NFL Week 5: Top 25 Winners and Losers of Sunday's Action
Another weekend, another Sunday spent gaining five pounds on the sofa. From Detroit’s first win against my Rams to Mason Crosby’s missed kick there was dramatic storylines for all.
Here is a brief list on those players that deserve applause and those that made me cringe.
25: Winner: Max Hall, Arizona Cardinals
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The Cardinals have been in flux ever since Kurt Warner retired. Their go-to QB Leinart turned out to be well, not what they were looking for. Couple that with the fact that one of their top receivers now plays for another team. So it is a bit of a surprise when a rookie comes in and takes down the reigning champs.
Max Hall didn't have a stellar game but it was enough to get the win. Hooking up with Larry Fitzgerald seven times and throwing for 168 yards gives Arizona cause to smile, at least for today.
24: Loser: Green Bay Packers Offensive Line
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This is not an excerpt from last year. The offensive line woes may be haunting the Packers yet again. Rodgers was hit eight times and sacked four times. News has come out that he suffered a concussion as well.
Aaron Rodgers may be one the elite quarterbacks but if he can’t find more time in the pocket look for some of the same lack luster results they had last year.
23: Winner: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills
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I hate to say this to Bills fans but consider Fitzpatrick’s outing Sunday as the closest thing you will get to a win. Why not feel good about the young quarterbacks performance? Despite the loss he put up some gaudy fantasy numbers. He went 20-for-30 for 220 yards and capped off three touchdowns.
Maybe Bills fans should be happy with a fantasy win at this point in the season.
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22: Loser: Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals
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Remember all that talk that Palmer would have so many options this season. Well someone should tell him those options do not include the Tampa Bay defense. The Bengal QB threw three interceptions and finished the game with a 58.7 rating.
The Bengals are looking like less of a threat in the AFC North.
21: Winner: Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville Jaguars
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He looked like David Garrard’s best bud out there today.
He caught all three touchdown receptions and gave Jaguars faithful some hope that they are deeper than the talents of just Maurice Jones-Drew.
20: Loser: Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati Bengals
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For the second consecutive week, Ochocinco is looking less like the Bengals’ go-to receiver. He only had three receptions.
His week 1 breakout game is looking like a long gone memory. This may be where the whining starts. It will take a miracle for Cincinnati to keep it together.
19: Winner: Connor Barth, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Every once in a while a kicker does his job. While it may be little cause for celebration, when it is a game winner we include it in the countdown. Barth hit a 31-yard field goal with a second on the clock.
Kicker goes out. He kicks field goal. Team wins. Should be like that every Sunday. Keep reading for the flip-side of this.
18: Loser: Cleveland Browns Quarterback Situation
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Losing your lone bright spot is tough. Just ask the Cleveland Browns. Seneca Wallace made inroads today putting the Browns up 7-6 before the half. An ankle injury to Wallace forced Cleveland to go with Jake Delhomme. He proceeded to give the game away with two costly picks. One of which was run back for a touchdown.
17: Winner: Atlanta Falcons Defense
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Where one team struggles another will thrive. Atlanta had their way defensively with Cleveland, especially once they had Jake Delhomme to pick on. They had four sacks and pressured Delhomme in to two costly interceptions.
16: Loser: Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams
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I grew up a Rams fan so the beat down they received today came as no shock to me. Bradford finally showed some signs of immaturity as he threw two interceptions. He was never able to get the team in the end-zone and the defense tired from the constant three and outs. Here is to another meager season in St. Louis. Cheers!
15: Winner: Shaun Hill, Detroit Lions
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The Lions have missed Matthew Stafford something terrible this season. Still injured, the Lions will have to go another week with Shaun Hill taking the snaps. There could be worse scenarios as Hill completely tore up a seemingly exhausted Rams defense. Looking more like Tom Brady than Shaun Hill, he threw three touchdowns and gained over 220 yards.
14: Loser: Kansas City Chiefs Over-Achievement
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I was starting to wonder when the real Chiefs would show up. Surely not a bad team, the Chiefs were certainly not an elite one. The test the received against the Colts Sunday proved that. While they hung in for most of the game. The Colts superior offense proved to be too much in the end.
The Chiefs will have a tough task to right the ship next week against Houston.
13: Winner: Indianapolis Colts Defense
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In what could best be described as a messy game, the Colts defense shined. They only allowed a 1-10 in third down conversions and largely kept the Chiefs out of the red zone. It was a good thing too, because the only weapon the Colts had working on offense was Adam Vinatieri’s leg as he put through four of four field goals to win the game.
12: Winner: Donovan McNabb, Washington Redskins
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McNabb must be eating his Chunky Campbell’s soup. He my have thrown a pick but he kept the Redskins moving all day. More than once he had to scramble his way to safety. He did this while throwing for over 320 yards.
11: Winner: Matt Forte, Chicago Bears
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So you lose Jay Cutler to inefficiency and turn to Todd Collins and he in turn throws four picks. The Bears are lucky that they are more than just a pair of lackluster quarterbacks. Matt Forte was the only bright spot the Bears had Sunday. He scored twice including a 68-yard breakaway run.
The Bears better figure something out quickly. It isn't everyday you throw four picks and still win handily.
10: Loser: Jimmy Clausen, Carolina Panthers
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Jimmy Clausen completely laid an egg this week. He was allowed to stink up the yard until the fourth quarter when the Panthers decided they had seen enough. It is obvious he will need at least a year before he gets the hang of this NFL thing. No worries, the Panthers aren’t going anywhere anyway.
9: Winner: Baltimore Ravens Running Game
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You may not know which Joe Flacco will show up every week, but you do know that you have very capable legs carrying the team. Ray Rice was Ray Rice today and ran in two touchdowns. Willis McGahee also punched one in despite his limited touches. Both backs will give fits to defenses week in and out. If the Ravens could get a consistent Flacco, a return to the NFL’s elite is not out of the question.
8: Loser: Denver Broncos Defense
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The Broncos defense allowed too much in the way of confidence for the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens converted seven of thirteen third downs and drove to over 400 yards. Denver’s defensive problems come in the way of consistency. This week they gave too much leeway to the running game.
7: Winner: Tennesse Titans Two-Headed Monster
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Vince Young and Chris Johnson did not by any means have tremendous games. It is when you couple their efforts together that you see the qualms facing NFL defenses. Johnson ran for 120 yards and two touchdowns. Young contributed his own 17-yard run while completing for 173 yards.
It is becoming more and more evident that you need to pick your poison against Tennessee. Either way Young and Johnson will get their numbers.
6: Loser: Terrell Owens’ Twitter Account
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We have yet another example of overzealous receivers trying to reach out to their fans. Owens tweeted that a fan wearing his jersey would receive a signed football. It would have been nice if he waited until after the game.
The post came 90 minutes before kick-off violating NFL rules. That there is a $25,000 tweet.
5: Winner: Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants
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As a Giants receiver this season, you cannot take for granted that Eli Manning will throw you the ball or the other team. So it is your job to make good use of the receptions you get.
Hakeem Nicks did just that this Sunday as he averaged 10 yards per reception and two touchdowns. It was enough for Giants fans to disregard the two interceptions Manning gave away.
4: Loser: Dallas Cowboys Penalties
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It is tough to lose a game in the NFL. Every game means so much with only 16 that matter. So it is even worse when you gain over 500 yards but still lose because of over 130 yards in penalties. Heavily penalized teams are said to be undisciplined. The fact that their head coach is arguably a lame duck can’t help matters.
3: Winner: Jason Campbell, Oakland Raiders
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Raider fans are not the most subtle people. But I will need them to savor this win like a fine wine. Their backup quarterback came in and gave a worthy performance. He did this while knowing he is liked by the staff much more as a back-up.
Taking over for an injured Bruce Gradkowski, Campbell did all he could to keep the Raiders in the game. His effort would consist of 160 yards throwing a lone touchdown. The Raiders really took control after a blocked punt but Campbell’s game kept them within shouting distance to beat the Chargers.
2: Loser: Mason Crosby, Green Bay Packers
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He hit a 52-yard field goal earlier in the game. So I viewed his attempt from 53 yards out with guarded optimism.
In the end Crosby would hook the kick left and hit the goal post with a second in the game. It would turn out to be the matter of inches that Green Bay needed to win the game.
1: Winner: Kevin Kolb, Philadelphia Eagles
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It isn't easy being an NFL quarterback, especially when fans are holding their breath with every pass. So it is for Kevin Kolb who took the helm for the injured Michael Vick.
His performance Sunday night showed that the Eagles are very deep at QB and Andy Reid will lose many night sleep sorting it all out.
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