Studs and Duds Week 7: Steven Jackson Enjoys the New-Look Cowboys

Each week in the NFL, there are players that impress and players that distress. One week a certain quarterback might toss four touchdowns and run around with his finger in the air while the next he's laying on his back, holding his facemask as the other team returns one of his three interceptions for the game-winning score. With that in mind, here's Studs and Duds.

Here's Week 7 at a glance, where we point out the horses destined for the Kentucky Derby and jeer those headed to the glue factory.

Studs

Steven Jackson, RB St. Louis (25 carries, 160 yards, 3 TDs) -- The problems in Dallas are apparent, and they deal a lot more with a porous defense than with a questionable trade deal and an injured starting quarterback. Jackson is basically the St. Louis offense, accounting for more than half of the Rams' offense in his breakout performance of 2008. His day was highlighted by a 56-yard dash through diving Dallas defenders and was the crème brûlée on an already exquisite feast. Left for dead two weeks ago, the Rams have reeled off two straight against tough NFC East opponents and are in the only division they might have a shot at winning, thanks in large part to Jackson's incredible performance.

Chris Johnson and LenDale White, RB Tenn (18 carries, 168 yards, 1 TD and 17 carries, 149 yards and 3 TDs) -- I guess it's pretty easy to be 6-0 when your running duo can pile on these type of numbers. Johnson and White combined for 72 percent of the Titans' total offensive yards in an absolute running back clinic, highlighted by LenDale's 80-yard scamper in the fourth quarter. Sure, they were playing the Chiefs, who boast the worst rush defense in the NFL, but the two eclipsed the expectations. Good news for Tennessee fans -- the next two games are against the fourth- and sixth-worst run defenses in the league. You guys ready for an encore?

Mewelde Moore, RB Pitt (20 carries, 120 yards, 2 TDs, 5 receptions, 14 yards, 1 TD) -- Willie Paker who? The Steelers improved to 5-1 thanks mostly to Moore, who did just about everything but suggest kicking the extra points for a Pittsburgh team now in the elite of the elite. Mewelde has referred to himself as the "in case of" running back and I'm pretty sure Mike Tomlin and company will take that "in case of" performance any chance they get.

Matt Schaub, QB Houston (26-31, 267 yards, 2 TDs) -- A day after University of Texas quarterback Colt McCoy connected on 91 percent of his passes in the huge win against Missouri, Schaub put on a little accuracy show of his own. Fresh off the team's first win of the year last week, Schaub hit on 84 percent of his passes including two touchdowns to tight end Owen Daniels. After the Sage Rosenfels debacle against Indianapolis two weeks ago, Schaub has shown why he will be the starting quarterback the remainder of the season for the hopeful Texans. Good news Matt, you have Cincinnati next week!

Duds

Minnesota Vikings Special Teams -- Gentlemen, this is actually the National Football League. The Vikings have had their struggles this season, mostly with the quarterback position, but boy did they look like a hungover fraternity team confused at which way the ball bounces on Sunday. The first was a Chris Kluwe botched punt, where he dropped the snap, had it blocked, and then tried to kick it illegally (which, as you can imagine, worked out fantastically) only to have Chicago's Garrett Wolfe pick it up and return it for a touchdown. The second was nearly as bizarre, when Charles Gordon decided that instead of getting out of the way of a live punt, he'd actually run into the ball, leaving it for Zackary Bowman to recover in the end zone for a second touchdown. If there is one rule against the Bears special teams, it is this -- if you're going to have someone kill you, make sure it's Devin Hester, and not your own ridiculous efforts.

Peyton Manning, QB Indy (21-42, 229 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs) -- The Once-Over jinx was in full effect Sunday afternoon, as Manning did the exact opposite of what most thought would occur at Lambeau. Facing a Packers defense that had given up 17 or more points to the likes of Jon Kitna, Brian Griese and Charlie Frye this season, Manning overthrew his receivers time and time again, leading to tipped balls that Green Bay was happy to intercept. A week after making the Baltimore defense look like those extras in the Brett Favre Wrangler commercial, Peyton struggled to find his key targets, hitting Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison a total of four times all day. What is Manning's consolation prize? A trip to Tennessee and the league's best defense next week.

Brett Favre, QB NY Jets (21-38, 197 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs) -- U, G, L, Y, you ain't got no alibi you ugly, yeah, yeah, you ugly. Favre's day started off with reports that he actually phoned the Detroit Lions prior to their second game of the season, offering up tips on how to beat the Packers, and didn't get much better. That six-touchdown game against the Cardinals seems like years ago, as Favre has yet to eclipse 200 yards and pass for more touchdowns than interceptions in his last two games. When you lose to the Raiders in overtime, things like this gem slip out of your mouth. "Mistakes were made. I made mistakes. As a team we made mistakes." Deep stuff.

Derek Anderson, QB Cleveland (Completed only 37 percent of his passes) -- A week sure can change some things. Anderson and company destroyed the Giants last week, tossing crisp pass after crisp pass and looking like the Anderson of 2007. This week, umm, not so much. The Browns were downright dreadful against the Redskins, mostly from the ducks Anderson was serving and the concrete hands Braylon Edwards was sporting. If you thought the Browns might actually get something going after the Monday nighter, think again. Brady Quinn, the sun might actually shine on you sooner than expected, sir.

Near Studly -- Joe Flacco, Adrian Peterson, Packers defense, Kyle Orton, Brandon Jacobs and Owen Daniels.

Near Dudly -- LaDainian Tomlinson, Dolphins rushing attack, the Dallas Cowboys and Seneca Wallace.