Bleacher Report's Week 9 NFL Awards

And then there were three.

Another of the NFL's unbeatens fell in Week 9, with the Denver Broncos losing in Indianapolis to a Colts team that finally won outside the AFC South. On their sixth try.

The Broncos weren't all that fell in Week 9. A pair of playoff contenders saw their quarterbacks go down with injuries, one for the second time in what's shaping up to be a snakebitten season for Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It was a wild week that saw Blaine Gabbert win (for once), the Atlanta Falcons lose (again) and a pair of Hall of Fame quarterbacks snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

There were also no shortage of great (and dismal) performances around the NFL, so here's a look back at the week that was as seen by the NFL National Lead Writers and NFL Analysts here at Bleacher Report.

Team of the Week

Mike McCarn/Associated Press

Winner: Carolina Panthers (5 votes)

Of the NFL's remaining undefeated teams, the Rodney Dangerfield of the bunch has to be the Carolina Panthers. Sure, the Panthers were 7-0, but as evidenced by the team rolling into Sunday's matchup with the Green Bay Packers as home underdogs, no one really thought the Panthers were one of the NFL's elite.

Well, after downing the Packers 37-29 in a game they led 37-14 halfway through the fourth quarter, the Panthers are the lone NFC team without a loss.

And not only are they finally getting their due, but ESPN.com's David Newton raised the possibility that the Panthers might just be able to "run the table":

"Perhaps it's time to consider the possibility. The Panthers are two games clear of Green Bay (6-2), Minnesota (6-2) and Arizona (6-2) in the NFC. They are 2½ ahead of Atlanta (6-3) in the NFC South.

They've gotten through the hardest four-game stretch of their schedule, and the remaining opponents are a combined 31-35.

The Panthers also have a schedule that doesn't make a 16-0 regular season totally unrealistic. Only three of their next eight games are against teams with winning records, and two of those are against Atlanta, which has lost three of its past four.

The other is against the 5-4 New York Giants.

The toughest games likely will be at Dallas, at Atlanta, at New Orleans and at New York -- and all are winnable.

"

Given a blown lead against the Colts two weeks ago and a nearly blown lead Sunday against the Packers, 16-0 is probably pushing it.

But 8-0 is 8-0, and the road to Santa Clara on the NFC side appears to be taking a detour through Charlotte.

Others receiving votes: Indianapolis Colts (3 votes)

Coach of the Week

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

Winner: Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers (4 votes)

Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera apparently knows a thing or two about his job. At least it would seem so given the job he did two years ago, when he was the NFL Coach of the Year. And last year, when his ragtag 7-8-1 division "champs" won a playoff game. And this year, with the Panthers' franchise-record eight-game winning streak to start the season.

Of course, Rivera knows a little something about win streaks too. He was a player on the 1985 Bears team that started the season 12-0, went 15-1 and demolished the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

And Rivera told Bill Voth of the Black and Blue Review that he's applying lessons learned that year to this year's team: "A couple times I've quoted Coach [Mike] Ditka about trying to keep these guys focused, about rallying around each other, about being careful about being put on a pedestal. Back then it was wise and I think it's wise."

Are the 2015 Panthers the 1985 Bears? Hardly. That Chicago team is widely considered the best single-season team in NFL history. The Panthers aren't the best team in the NFL this year.

They are, however, 8-0 after downing the Pack, and Riverboat Ron has the Panthers on a collision course with a third straight NFC South title.

No other team has so much as won two in a row.

Others receiving votes: Rob Chudzinski, OC, Indianapolis Colts (2 votes); Mike Mularkey, Tennessee Titans (2 votes)

Goat of the Week

Cliff McBride/Getty Images

"Winner": Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3 votes)

At first glance, it looks like Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans had a fine game in Sunday's loss to the New York Giants. After all, the second-year pro reeled in eight passes for 152 yards.

The problem is the six that Evans didn't reel in. As in dropped. As in the most drops credited to a single player in a single game in over a decade.

As Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reported, Evans looked to the heavens while searching for a reason for his butterfingers: "It was humid. It was wet, but it was humid and I kept sweating through my gloves. I put the rain gloves on and I dropped a third-down conversion and I had to keep changing them. The ball was too slick. That's no excuse. I've got to catch those."

It may seem a bit mean to pile on the kid. Every receiver has an off day every now and then, and more often than not the youngster has been money for the Buccaneers.

However, when a team is 1-of-4 in the red zone for no other reason than a receiver's inability to receive, that's no bueno.

And Mike, buddy. You play in Tampa.

Pretty sure rain and humidity are problems that aren't going away anytime soon.

Others receiving votes: Guy that brought banner into Panthers' stadium (1 vote), LaMarcus Joyner, DB, St. Louis Rams (1 vote), Aqib Talib, CB, Denver Broncos (1 vote), Dan Quinn, HC, Atlanta Falcons (1 vote), Julius Peppers, OLB, Green Bay Packers (1 vote)

Rookie of the Week

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Winner: Marcus Mariota, QB, Tennessee Titans (8 votes)

OK, so maybe it was all Ken Whisenhunt's fault.

It may not be fair to blame the deposed head coach for all that ailed the 1-6 Titans, but for one week at least the change at the top certainly seemed to have a positive impact on rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota.

Being healthy may have helped too.

As Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com reported, Mariota had himself a game in his return from injury in leading the Titans to an overtime win over the surging New Orleans Saints:

"

Against a loose Saints secondary, Mariota had his best game as a pro since his first career start, finishing with 371 yards and four touchdown passes. The rookie threw at least two passes to seven different receivers; three of those receivers had more than 70 yards. On occasion, the Saints' corners helped Mariota out, like on Delanie Walker's 61-yard lucky deflection touchdown catch. For the most part, however, Mariota stood tall in the pocket, displayed good timing on his throws and showed excellent deception in his play action.

"

Fine. It was part new coach, part healthy and part playing a Saints defense that allowed six touchdown passes the week before to Eli Manning.

Man. What a bunch of nitpickers.

Best QB Performance

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Winner: Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans (6 votes)

As ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky reports, Mariota did much more Sunday than just lead the Titans to their second win of the season. In throwing four touchdown passes for the second time this season, Mariota joined Fran Tarkenton of the Minnesota Vikings and Robert Griffin III of the Washington Redskins as the only rookie signal-callers to hit that benchmark multiple times.

And in doing so, Mariota impressed his interim head coach:

"

I think he has shown, not just in this game but in earlier games, we’re always in it. We’re always in the game with him. This is just going to reinforce that, not just for him but for our whole team, our whole offense. Our defense was so into what was going on offensively, it’s going to go a long way, this game.

"

Mariota's big game also impressed Kuharsky, who went so far as to compare the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft to his opposite number in Week 9:

"

Like Drew Brees, Marcus Mariota hit on 28 of 39 passes Sunday at the Superdome.

For the last 10 years, in Brees the Saints have had the security of a top-flight quarterback.

The Tennessee Titans' OT win was the latest evidence the team may have in 2025 what the Saints have in 2015: A quarterback who’s been capable of carrying them for a decade.

"

That's a heady comparison, and one that's likely premature, but it doesn't change the fact that if a do-over was held on the 2015 draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might just be switching quarterbacks.

Others receiving votes: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers (2 votes)

Best RB Performance

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Winner: DeAngelo Williams, Pittsburgh Steelers (8 votes)

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been hit hard by injuries in 2015. Really, really hard. Star running back Le'Veon Bell was lost to a season-ending knee injury. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger returned from a knee injury just in time to hurt his foot.

Where the former problem is concerned, though, the Steelers have one heck of a Plan B.

With Bell suspended for the first two games of the season, all veteran tailback DeAngelo Williams did was lead the NFL in rushing.

With Bell out in Week 9, all Williams did was gash the Oakland Raiders for 225 total yards and a pair of touchdowns in a Pittsburgh win.

When Bell got hurt, more than a few pundits questioned the 32-year-old's ability to carry the load in the Pittsburgh backfield.

As ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler noted, Williams noticed.

"It does help when guys like the media doubt me," Williams said. "So thanks for the fuel guys. Keep it up."

Now if someone would just start talking junk about Landry Jones.

Best WR Performance

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Winner: Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers (8 votes)

Wide receiver Antonio Brown is most assuredly not hurt.

Opposing defenses continue to feel the pain from the Steelers star, though.

And in Week 9, the Raiders were in absolute agony.

As Kevin Patra of NFL.com wrote, to say that Brown had a big game against Oakland might be a slight understatement:

"

Antonio Brown wasn't alone on a football field catching passes Sunday. It just felt like it at times.

The Pittsburgh Steelers receiver caught 17 passes for 284 receiving yards on 23 targets in the 38-35 win over the Oakland Raiders. All three of those set Steelers franchise records.

Brown added 22 rushing yards on 2 carries.

The receiver's 306 total yards from scrimmage were more net yardage than four teams accrued Sunday: Redskins (250), Jets (290), Vikings (293) and Falcons (302). Toss in the Browns from Thursday (213) and Antonio Brown out-gained 20 percent of NFL teams to play this week -- prior to MNF.

"

That's right. Brown had over 90 more yards by himself than the Browns managed as a team.

Now, if you'll excuse me, this Browns fan is going to climb into the oven for a little while.

There's a reason the Cleveland media guide recommends all-electric homes for fans.

Best TE Performance

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Winner: Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals (7 votes)

Most football fans have no earthly idea who Bob Trumpy is.

Some fans of a certain age are at least somewhat aware of who he is, if only because Trumpy was a fixture on NBC's NFL telecasts in the 1980s. They know he played. They might even know he played for the Bengals, a fact Trumpy didn't hide during games.

He's a bit of a homer.

What even those fans probably didn't know is that Trumpy caught nine touchdown passes for the Bengals in 1969. It's a mark that hasn't been eclipsed in the 46 years since.

Well, Bob, I hate to tell you this, but it looks like you're out of luck.

Because Tyler Eifert caught his ninth scoring pass of the season for the Bengals in last Thursday's blowout win over the Cleveland Browns.

Well, he actually caught his seventh touchdown pass first. Then his eighth. And then his ninth.

And as ESPN.com's Coley Harvey reports, that three-touchdown outburst earned Eifert a nickname:

"

While Rex Ryan considers Rob Gronkowski to be King Kong, Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill has another alliterative nickname for his pass-catching teammate who has shot up the tight end charts this season.

Meet Tyler Eifert, the "matchup monster."

"You put a linebacker in there on him, either they're too small or they're too slow," Hill said. "You put a corner in there and they're obviously too small, too. So he's just a matchup problem."

"

With eight games to go, Eifert's a safe bet to set a new record in Cincy.

It also gives us a few months to work on that nickname.

Others receiving votes: Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans (1 vote)

Best Defensive Performance

Adam Bettcher/Getty Images

Winner: Linval Joseph, DT, Minnesota Vikings (5 votes)

A year ago, the Minnesota Vikings signed Linval Joseph to a five-year, $31.25 million contract to shore up the middle of their defensive front. Returns on that investment in 2014 were minimal.

However, the sixth-year veteran has been earning his paycheck during the Vikings' 6-2 start in 2015. And as Ben Goessling of ESPN.com passed along, the big man was a vital part of Minnesota's win over the equally surprising St. Louis Rams in Week 9:

"

He had a career-high 10 tackles, three of them for loss, and split a sack with Andrew Sendejo on Sunday as the Vikings held Todd Gurley to 3.7 yards per carry in their 21-18 overtime win over the Rams. It seemed imperative that Joseph control the line of scrimmage against the Rams, especially with tackle Sharrif Floyd still out, and the 27-year-old was at his best on Sunday.

"When you do too much, you hurt the team instead of helping the team," Joseph said. "That's what we learned from last year to this year, and that's the reason we're playing better together, because everybody's trying to play small ball."

"

The Vikings are the best team in the NFL that no one is talking about, in large part because of the best defense in the NFL no one is talking about.

And Joseph has played a key role for that defense in 2015.

Others receiving votes: San Francisco 49ers (2 votes); NaVorro Bowman, ILB, San Francisco 49ers (1 vote)

Best Decision

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Winner: 49ers starting Blaine Gabbert (4 votes)

Well, this is a first.

No, not Blaine Gabbert starting an NFL game. He's done that before, for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

No, not even Blaine Gabbert winning a football game, as he and the 49ers did over the suddenly reeling Atlanta Falcons in Week 9.

Gabbert did that in Jacksonville too, although it was exceedingly rare.

No, this is the first time since I began writing this column a year ago that one of our panelists provided commentary for the winning selection.

Commentary that criticizes said selection:

"

Sorry, everyone who said "Benching Kaepernick." That was a silly, shortsighted decision that will just leave the 49ers getting no return on Kaepernick when they release him and send them seeking a quarterback in the draft. Blaine Gabbert had a fool's gold "new starter" performance that everyone is trying to talk each other into as something new or revealing. In three weeks, the 49ers will bottom out again, and all the locker room friction will be a thing again. The Vikings used a little "inside football" logic to win a close football game they needed to win. That's good decision-making, not flailing around for a short-term gain that will only increase, not decrease, the overall level of organizational dysfunction.

"

Apparently, Bleacher Report NFL National Lead Writer Mike Tanier, for some odd reason, is no fan of Blaine Gabbert.

Can that be?

How can you not like the man who gave the Internet this?

Others receiving votes: Vikings deferring OT kickoff (3 votes); Titans and Eagles playing for touchdowns in OT (1 vote)

Worst Decision

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

"Winner": Atlanta Falcons' late-game clock management (7 votes)

Remember when the Atlanta Falcons were 5-0?

It seems like a long time ago now, but they were.

Since that hot start, Dan Quinn's Falcons have pitched and lurched their way to three losses in four games.

The low-water mark for the season came Sunday in a 17-16 loss to the woeful San Francisco 49ers. And it wasn't just a low-water mark for an Atlanta offense that suddenly can't score.

As Chris Chase of USA Today reported, it also marked a nadir for the first-year head coach:

"

When you don’t play to win, you’re playing to lose. And that’s what rookie coach Dan Quinn, who had been the toast of the NFL when he opened his tenure with the Atlanta Falcons with a 5-0 record, did on Sunday when he inexplicably kicked a field goal on 4th-and-goal from the San Francisco 49ers one-yard line with 2:56 left in the game and his team down four points instead of going for a touchdown.

The field goal was good but Quinn’s plan — that his team would force the 49ers to punt up by a score of 17-16, get the ball back and kick a game-winning FG — never came to fruition. The Niners ran eight plays in those final three minutes, Blaine Gabbert led the team to 19 yards to ensure Atlanta never saw the ball again. Quinn kicked himself out of a possible victory and was now left to face the media’s Blaine game, er, blame game.

"

That's what you call a full-on bonehead. And it cost the Falcons the game.

Others receiving votes: Aqib Talib's eye gouge (1 vote)

Player of the Week

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Winner: Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers (8 votes)

When a player sets three franchise records and helps carry his team to a potentially season-saving win, it makes for a pretty easy POTW vote here at Bleacher Report.

That's what Brown did with his 17 catches and 284 receiving yards in Sunday's win over the Oakland Raiders.

Well, that and stomp through fantasy leagues like Godzilla through Tokyo.

As Kevin Patra of NFL.com reported, that wasn't all Brown did:

"

- Brown earned the seventh-most receiving yards in a single game in NFL history.

LAN Flipper Anderson: Week 12, 1989 at NO, 336 yards
DET Calvin Johnson: Week 8, 2013 vs DAL, 329 yards
KC Stephone Paige: Week 16, 1985 vs SD, 309 yards
JAX Jimmy Smith: Week 2, 2000 at BAL, 291 yards
SF Jerry Rice: Week 16, 1995 vs MIN, 289 yards
SF John Taylor: Week 14, 1989 at LAN, 286 yards
PIT Antonio Brown: Week 9, 2015 vs OAK, 284 yards

- A.B. joined Terrell Owens as the only two players in NFL history with 17 or more receptions and 280 or more receiving yards in a single game.

- Brown's 23 targets are T-3rd most targets in a single game since 1991 (as far as STATS can check). Only Brandon Marshall (28) and Chris Chambers (26) had more.

"

Other than that, though, it was just a so-so game.