout loss at Kansas City. Since then, however, the Patriots haven't lost a game, beating every other division leader in the AFC soundly in the process.

The latest victims were the Indianapolis Colts, whom the Patriots pummeled 42-20 in Week 11 behind four rushing touchdowns from tailback Jonas Gray.

As Robert Mays of Grantland reports, punishing the Colts on the ground has become something of a theme for the Pats:

"

The Patriots clearly had a plan. Ten months removed from running all over the Colts to the tune of 234 rushing yards, New England topped that by 10, using Jonas Gray and an extra offensive lineman to turn the Indianapolis defense into putty. For the second straight game between these two teams, a Patriots running back finished with four touchdowns. Against the Colts, Bill Belichick has become that (expletive) who’s found one unstoppable Mortal Kombat move and refuses to do anything else.

"

As things stand today, the road to the Super Bowl in the AFC will be taking a familiar detour through Massachusetts.

And Darth Hoodie reigns supreme yet again.

Others receiving votes: St. Louis Rams (5 votes), Green Bay Packers (2 votes), Arizona Cardinals (1 vote)

Coach of the Week

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

Winner: Bruce Arians, head coach, Arizona Cardinals (9 votes)

The Arizona Cardinals just keep on winning.

Despite any number of injuries to key personnel, including the loss of their starting quarterback, the Cardinals are perched atop the NFL with a 9-1 record.

Last week, the Cardinals faced the No. 1 defense in the league in the Detroit Lions in the team's first game since Carson Palmer tore his ACL.

No problem. The Cardinals just outplayed the Lions at what they do best, held star wide receiver Calvin Johnson in check and emerged with a gritty 14-6 win.

As Jarrett Bell of USA Today reported, head coach Bruce Arians credited both backup signal-caller Drew Stanton and his team's ability to step up when called upon.

"Whoever steps in, steps up," Arians said. "[Stanton] played damn good in September, too. This is not the first time he jumped out there. This is his fourth game. He's 3-1 as a starter and didn't finish the other."

Our panel, however, thinks at least some of the credit for the Redbirds' resiliency in 2014 rests squarely with the man in charge.

Others receiving votes: Andy Reid, HC, Kansas City Chiefs (4 votes), Mike McCarthy, HC, Green Bay Packers (1 vote), Dom Capers, defensive coordinator, Green Bay Packers (1 vote)

Goat of the Week

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

"Winner": Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants (12 votes)

To say that the 2014 season hasn't worked out according to plan for the New York Giants is an understatement. Eli Manning's performance in the Giants' 16-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 11 was a microcosm of that season.

As the final score indicates, it was a winnable game for the Giants—at least it would have been if Manning had completed half of his passes or if he hadn't thrown an eye-popping five interceptions.

Steve Politi of NJ.com had a post-mortem of sorts on Manning's ghoulish outing:

"

This weekend was the 10th anniversary of Eli Manning's first start for the Giants, and he celebrated with a performance that was such a throwback to that first season, you'd have thought we all had just watched the "Friends" finale.

The happy feet. The telegraphed throws. The grumbles from the home crowd. The five interceptions, each more devastating than the last. Manning has started 160 straight games since that first shaky game on Nov. 15, 2004, and he's had some doozies over that stretch.

This one isn't the worst – not even close. But it certainly merits a spot in the conversation, and given the way the Giants quarterback had played this season for this struggling team, it comes as something of a surprise.

"

Sadly, what didn't come as a surprise was another Giants loss, leaving fans of both teams in the Big Apple more interested in next year's draft than this year's postseason.

Others receiving votes: The Mannings (1 vote), Robert Griffin, QB, Washington Redskins (1 vote), Jay Gruden, HC, Washington Redskins (1 vote)

Rookie of the Week

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

Winner: Mike Evans, wide receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (15 votes)

Given how much variance we've seen in these votes this season, when a player gets a unanimous nod, it's a pretty good indicator that said player went off.

That is, if you consider seven catches for a staggering 209 yards and two touchdowns "going off."

That's the stat line put up by rookie wideout Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their Week 11 thrashing of Washington, a performance that drew raves from Andy Behrens of Yahoo Sports.

"

Over Evans' last four games, since Tampa's bye in Week 7, he's caught 25 passes for 536 yards and five scores. Evans has topped 120 receiving yards in back-to-back-to-back weeks, establishing himself at or near the top of an all-time rookie receiver class. At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, gifted with ridiculous strength and leaping ability, he's an unfair assignment for any normal-sized human. Last season at Texas A&M, Evans had 69 receptions for 1394 yards and 12 TDs; as a first-year pro, he's on pace for 77 catches, 1323 yards and 12 scores.

"

In case you haven't noticed, this year's rookie class at wide receiver is really, really good.

Best QB Performance

Mike Roemer/Associated Press

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

OK, all this agreeing is becoming unsettling.

Of course, it's hard to find fault with this vote after Rodgers threw for 341 yards and three scores and the Packers hung over 50 points on their second straight opponent, this one the NFC East-leading Eagles.

However, despite Rodgers' gaudy numbers this season, the 10th-year veteran insisted to Tom Silverstein of The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that the game hasn't gotten "easy" for him. "No, it's not," Rodgers said. "This is not easy. This is a tough job. A lot of preparation goes into it, a lot of guys working together."

With that said, Silverstein presented a few numbers that would beg to disagree:

"

Rodgers has thrown 322 consecutive passes at home without an interception, surpassing New England Patriot Tom Brady's mark of 288 for the longest such streak in NFL history.

He has thrown 29 consecutive touchdowns at home without an interception, the longest streak in NFL history.

Rodgers posted his seventh three-touchdown or more game with no interceptions this season, which is tied for second in NFL history with Denver's Peyton Manning and trails Brady's mark of eight.

In five home games this season, Rodgers has completed 96 of 144 passes (66.7%) for 18 touchdowns and no interceptions for a 138.1 passer rating.

In his last two games, Rodgers has completed 40 of 63 passes for 656 yards and nine touchdowns, and he has only played about six quarters total. For the season, Rodgers has thrown 28 touchdown passes with just three interceptions.

"

Yeah, Aaron. Looks like things have just been tremendously difficult for you.

Best RB Performance

AJ Mast/Associated Press

Winner: Jonas Gray, New England Patriots (11 votes)

At this point, the Indianapolis Colts have to be sick of getting pounded into goo by Patriots running backs no one has heard of.

Last year in the playoffs, it was castoff LeGarrette Blount. Sunday, it was Jonas Gray, who one month ago was toiling away on the Patriots practice squad.

He won't be heading back there soon, not after gashing the Colts for 199 yards on the ground and four touchdowns on a jaw-dropping 38 carries.

It was a breakout performance and one that ESPN's Mike Reiss thinks demonstrates that Gray is capable of filling the void in the lineup left by Stevan Ridley's season-ending knee injury:

"

There is little doubt in my mind that he can be their workhorse lead back when the game-plan calls for that. I'd expect a different offensive approach this week, though, as the Lions rank No. 1 in the NFL against the run. The other thing I'd point out is this video from the team's official website, which has locker room footage from immediately after the game. The excitement teammates and coaches showed for Gray was notable to me.

"

Regardless of Gray's role this week, there's no taking away what the youngster accomplished in Indy.

Others receiving votes: Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers (3 votes), Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs (1 vote)

Best WR Performance

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

Winner: Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (14 votes)

It's a double dip for young Mr. Evans, who adds a Wideout of the Week trophy to his Rookie of the Week honors after torching Washington in Week 11.

Well, he would if there were trophies.

We've already discussed both Evans' big game and his recent hot streak. In fact, according to Michael Beller of Sports Illustrated, Evans has established himself as the top dog in a loaded rookie class at the wide receiver position:

"

Evans put on a show for everyone to see in the national capital on Sunday, torching Washington for seven catches, 209 yards and two touchdowns. He has had at least 100 yards and a score in his last three games. The last receiver to do that in his rookie season was Randy Moss back in 1998. You’ll remember that as potentially the greatest season for a first-year receiver in NFL history. Moss had 69 receptions for 1,313 yards and 17 touchdowns. Anytime you’re doing something 1998 Moss did, you’re performing at an otherworldly level. That’s exactly where Evans is right now.

"

It's awfully hard to argue with him.

Others receiving votes: Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers (1 vote)

Best TE Performance

Elsa/Getty Images

Winner: Coby Fleener, Indianapolis Colts (15 votes)

OK, that's three unanimous nods. I think maybe the pod people got to the writers.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

We've already established that not a whole lot went right for the Indianapolis Colts Sunday night, but the play of third-year tight end Coby Fleener was a bright spot.

Fleener reeled in seven passes for 144 yards in the loss, getting open at will and leading quarterback Andrew Luck to tell Dana Hunsinger Benbow of The Indy Star, "He did a heck of a job."

Fleener, on the other hand, wasn't as upbeat after getting beaten up: "It felt like we were stalling out on the red zone. Their game plan [is] to take away some of the biggest wide receivers in the league. There's a lot that goes into that. It was a tough game offensively."

It may have been a tough game for the team, but Fleener did his part.

Now if we can just do something about this picture. 

Best Defensive Performance

Al Bello/Getty Images

Winner: Chris Borland, inside linebacker, San Francisco 49ers (7 votes)

With Patrick Willis out for the season and NaVorro Bowman apparently not close to returning to action, the San Francisco 49ers are down both of their star inside linebackers.

No worries, though, because it appears the team has found a third in rookie Chris Borland.

For the third straight game, Borland went bananas against the New York Giants Sunday, posting 13 total tackles and intercepting a pair of Eli Manning passes.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh lauded Borland's play while speaking with the team's website.

"Chris Borland, amazing performance by Chris," Harbaugh said. "I’ve said it before, the standard that Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman have set for inside linebacker play is at the highest level. Chris Borland and Michael Wilhoite are playing great with a capital 'G.' It’s great to see."

Defensive end Justin Smith sang a similar tune: "That guy is playing out of his mind. He's only played three, four games, but I think he's got to be in the talk of Defensive Rookie of the Year, I would think. That guy is instinctive, and he kind of reminds me of Zack Thomas back in the day. Glad to have him on our team."

You can add our voters to the fan club.

Others receiving votes: Mario Williams, defensive end, Buffalo Bills (4 votes), Alec Ogletree, outside linebacker, St. Louis Rams (2 votes), J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans (1 vote), Avery Williamson, ILB, Tennessee Titans (1 vote)

Best Decision

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Winner: New England Patriots' run-heavy game plan (9 votes)

More than a few NFL teams got back to basics last week, riding a run-heavy game plan to a Week 11 victory.

However, one team's game plan was the clear winner among our experts.

Just as they've done throughout his tenure in New England, Bill Belichick and the Patriots hit the Colts where they were softest Sunday night, pounding away mercilessly on the ground.

According to ESPN's Tedy Bruschi, the game plan was vintage Belichick:

"

This is the thing. The Patriots' run game was really that good Sunday night. What's special about this offense is that if the run game isn't that good next week, they can succeed in other aspects of offensive football. As the first quarter plays out, and you realize what's working, that's what you stay with. That's the philosophy of Bill Belichick. Why throw the ball when you can hand it off for 5, 6, 7 yards a pop?

"

See what works, and then exploit it over and over.

There's a concept.

Others receiving votes: Running the ball period (1 vote), Bruce Arians' handling of Drew Stanton (1 vote), Cincinnati Bengals' improved run defense (1 vote), Pittsburgh Steelers' run-heavy game plan (1 vote), Kansas City Chiefs' run-heavy game plan (1 vote), Arizona Cardinals' spreading the ball around (1 vote)

Worst Decision

Al Bello/Getty Images

"Winner": New York Giants' goal-line fades (4 votes)

As is usually the case, there were a number of nominees for the Worst Decision of the Week.

Hey, no one's perfect.

However, it was the bumbling buffoons of Big Blue who brought home the award no one wants in Week 11.

All the way back in Week 1, New York offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo puzzlingly called three fade routes from the Detroit Lions' 1-yard line.

The Giants eventually scored on fourth down, but as Connor Orr of NFL.com pointed out, in Week 11 the G-Men weren't so lucky:

"

This past weekend, McAdoo did not break up the fades with a run. He did, however, call the exact same type of play out of the same formation (shotgun, two wide receivers left, tight end to the right on the line, single receiver wide right) on first down. The only noticeable difference was that Victor Cruz was replaced in the slot on the left side by Preston Parker. Corey Washington was replaced by Odell Beckham as the lone wideout on the right side.

Both times, the ball went to the right, and both times the ball fell incomplete.

McAdoo also used the same call on third down Sunday as he did on fourth down during that Week 1 loss. Against Detroit, it was a touchdown pass to Larry Donnell. Against San Francisco, Donnell dropped the ball upon landing.

"

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again—or something.

Others receiving votes: Vikings playing man coverage vs. Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery (3 votes), Cleveland Browns' lack of pass rush (3 votes), Philadelphia Eagles using man coverage on Jordy Nelson (1 vote), Oakland Raiders kicking field goal in red zone late instead of going for touchdown down 10, Marc Trestman not going for points at end of first half (1 vote), Ken Whisenhunt's final challenge vs. the Steelers (1 vote), 49ers not involving Vernon Davis more (1 vote)

Player of the Week

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Winner: Jonas Gray, RB, New England Patriots (12 votes)

We've already covered the Patriots' mauling of the Colts and the big part that Jonas Gray's big game played in the win.

However, as Chris Wesseling of NFL.com reported, Gray didn't just have a great game.

He made some NFL history:

"

Gray authored the best performance by any running back this season, pounding out 199 yards and four touchdowns on a whopping 38 carries in Sunday's win over the Indianapolis Colts.

According to NFL Media's research department, Gray currently stands as the first player since at least 1940 to rush for as many touchdowns as the rest of the NFL combined in a given week.

Jamaal Charles (2), Knile Davis and Eddie Lacy were the only other players to run for a score in Week 11.

Even if the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans steal Gray's thunder on Monday night (they did), his performance remains notable for its rarity. If we raise the minimum to 10 league games in a week, no single player has even managed more than 25 percent of the NFL's rushing touchdowns.

The four-touchdown outing was the first by a player without a previous NFL touchdown since 1921.

"

Watch. Next week Vinnie the Parking Lot Attendant will catch two scoring passes for the Patriots against Detroit.

Just watch.

Others receiving votes: J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans (1 vote), Shaun Hill, QB, St. Louis Rams (1 vote), Jeremy Hill, RB, Cincinnati Bengals (1 vote)