15 Biggest Winners and Losers from the NFL's Week 7

On today’s Fox broadcast of the Packers-Vikings game, Hall of Famer Troy Aikman said that the NFL had reached a “golden age” of quarterbacks. There’s not much argument against that. Whenever they retire, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning will each have a legitimate claim as the greatest quarterback in NFL history, Aaron Rodgers is on pace to have arguably the finest season ever history and Cam Newton arguably the finest rookie season in NFL history.

So it should be no surprise that outstanding quarterback play was again on display yesterday:  Rodgers was once again flawless and Newton a multi-dimensional dynamo. (I’m keeping both off this week just to give someone else an opportunity for accolades...the national media has already given both enough.)

But what is a surprise is how bad a few quarterbacks looked on Sunday. In short, field generals displayed equal parts the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. 

WINNER: Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints

Sunday’s Stats: 31-for-35, 325 yards, 5 TD

A week ago, I put Drew Brees in the loser category for his shoddy performance against the Buccaneers in a critical NFC South loss. So for him to bounce back with a brilliant game proves why he is a Super Bowl MVP and one of the best in the game.

But even though you have to take his stats Sunday night with a grain of salt—the Colts are just pitiful right now, and that includes positions other than quarterbacks….like the secondary—what Brees and the Saints did in the Superdome was epic.

Discounting the meaningless one-play-kneel-down to mercifully close out the first half, the Saints scored (six touchdowns, two field goals) on all eight single possessions in which Brees was at the helm. Even at the collegiate level that’s almost impossible to do. 

LOSER: Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee Titans

Sunday’s Stats: 10 carries, 18 yards, 6 catches 27 yards

Everyone needs to start praising Wade Phillips for the job he’s done with the Texans defense—in a very short time he has that unit playing good football and thus far overcoming the loss of Mario Williams—but that doesn’t let Chris Johnson off the hook.

Although Matt Hasselbeck and that depleted receiving corps didn’t do him any favors (3.5 yards per pass attempt) if we are going to give Johnson all the credit when he excels and rushes for 2,000-plus yards, he has to take the blame when he puts up a pathetic total like he did today.

Maybe everyone was too quick to dub Mike Munchak an instant success...maybe the Titans were a bit to quick to give Johnson the new contract he held out for...and maybe Johnson wishes he hadn’t missed the entire preseason. 

WINNER: DeMarco Murray, RB, Dallas Cowboys

Sunday's Stats: 25 carries, 253 yards, 1 TD

Yes, we need to consider who it came against: the Rams defense—their whole team for that matter—is an absolute mess right now.

But given the Cowboys woeful ups and downs, it’s impossible to look at what Murray did and not think they might have turned the corner.

Despite having very talented backs (Julius Jones, Marion Barber, Felix Jones) the Cowboys have failed to earnestly commit to the run since the days of Emmitt Smith. But after the big-play ability Murray showed today—a 91-yard touchdown, and six carries of nine or more yards—Jason Garrett might now have the player needed to take pressure off of Tony Romo.

Murray has the speed as a runner and receiver out of the backfield to become a real superstar and after today people will take notice. 

LOSER: Tony Sparano, Head Coach, Miami Dolphins

Sunday’s Stats: 18-15 OT loss to Denver

By the time you read this, there’s a good chance that rumors of Sparano’s firing have already hit ESPN and the other news outlets. But regardless of whether or not he is handed the pink slip Sunday night, Monday morning or at the end of the season, Sparano again came out a loser this week.

Not only did the Dolphins lose a seventh consecutive home game to keep their 2011 winless streak alive, but they let Tim Tebow and that fairly basic offense come to town and score 15 unanswered fourth quarter points.

All the blame can’t fall on Sparano: he is down to a second string quarterback, both of his top running backs were banged up and dropped passes ruined some opportunities. But Sparano knew that his future as head coach would depend on revamping an offense that was pretty bad last season. This year, under Brian Daboll it’s even worse.

No one is saying they have to be as good or explosive as this year’s Packers, the 2007 Patriots or the Greatest Show on Turf, but seven three-and-outs in one game is inexcusable. 

WINNER: Steve Smith, WR, Carolina Panthers

Sunday’s Stats: 7 catches, 134 yards

As I said in the introduction slide, aside from last Sunday's turnover-fest, Cam Newton has been one of the darlings of the NFL every week of the 2011 season. So it’s time to take note of some other players, starting with the player who has been Newton’s favorite target all season.

For Smith to be as dynamic and explosive as he’s been this year, at 32 years of age and with the injuries he’s overcome through the years, is nothing short of remarkable.

Today was no exception. Two of his catches came on third down and five produced first downs. And they all came against a defense that was ranked ninth against the pass coming into today’s game. 

LOSER: Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions

Sunday’s Stats: 15-for-32, 183 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT

I admit that it’s a tough sell to declare a quarterback who doesn’t turn the ball over, throws a touchdown pass and only loses by seven points a “loser,” but hear me out on this one.

Clearly the worst outcome of today’s defeat at the hands of Atlanta was the injury Stafford suffered to his leg. Given the slew of injuries the recent No. 1 overall pick has suffered in his short career, that news is more troublesome than a second straight loss.

But Stafford—and the entire Lions team—raised the bar substantially by bolting out to that 5-0 start so a two-game losing streak is disappointing, especially since both losses came at home.

Still, here is the reason why Stafford alone earned a spot on this list: The Lions entered the final quarter behind just four points, so they definitely had a chance to win...until Stafford completed just four of his 12 fourth quarter attempts. 

WINNER: Jared Allen, DE, Minnesota Vikings

Sunday’s Stats: 2 sacks

Allen has been one of the few bright spots on the Vikings this year, along with Adrian Peterson, who probably deserves a spot on this list as well given the monster day he had against the defending Super Bowl champions when Dom Capers and company knew the passing game would be limited because of their rookie quarterback.

But it seems like anyone who is capable of slowing down Aaron Rodgers—even for one play—is worthy of special mention. So for Allen to do it twice is one half is a notable achievement. Furthermore, the pair pushed his streak of consecutive games with a sack to a nine.

And even though the Vikings lost yet another game, you have to give that defense—of which Allen is clearly the premier player—credit for giving the team a chance to win the game at the end: during that late third/fourth quarter stretch in which Minnesota started to come back, the Vikings' defense allowed the powerful Packers offense just 14 yards on three consecutive drives. 

LOSER: The 66,350 Fans at Cleveland Browns Stadium

Sunday’s Stats: 3 field goals, 0 touchdowns, 435 yards total offense

I suppose you could take the glass-is-half-full outlook to a 6-3 final score: “The two teams played outstanding defense.”

But knowing how inept the Browns and Seahawks offense can be that’s not the case. This was game was a display of bad offenses, not good defense.

Colt McCoy didn’t complete a pass longer than 19 yards, and aside from one long grab by Sidney Rice, Charlie Whitehurst didn’t complete a pass longer than 11 yards.  Furthermore, the Browns channeled the sprit of Woody Hayes and the “three yards and a cloud of dust” running Monterio Hardesty 33 times for 95 yards and a 2.9 yard average. Meanwhile the Seahawks averaged just 2.74 yards per play, both run and pass.

A shootout in which the two clubs combine for nearly 100 points obviously wasn’t in the cards, but is it too much for the fans to see even one touchdown? It wasn’t exactly Ice Bowl, Fog Bowl or Monsoon-like conditions today by Lake Erie: 62 degrees and cloudy. 

WINNER: Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Sunday’s Stats: 26-for-39, 361 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 INT

The Steelers offensive line is such a mess that you’d figure Ben Roethlisberger needs some kind of running game each week in order to excel. But against a pretty marginal defense, the Steelers ran the ball with almost no success yet Roethlisberger was almost flawless.

He repeatedly escaped pressure, spread the ball around very effectively and completed seven of his nine pass attempts on third down.

Maybe the numbers aren’t more impressive than what Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees did on Sunday, but for Roethlisberger to do what he did behind such a leaky offensive line is. 

LOSER: Josh Freeman, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Sunday’s Stats: 29-for-51, 254 yards, 2 TD, 4 INT

The Bears defense didn’t make it terribly easy on Freeman; neither did losing Earnest Graham when the team was already without LeGarrette Blount.

But Tampa Bay’s offense and specifically Freeman were borderline atrocious. On their first six possessions, the Bucs accumulated just 45 yards, punted five times and turned the ball over via interception. And after that late second quarter field goal, there wasn’t much improvement: their first five possessions of the second half resulted in three punts and two more interceptions. 

Sure, Freeman threw two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but those came as the game was approaching garbage-time: the Bears led 21-5 with just 12 minutes to play.

Yet despite all of that, Tampa Bay still had a chance to win the game…until Freeman was picked off for a fourth time, again by way of a throw nowhere near an open Bucs receiver.

WINNER: Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans

Sunday’s Stats: 25 carries, 115 yards, 2 TD; 5 catches, 119 yards, 1 TD

Either one of Foster’s totals—rushing or receiving—would have been an exceptional output Sunday, especially in such a meaningful game on the road with the division title essentially on the line. So for him to put up both of those figures on the ground and through the air is spectacular.

But the figures alone are a bit deceiving. For one, his teammate Ben Tate also rushed for 100-plus yards so the combination of bad defense and dominance by the Texans line must be noted. And as far as the exceptional passing stats, the bulk of his receiving yards came on that 78-yard touchdown grab.

Still, Foster was a big winner because he may have re-established himself as one of the league’s elite backs who is the centerpiece of the franchise. As good as Matt Schaub is and even Andre Johnson, the team’s winning formula is becoming pretty clear: During the last month, when Foster has topped the 100-yard mark the Texans won. When he didn’t they lost.  

LOSER: Hue Jackson, Head Coach, Oakland Raiders

Sunday’s Stats: 0 points, 2 significant injuries

Jackson earns a spot on this list partly because of bad luck, but also because of curious decision making.

Here’s what I don’t understand: Either Carson Palmer was ready to run the Raiders offense or he wasn’t. For Jackson to opt to start Kyle Boller then pull him because of bad play (not be forced to because of injury) doesn’t make sense.

What exactly did Palmer learn about the Raiders offense—other than “don’t throw it to the opposing team—by watching Boller through the first half?

And then there is the element of the game that Jackson couldn’t control, but which still puts him a in the loser category for Week 7. His best player on offense is obviously Darren McFadden; he was injured Sunday. His best player on defense is obviously Rolando McClain; he was injured on Sunday.

Couple that with the fact that he doesn’t have a first round pick next year and maybe the next year and he's probably ready to pull his hair out...oh, wait, nevermind. 

WINNER: Plaxico Burress, WR, New York Jets

Sunday’s Stats: 4 catches, 25, yards, 3 TD

Yes, it’s strange to put a player who accumulated 25 total yards on this list, but Plax sure made the most of that small real estate.

His second catch came on third down near the goal line: touchdown.

His third catch came on the goal line: touchdown. 

His fourth catch came on third down near the goal line: touchdown.

Burress still has a long way to go in terms of returning to his pre-prison state...and the Jets still have a long way to go to becoming a respectable offense. But the threat he’s starting to give them inside the red zone is invaluable. 

LOSER: Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers

Sunday’s Stats: 16-for-32, 179 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT

Like Josh Freeman and Matthew Stafford, to some degree, Philip Rivers was playing Sunday with one hand tied behind his back. Antonio Gates is still banged up and was limited, as were both of his running backs, and Malcom Floyd missed a huge portion of the game with a hip injury.

But Rivers made so many poor decisions in the second half, that he cost the Chargers a chance to take control of the AFC West. The two interceptions were definitely costly, as both came in the fourth quarter. (One of those clearly wasn’t his fault: Vincent Jackson should have caught the ball that Darrelle Revis plucked out of the air.)

Still, it was how Rivers responded—or failed to—that earns him the “biggest loser” tag for Sunday. Trailing by six with 1:36 to play and no timeouts, twice Rivers settled for short, dump-off passes in which receiver had no chance to get out of bounds and stop the clock.

And it didn’t look as if he knew that it was fourth down when he threw the ball to the sideline on the Chargers last offensive snap.  

WINNER: Tim Tebow, QB, Denver Broncos

Sunday’s Stats: 13-for-27, 161 yards, 2 TD; 8 carries, 65 yards

Come on, you knew this was coming.

Hyperbole is naturally going to flow from the Rocky Mountains all week: Tebow’s “heroic” fourth quarter comeback came against a team that will probably fire their head coach this week and finish with the NFL’s worst record.

More to the point, Tebow was sacked seven times today and the Broncos playcalling didn’t show much faith in him during the early going, as he only attempted eight passes in the first half.

But when the game was on the line, he delivered, regardless of how he did it. The Broncos won the game, largely because he completed some big passes and ran the ball very efficiently.

For all the criticism of Tebow and his skill set, for him to be the deciding factor in a Broncos win (a double-digit comeback on the road no less) he deserves to be the big winner of  Week 7.