Bleacher Report's Week 16 NFL Awards
The mighty have fallen.
Actually, in Week 16, the mighty fell all over the place in the NFL.
The New England Patriots were defeated by the New York Jets after one of the most bizarre beginnings to overtime you'll ever see.
The Green Bay Packers were positively shelled by an Arizona Cardinals team staking their claim as the league's best.
The previously surging Pittsburgh Steelers fell to a Baltimore Ravens team a half-step this side of trying out starting quarterbacks in the parking lot of the local Walmart.
And the Carolina Panthers are unbeaten no more.
It's with the giant-killers who felled the Panthers where we'll begin our look back at the best and worst of Week 16, as voted on by the National Lead Writers and NFL Analysts here at Bleacher Report.
Team of the Week
1 of 12
Winner: Atlanta Falcons (five votes)
It's been a good long while since we saw the Atlanta Falcons in this spot.
After a 5-0 start to the 2015 season, things came off the rails for the Falcons. That is, if you call a 2-7 stretch heading into Sunday's matchup with the undefeated Carolina Panthers coming off the rails.
Well, it may have come too late to salvage a playoff berth, but in Week 16, the Falcons did what no team in the NFL had done so far this season:
Beat the Panthers, by a final score of 20-13.
As D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted, head coach Dan Quinn was extremely proud of his team's effort after the Panthers shelled the Falcons 38-0 just two weeks prior:
"(We) certainly viewed this game as a measuring stick for us. I wanted to really see how we'd respond after our ball game up there a couple weeks ago and we certainly did. We knew it was going to be a very tough matchup and it was so good having the grit and determination right down there all the way until the end to make some stops. [It was a] complete team win and (I'm) really proud of the effort of the fellas today.
"
The Falcons aren't as good as their 5-0 start—or as bad as the skid that followed—but in beating the Panthers, Quinn's Falcons showed themselves to be quite a bit closer to the former than the latter.
Others receiving votes: Arizona Cardinals (three votes)
Coach of the Week
2 of 12
Winner: John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens (eight votes)
Just about everything that could go wrong for the Baltimore Ravens has in 2015.
Injuries to more key players than you can count, especially on offense. Quarterback Joe Flacco. Running back Justin Forsett. Wide receiver Steve Smith. All were lost to season-ending injuries.
Close losses? Once again, more than you can count, and in every way, shape and form. Of Baltimore's 10 losses in 2015, only two have been by 10 points or more.
And in the games where the Ravens didn't blow leads, the officials blew it for them.
It's just been that kind of year in Baltimore. And with the soaring Pittsburgh Steelers coming to town in Week 16, it appeared the bad times were going to keep on rolling.
One problem: Someone forgot to tell the Ravens.
It isn't just that the Ravens stunned the Steelers 20-17. Or that in doing so they swept the season series with their most hated rivals.
No, in beating Pittsburgh the Ravens also stole control of the Steelers' playoff destiny. If the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs win in Week 17, the Steelers will watch the playoffs from home.
Just like the Ravens. Because misery loves company.
Given all that's happened to the team this year, it would hardly be a stunner if the Ravens had mailed it in.
Instead, head coach John Harbaugh had his team ready to play—and then some.
As Harbaugh told his players afterward, per ESPN.com's Jamison Hensley, "That's a team that came in here expecting to win. But you know what? They should have known better."
Goat of the Week
3 of 12
"Winner:" Green Bay Packers offensive line (infinity votes)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers needs a hug.
And some Aspercreme.
And some Tylenol.
And quite possibly a spinal realignment.
Just as the Packers were pounded 38-8 by the Arizona Cardinals in Week 16, Rodgers was pounded by the Redbirds pass rush.
The Cardinals actually had more sacks (nine) than the Packers had points, leading guard T.J. Lang to admit to ESPN.com's Jason Wilde what anyone with eyes can see—the Packers O-line is a hot mess:
"Obviously today, the protection was s---, the running game was s---, everything was just s--- for us. You get tired after a while of questioning yourself. What's going wrong? Why are we not scoring points? Why are we not moving the ball?
If this was maybe a one- or two-week problem, I'd say maybe [it could change]. But it’s been a lot of frustration for a long time now on offense. When you're used to something, and that changes, it's hard to deal with. Every year I've been a starter here, we've been making big plays, scoring a lot of points. And this year it's been different. I'm sure everybody wishes they had answers as to why.
"
Hey, at least he's honest.
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Rookie of the Week
4 of 12
Winner: Todd Gurley, RB, St. Louis Rams (five votes)
It's been another mediocre season for the St. Louis Rams, but amid that mediocrity there have been bright spots—such as the Rams' surprisingly sweeping the season series with the Seattle Seahawks.
However, despite that sweep, Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett wasn't about to give rookie running back Todd Gurley any props while speaking with reporters.
"He's average to me, personally," Bennett said, per ESPN.com. "I've seen better running backs. He's no Marshawn Lynch."
Granted, Gurley's 85 yards on 19 carries with a score aren't eye-popping numbers, but those numbers came against a Seahawks team that ranks third in the NFL against the run—in Seattle, no less.
And considering the fact that Gurley ranks third in the NFL in rushing despite not starting until Week 4, and that the Seahawks are jockeying for playoff position, well...
With all due respect to Bennett, would you like some cheese to go with that whine?
Others receiving votes: Nate Orchard, OLB, Cleveland Browns (three votes)
Best QB Performance
5 of 12
Winner: Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins (four votes)
Over the second half of the 2015 NFL season, Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins has made himself a whole boatload of money.
It's not just that last week's performance against the Philadelphia Eagles gave Cousins a franchise-record seven 300-yard passing games in 2015. Or that since the Redskins' Week 8 bye Cousins has thrown 17 touchdowns against only three picks.
No, in downing the Eagles, Cousins and the Redskins won a division title everyone thought they had no chance to win this season.
Just as everyone thought former head coach Mike Shanahan was crazy when he said before the season that Cousins was a top-10 NFL quarterback, per ESPN.com's Jason Reid:
"I said it on [a national] radio show before the season, and then a buddy called me and asked, "What were you thinking?" He couldn't believe I did it. But I coached Kirk. I worked with him. I knew all he needed was time. ...
Whatever it takes [to keep him]. When you have a guy like this, who's only going to get better and better, you don't let him walk away. It's really simple.
"
You might be able to argue the first assertion, but it's nearly impossible to argue the second.
And when Cousins takes a gander at his new contract, he is most assuredly going to like that.
Others receiving votes: Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals (three votes); Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (one vote)
Best RB Performance
6 of 12
Winner: Javorius Allen, Baltimore Ravens (three votes)
Two weeks ago, rookie Javorius "Buck" Allen's second fumble in as many games earned the Ravens running back a seat on the bench.
In Sunday's shocking win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the youngster played himself right back into his head coach's good graces.
Allen gained 114 total yards in the win, scoring the first rushing touchdown of his NFL career in the process.
And as Allen told reporters, earning that redemption against the Ravens' most bitter rival made it doubly sweet:
"Last week hurt. To go out there and fumble, it changed the momentum of the game. That's all on me. Nobody's fault but mine, and I took full responsibility.
I knew coming into this game that I couldn't make that mistake this game. The coaching staff believed in me and kept feeding me the ball. I thank them for that.
"
Bright spots have been few and far between for the Ravens in 2015.
Week 16 was one, though. Allen's play in the win was another.
Others receiving votes: Jerick McKinnon, Minnesota Vikings (two votes); Tim Hightower, New Orleans Saints (two votes); Johnny Manziel, Cleveland Browns (one vote)
Best WR Performance
7 of 12
Winner: Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons (all the votes)
Yeah, this one was about as no-brainer as no-brainers get.
When a wide receiver tops 170 yards in a win over an undefeated team, said wide receiver is a pretty good bet to find his name listed here. When that wide receiver has that huge game against arguably the NFL's best cornerback?
Like I said, no-brainer.
That's what Julio Jones did against Josh Norman and the Carolina Panthers in Week 16.
And as Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk wrote, Jones has a chance this week against the New Orleans Saints to turn a career season into a truly historic one:
"Jones currently leads the league in catches with 127 and yards with 1,722. The NFL record for catches is 143, set by Marvin Harrison in 2002, and the NFL record for receiving yards is 1,964, set by Calvin Johnson in 2012.
So if Jones has 17 catches for 243 yards on Sunday, he'll break both NFL records. That, of course, is a tall order. Jones's career high for catches in a game is 13, and his career high in yards is 259.
But if there's a game Jones could do it in, it's Sunday against the Saints. The Falcons are eliminated from playoff contention, so there's no reason they can't make an extra effort to throw it to Jones even when he's double covered, and the Saints have the worst pass defense in NFL history.
"
In other words, don't be surprised if I'm waxing poetic about Jones in this space again a week from now.
Now, you'll have to excuse me. As a Browns fan, I suddenly have the overwhelming urge to vomit.
Best TE Performance
8 of 12
Winner: Jordan Reed, Washington Redskins (eight votes)
Jordan Reed of the Washington Redskins is the best tight end in the National Football League few casual fans have heard of.
In fact, over the past month or so, Reed has been the best tight end in the NFL, period.
The third-year pro's torrid December continued in Saturday night's win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Nine catches. One hundred twenty-nine yards. Two touchdowns.
Over the past three weeks, that's 25 grabs for 333 yards and five touchdowns if you're keeping score.
Against the Eagles, ESPN.com's John Keim was most certainly keeping score:
"The thing that consistently amazes me is how well tight end Jordan Reed can get open even when the defender appears to have leverage. He's so good at attacking leverage and getting defenders to widen when they're playing outside. He picked up 28 yards by attacking corner E.J. Biggers, who had outside leverage, to the outside and cutting back inside. On Reed's second touchdown, linebacker Mychal Kendricks had inside leverage and wanted to force him outside. But when Reed planted hard to the outside, Kendricks overreacted and that let Reed work quickly back inside for a catch and touchdown. "I feel I say it every week: He's one of the best," Redskins left tackle Trent Williams said. "Definitely one of the best -- and he proves it every time."
"
Our writers were keeping score as well.
Best Defensive Performance
9 of 12
Winner: The Arizona Cardinals front seven (eight votes)
OK, so that isn't completely accurate. But some permutation of the front seven of the Arizona Cardinals received every post cast by by our panel for Week 16's top defensive performance.
For three voters, it was outside linebacker Dwight Freeney, the Redbirds' latest veteran reclamation project. The 35-year-old has only eight tackles on the season, but seven of those tackles are of opposing quarterbacks—including three in Sunday's blowout win over the Green Bay Packers.
As Freeney told the media afterward, games like Sunday are the reason he returned to the playing field: "That's the type of stuff we dream about, literally. And that's some of the reason why I came back, because you can't duplicate that type of feeling, replicate that type of feeling. Just being able to get after that quarterback, having those types of games."
Two more votes went to either Calais Campbell (who chipped in 2.5 sacks of his own) and Freeney or the veteran defensive end himself.
The final three votes were awarded to either the defensive line or the front seven as a unit.
Mind you, this isn't just a very talented and deep front seven. It's a talented and deep front seven playing in front of an equally deep and talented secondary.
And that defense is flanked by the NFL's most prolific offense.
In other words, the Cardinals are a really, really good football team.
Best Decision
10 of 12
Winner: New York Jets' overtime game plan (six votes)
The New York Jets didn't just take control of their playoff hopes with a Week 16 win.
They slew the evil dragon of the AFC East, defeating the dark empire of Darth Hoodie and his Galactic Empire.
What? I hear there's some movie out or something.
For a time, it didn't appear that would be the case. After the New England Patriots scored late to knot the game at 20, this had all the makings of just another time the Jets came close but not close enough.
But then the Jets got the ball to open overtime, drove the length of the field and scored a game-sealing touchdown.
And in doing so, Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post wrote Gang Green may have redefined themselves as a franchise:
"This is all you want: To be dragged through a gauntlet of emotions so extreme it can feel like you played all 62 minutes and 37 seconds of this fierce, ferocious football game. This is all you ask: Make these last hours of the football season meaningful, so that they can conquer and crush your soul, often at the same time.
"I'm speechless," Brandon Marshall said as he trudged off the MetLife Stadium turf, minutes after the Jets had beaten the Patriots 26-20 and seized control of their playoff destiny before 78,160 hoarse witnesses who weren't quite sure whether to faint or dance back home. And probably did both.
"
The only thing wilder than how the game ended? How overtime began. Which brings us to...
Others receiving votes: Falcons' feeding Julio Jones (two votes)
Worst Decision
11 of 12
"Winner:" Patriots' deferring in overtime (four votes)
Sometimes in the NFL, you experience a moment that just...well, you just...you wonder what a team could possibly be thinking.
Sunday's Patriots-Jets game definitely qualifies.
You see, at the beginning of overtime, the Patriots won the coin toss—and elected to kick.
Early television reports Sunday indicated that special teams maven Matthew Slater had pulled the goof to end all goofs. He made the sort of mistake that gets players cut by Bill Belichick.
Nope. Per what Slater told reporters later, the Dark Lord of Foxborough himself made the call:
"I just asked him three or four times to make sure I'm not the guy who's out there: "Yeah, we want to kick off." So I double checked three or four times. I think he was looking at me like "Are you concussed?" because I kept asking him. But he said that's what we want to do. He's the best in the business and we trust him fully, so that's what we did.
"
It was classic cute. Overthinking. We'll stop them, they'll punt and then all we need is three points to win. A plan more complicated than it needed to be.
And just like the Death Star, it blew up in Belichick's face.
Belichick may well be the best coach to ever scowl on an NFL sideline, but that doesn't make him immune to mistakes.
And this mistake wound up costing the Pats the game.
Others receiving votes: Jason Peters' taking himself out (two votes); Peyton Manning's reaction to HGH claims, which shined more light on the initial report (one vote); giving Don Barclay no help against the Cardinals (one vote)
Player of the Week
12 of 12
Winner: Kirk Cousins, QB, Washington Redskins (four votes)
The more you learn about the National Football League, the less you realize you know.
For instance, take the Washington Redskins, a team the vast majority of pundits slotted fourth in the NFC East to open the season.
Instead, Washington and head coach Jay Gruden will open Wild Card Weekend by hosting a playoff game as the NFC East champions.
Or take Kirk Cousins, who was drafted four years ago as a clipboard holder for Robert Griffin. Now Griffin is on his way out of town, and Cousins is headed for a fat contract extension.
According to Peter King of the MMQB, there wasn't a better decision made in the entire NFL this season:
"Did any coach make a better lineup decision this year than Gruden handing the job to Cousins? It's easy to say that now, of course, because Washington just clinched the NFC East title Saturday night at Philly. But look at the accuracy of Cousins (.695) in 15 starts, and look how he's cut down on his mistakes (14 turnovers in 15 games). Cam Newton has 14 turnovers in 15 games. Philip Rivers has 14 turnovers in 15 games.
"
Via King, former coach Mike Shanahan praised Cousins in talking to SI.com's Don Banks:
"There's one thing that you know as a coach that you don't know maybe as an analyst or being a coach of a different team. You don't know what a guy is like until you spend time with him. You don't know the intangibles. You don't know his preparation. You don't have a gut feel on how he handles himself 24 hours a day. And it didn't take long to figure out Kirk was a guy who was a perfectionist, who loved the game and had passion for the game.
"
In passing for 365 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions in Saturday's division-sealing win, Cousins certainly didn't do a thing to dispel that assertion.
Others receiving votes: Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons (three votes); Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints (one vote)
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