Best:
Aaron Rodgers, Quarterback Green Bay Packers
Look at how much things have changed for the Green Bay Packers. They were 4-6 after week ten and losers for four straight games. A lot of people were starting to question the heart of the Packers QB. What was causing the Packers best player to have an off year? Well, whatever the distraction may have been, it has clearly been taken care of. Sunday, Rodgers lead the Packers to a 31-24 victory over the Detroit Lions, which meant that the Packers had won the NFC North! Rodgers had himself a day in the Packers win, as he went 27 of 38 for 300 yards and four, yes four, touchdowns. To really prove that Rodgers is back to his old self, look no further then his late game score. He scrambled and bought about eight seconds before hitting Geronimo Allison for one of the better plays of this NFL season.
Worst:
Joe Flacco, Quarterback Baltimore Ravens
As much as I like Joe Flacco, I'm not crazy about how he played this week. Baltimore lost 27-10 to the Bengals, and it wasn't pretty for Flacco. Watching Flacco this week, it was hard to believe that this is the same QB who once caught fire, brought his team to a Super Bowl victory, and earned himself a monster contract off the back of it. Flacco was a disaster this week, throwing an ugly interception, routinely missing his targets and having another pass over the middle fortunate to escape being picked off by the defensive end Will Clarke. He finished the day Sunday going 32 of 49 for 267 yards, zero touchdowns, the pick and getting sacked three times.
Best:
Jordan Heyward, Running Back Chicago Bears
Chicago may have been comfortably handled by the Vikings this week, as the Bears beat the Vikings 38-10. One of the biggest stories on the day was Jordan Howard, who from capping a fine rookie season with another excellent display on the ground. Howard carried the ball 23 times for 141 yards, with 69 of them coming after contact thanks to some good displays of power and three broken tackles. The longest carry he had all day was just 18 yards, but he averaged 6.1 per carry, and had success no matter what gap along the line he was hitting. He's kinda good and if the Bears want to have a great future, keep handing this kid the ball and let him do his thing.
Worst:
Mike Adams, Safety Indianapolis Colts
A thankless job the position of safety is in the game of football. The job of a safety is typically to prevent big plays and limit the damage already done by players in front of or around him. Missing tackles as a safety is usually pretty bad, and even more so when those come in coverage away from the line of scrimmage. It's made to look even worse when you miss the tackle, and there's nobody there to back you up and possibly mop up the mistake. Well that's kinda what happened to the Colts Mike Adams, who missed a pair of tackles in coverage this week. Oh yeah, Adams was beaten for a touchdown and also bailed out by his teammate Vontae Davis deep on a pass he could not defend. Granted the Colts did come away with a 24-20 victory, but still Adams looked really bad and ALMOST totally cost the Colts a win
Best:
Kansas City Chiefs
Well it was looking like it might be a long shot for Kansas City to claim the AFC West. But, never say never. Oakland looked like they may have had the West locked up. But the wheels fell off the wagon for Oakland, losing their starting quarterback and now the division title. Kansas City took care of business on Sunday, beating the Chargers 37-27 in San Diego. You never would have known it was in San Diego, because Qualcomm Stadium was full of Chiefs fans. Tyreek Hill had a lot to do with the win, as has become his custom. Alex Smith threw for two touchdowns and rushed in another to give Kansas City the offensive production it needed to claim the AFC West crown., With the win, and Oakland’s loss, the Chiefs have an opening round bye in the playoffs Not a bad way to close the regular season I'd say. now KC just needs to try and get it done in the playoffs.
Worst:
Washington Redskins
This was a MUST WIN game if there ever was one. Washington was at home, playing a divisional rival, with a lot at stake for them. But they came up empty in a BIG way. Washington’s offense never got into a groove. Washington's running game, which has been robust for most of the season, was shut down to the tune of just 38 yards and 2.5 yards per carry. New York’s defensive line made Washington’s offensive front very uncomfortable and they weren't able to get things going. Kirk Cousins had one of his worst games of the season, throwing two interceptions to go along with a late touchdown that tied the game up in the fourth quarter, 10-10. His second interception pretty much sealed the game in favor of New York. Trying to hit Pierre Garcon with about 90 seconds left in the game, he double-pumped before finally letting loose with his pass, which was easily picked off by Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. It was a must win, now the Redskins are home watching the playoffs on TV like the rest of us.
Best:
Zach Ertz, Tight End Philadelphia Eagles
Philly didn't have one of its best weapons in Jordan Matthews in the lineup on the final day of the season. No problem, Zach Ertz will help take care of it. When Matthews is out of the lineup, the Eagles decided that it might be a good idea to load up Ertz with targets. It was a smart idea as Ertz is the only viable receiving weapon, and he responded with a huge game. Ertz was thrown at 16 times, a season-high, and caught 13 of those passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns. Ertz gained 73 of his yards after contact and broke two tackles along the way. Those 13 receptions were a season-high mark as well for him, as was his yardage mark and two scores, and marks just the second time this year he topped 100 yards. He's kinda good and really needs to be fed the ball more in future years for the Eagles.
Worst:
Graham Gano, Kicker Carolina Panthers
I don't know what it is, but this year has been a rought year for kickers. Graham Gano was to blame for this week's debacle. Gano was effectively the difference between the two teams this week in Carolina’s loss to Tampa Bay, a 17-16 win by the Bucs. Sure, Bucs kicker Roberto Aguayo tried to match him miss for miss. Aguayo could at least point to a block for one of his misses, but Gano was simply off-target three times, with two of the misses coming on expected kicks of under 50 yards, one from under 40. Carolina lost this game by a point in the end, and Gano left at least six expected ones out on the field. Yeah, that's pretty bad.
Best:
Tom Brady, Quarterback New England Patriots
I don't really know what it is, but the guy is still really good. Tom Brady was magnificent, as he’s been all year. Brady was as sharp as a tack all game long. He finished with 276 yards and three touchdowns on 26-of-33 passing. He also passed Dan Marino to move into the No. 4 spot on the all-time passing yards list. Here's evidence of just how on point Brady and company was on the day. New England started out the game with a clock burning, 13-play drive that ended with a touchdown from Brady to Martellus Bennett. He's 39 years old and he missed the first four games of the season due to that whole suspension thing. But he still managed to put up fantastic, almost videogame like numbers. The guy is great and will no doubt be in the conversation for league MVP this season.
Worst:
Cleveland Browns
Well, they seem to be back to their old ways once again. Cleveland finally got a win last weekend beating the Chargers. Then they kept that momentum rolling by racking up a 14-0 lead on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cleveland may have gotten that they are, in fact, the Browns. The wheels proceeded to fall off the wagon, in a 27-24 Steelers overtime win. Robert Griffin III fumbled right before the half, allowing the Steelers to score a touchdown before the intermission. Briean Boddy-Calhoun intercepted Landry Jones in the third quarter and appeared poised to score on a pick-six, only to fumble into the end zone, where Jones fell on it for a touchback instead. They blew a lead once again this year, dropping the heartbreaker in overtime. The only real consolation for the Browns at this point in the season would be the fact that they have the #1 overall pick in the draft in April.
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