Best:
Adrian Peterson, Running Back Minnesota Vikings
The best running back in the NFL was back at it again this past Sunday. Peterson found a way to fight through a groin injury to average six yards per carry in Minnesota’s 23-20 overtime win over the Bears. Peterson ran for 211 yards on the day, 19 of them coming on a ridiculous fourth quarter scurry in which he powered through four Chicago defenders. That carry gave him 10,000 career rushing yards, making him the third-fastest player in NFL history to reach that mark. If there was any doubt that he is the best running back on the planet right now, they just flew out the window this weekend.
Worst:
Marc Trestman, Head Coach Chicago Bears
The Bears have had an up and down season, currently sitting at 6-6 on the year. They had a chance to go two games above .500 on Sunday but they blew the chance. Why? After the Bears received a second life when Minnesota kicker Blair Walsh’s game-winning field goal in overtime was negated by a penalty, Chicago’s coach opted to try a 47-yard kick on 2nd & 7 rather than run at least one more play to try and get his team closer. Bears kicker Robbie Gould’s attempt sailed wide right and Chicago’s playoff chances took a big hit when Walsh came out and ended the game with a 34-yard kick on the Vikings’ next drive. So yeah the Bears are still in it at 500 but thanks to this blunder by the coaching staff, Chicago's playoff chances may be slipping just a little bit.
Best;
Josh Gordon, Wide Receiver Cleveland Browns
We know Josh Gordon had a big week in Week 12 when he had over 200 yards receiving in one game. He showed last Sunday that the first performance was no fluke at all. The Browns’ second-year receiver became the first player in NFL history to have back to back regular season games with over 200 yards receiving. After grabbing 14 catches for 237 yards and a touchdown in Week 12 versus Pittsburgh, Gordon caught ten passes for 261 yards and two TDs (one which went for 95 yards) in Cleveland’s 32-28 loss to Jacksonville. Despite missing the first two games of the season due to suspension, Gordon now ranks second in the NFL in total receiving yards. He has been unbelievable for the Browns the last month or so, making them a much better football team. It wasn't enough for them to be able to beat the Jaguars on Sunday, but he can't do everything himself.
Worst:
Chris Cook and Rhett Ellison, Minnesota Vikings
Both of these guys are thanking their lucky stars the Bears blew the game in Overtime on Sunday. The biggest beneficiaries of Gould’s missed kick were the Vikings’ cornerback and backup tight end, both of whom were responsible for dumb penalties earlier in the game. After getting burned on an incredible 46-yard touchdown catch by Jeffrey, who had a franchise record 249 receiving yards in the Bears’ loss, Cook got up and inadvertently shoved an official, earning an instant ejection. Ellison’s penalty was even more costly, as he was called for a 15-yard facemask while blocking on what would have been a game-winning 39-yard field goal earlier in overtime. The penalty forced Walsh to try a 57-yarder, which he missed, giving the Bears a failed opportunity to win the game. So both guys screwed up, almost costing the Vikings the game in the first place. If the Bears had won in Overtime, then these two guys would have been goat of the week hands down.
Best:
Nick Foles, Quarterback Philadelphia Eagles
Ever since taking over as the starting quarterback for the Eagles, this guy has been great. He is almost single handily getting the Eagles back into the playoff picture in the NFC East. Foles is one touchdown short of Peyton Manning’s NFL record 20 TD passes without an interception to start a season. He had what would have been his first pick of the year nullified when Arizona’s Tyrann Mathieu was called for defensive holding on a pass play that was intercepted by Patrick Peterson. It was one of the only miscues Foles would make in Philadelphia’s 24-21 win as he threw for 237 yards and three touchdowns. The Eagles remain tied for the lead in the NFC East, matching Dallas with a 7-5 mark. Foles has been damn near perfect since taking over as starting QB in Philly. Whats going on with the Eagles is looking a lot like what happened with the 49ers last season with Alex Smith and Colin Capernick.
Worst:
Geno Smith, Quarterback New York Jets
Lets face facts, whoever plays quarterback for the New York Jets just plain sucks. Smith has been playing horrible the last few weeks, as he was benched in the second half of his team’s 23-3 loss to the Dolphins in favor of undrafted free agent Matt Simms. Smith was 4-10 for 29 yards and an interception , his 11th in the past seven games. The loss deals a severe blow to the Jets’ playoff hopes but also gives them an ugly quarterback situation for the second consecutive December. Face facts the Jets aren't going to make the playoffs, and the magic Geno Smith seemed to have in the first half of the season has just plain run out. If the Jets are to have any hope in the future of being a contending team, they need to find a stable QB and some decent targets for him to throw to. Simple as that.
Best:
Eric Decker, Wide Receiver Denver Broncos
Payton Manning returned in a big way on Sunday. Not that he was injured, he just had a bad game against the Patriots in week 12. Payton returned to his dominating form this past week, with Decker being the biggest benifactor of it. The Broncos wideout had only scored three touchdowns this season heading into the Broncos’ 35-28 win at Kansas City. Peyton Manning helped him improve that total, as Decker caught eight balls for 174 yards and a Broncos’ team record four touchdowns. Yeah the Denver offense was in a groove once again this week.
Worst:
Marcus Cooper, Cornerback Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs cornerback did manage to pick off one of the 12 throws Manning sent in Decker’s direction. Unfortunately he was also the one tasked with covering the fourth-year wideout all game, which as mentioned above, didn’t go so well for Kansas City.
With the way things have shaped up the last couple of weeks, things are going to get really interesting the rest of the season heading into the playoffs.
(Thanks to USA Today Sports for help with this story)
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