Studs and Duds Week 10: Thomas Jones Had To Be So Heartless

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 10 at a glance, where we point out the horses destined for the Kentucky Derby and jeer those headed to the glue factory.

Studs

Thomas Jones, RB NY Jets (26 carries, 149 yards, 3 TDs) -- Three weeks ago the Jets looked absolutely dreadful, losing their third of four games and having people question just about every decision they'd made (i.e., Brett Favre). Well thanks to Jones, who has scored in three straight, all victories, New York looks like they could sneak in the playoffs and play the role of team you wouldn't enjoy seeing on the opposing sidelines. In the largest victory in Jets history, Jones found holes in a pitiful Rams defense and decided to hang out in the end zone three times. Mr. Jones, how does it feel to be the AFC leading rusher?

Brandon Jacobs, RB NY Giants (22 carries, 126 yards, 2 TDs) -- What, you think Jones is the only New York running back who can have a game? Jumping in the air not withstanding, Jacobs has turned into the toughest running back in the league, pummeling defenses like they were a college team out of Washington. While Eli Manning has had a couple of decent, not great, games, Jacobs has picked up the slack and continues to have the Giants winning games over tough opponents.

Maurice Jones-Drew, RB Jacksonville (11 carries, 70 yards, 3 TDs) -- You could blame a lot of the Jaguars' problems on their rushing attack this season. Jones-Drew has found his name on the other side of this list because of his lack of a presence, but not this Sunday. The bowling ball bounced off defenders, celebrating in the paint three times and keeping a slight shot at making the postseason in Jacksonville's grasp if they can get hot. The career high for Jones-Drew helped the Jags to their highest scoring total of the season by more than two touchdowns. Novel concept -- score points, win games.

The Week of the Tight End -- Honestly, we could have a "Stud: Tight End" category this week with all these crazy numbers. Tony Gonzalez, Bo Scaife, Todd Heap, Kellen Winslow, Dallas Clark, Kevin Boss, Antonio Gates, Dustin Keller, Daniel Graham and John Owens all found the end zone, with Tony Sheffler pulling in four catches for 92 yards without a score on Thursday. If you were wondering why your receivers weren't posting any touchdowns, it's because the tight ends were stingy this week. Obviously this paragraph is looking past the fact that Jeremy Shockey has hands made up of Acme brick.

Duds

Sage Rosenfels, QB Houston (294 yards, 1 TD, 4 INTs) -- I've decided to coin the phrase "Pulling a Sage" for anybody who has ever replaced somebody great with somebody not so great. You know, we all have that buddy with the beautiful, funny, intelligent girlfriend who he eventually dumps for the girl who looks like a walking bacterial infection. Well, that would be pulling a Sage. I think if I was Matt Schaub, I'd ask the Houston beat writers to avoid using the term "Texans quarterback" with Rosenfels just so people don't think the two play the same position.

Trent Edwards, QB Buffalo (12-for-23, 120 yards, 2 INTs) -- In the Bills' five wins, Edwards tossed five touchdowns to only two interceptions. In their current three-game losing streak, he's reversed that number, throwing five interceptions and taking the Bills from playoff lock to hopeful destination of Matt Stafford.

Marc Bulger and Trent Green, QB St. Louis (combined: 11-for-23, 135 yards, 1 fumble, 2 INTs, 1 hit referee) -- Yeah, the Rams are terrible, and a lot of that blame can fall on the quarterback position. These two gems combined for such a bad game I felt the need to include both parties. How bad was the game for the Rams? Head coach Jim Haslett said after the contest, "It was embarrassing. That was bad football all the way around. I can't even describe it." I can -- u-g-l-y.

Eagles' Play-Calling -- Granted I've never been that big of a Donovan McNabb fan, but the guy was molded for plays like the last one in the Sunday night game. Third-and-3 with the game on the line, the Eagles decide to run the ball on a defense that gives up yards like a homeless guy gives up quarters. Fourth-and-1 was the same play call, a Brian Westbrook run that seemed to be sniffed out before McNabb yelled "hut." You know the decision-making is bad when your star is questioning it to reporters after the game. "I want the ball, but the coaches felt we can run it for the yards." The only problem is the coaches were the only ones who thought so.

Near Studly -- Matt Ryan, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Joe Flacco, Jay Cutler, Willis McGahee, Kerry Collins, Will Blackmon, Adrian Peterson, Peyton Manning and Clinton Hart.

Near Dudly -- Aaron Rodgers, Daunte Culpepper, Jake Delhomme, Drew Brees, Marshawn Lynch, Steve Slaton, Ben Roethlisberger, and Rex Grossman.