Studs and Duds Week 15: Andre Johnson Is the Last of a Dying Breed

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 15 at a glance, where we point out the horses destined for the Kentucky Derby and jeer those headed to the glue factory. (Disclaimer: This will only be for the Sunday games, since you probably can't even remember the Thursday games at this point.)

Studs

Andre Johnson, WR Houston (11 catches, 207 yards, 1 TD) -- Is it really a question? When Andre Johnson has his quarterback, Matt Schaub, behind center, he is the best receiver in the league. He's better than Anquan Boldin, Brandon Marshall, Randy Moss and, sigh, that dude that loves/hates Jason Witten. Today, facing the Texans' toughest opponent of the season, Johnson snagged a 65-yard catch to help his total stockpile. The Texans won, and while they still won't make the playoffs, they're showing that in the coming years they are a force to be reckoned with.

Tarvaris Jackson, QB Minnesota (11-for-17, 163 yards, 4 TDs) -- Trust me, I'm more shocked than you are. In his two games as starting quarterback to start the season, Jackson had one touchdown and one interception, without anything to hang your hat on except maybe a stuffed skunk's tail. T-Jack went out in a must-win for the Vikings and did it, damn all the critics. Sure, it wasn't a Brett Favre or Tony Romo line, but it was what Minnesota has needed at quarterback for a long time. The slant passes when the coverage called for it -- the deep pass when it was there and nothing more. The Vikings, who were left for dead four weeks ago, have reeled off four wins and might have found that the quarterback they needed was the one they had all along. Answer me this -- do you want to play Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs?

Terence Newman, CB Dallas (6 tackles, 2 INTs) -- Those numbers might be misleading, because the last interception was at the end of the game, but his initial interception seemed to rattle Eli Manning. The Dallas secondary has been scrutinized almost every year since those Deion days, but Newman hasn't been nearly as bad as in past years. The Dallas defense is actually coming together at the ideal time, which helps when you're facing Joe Flacco next week.

Michael Turner, RB Atlanta (32 carries, 152 yards, 1 TD, 2 catches, 30 yards) -- A year ago Turner was backing up a fading LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego. Now, he's the second leading rusher in the league and hanging in Atlanta with a squad at 9-5 and in danger of making the playoffs (DIRTY BIRDS!). This was his seventh 100-yard game this season and his 15th touchdown, putting him atop that category for running backs as well.

Duds

J.P. Losman, QB Buffalo (24-for-39, 148 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT, 1 Fumble) -- In the game of the week, one play stood out -- Losman's great idea to roll right and throw a pass even though he had Marshawn Lynch on his team, who had been rolling over the Jets defense all game long. On second-and-five with less than two minutes left, Losman went right, had nobody opened and then ... KEPT RUNNING! The eventual sack and fumble-turned-touchdown ended the game for the Bills and caused Toronto residents to gasp, "We're getting THIS?" And we all wonder why the Bills have lost seven of their last eight games.

J.J. Arrington and Tim Hightower, RB Arizona (7 carries, 43 yards) -- We all know the Cardinals are a passing team, but when Kurt Warner is struggling, the backfield might be inclined to help. Yesterday it did not, and it might have been more the Vikings' newfound rush defense, but these guys weren't much to challenge. The Cardinals are in the playoffs so losing this game at home isn't killing anyone, but it just seems as the weeks pass their team has more and more holes. Could the Hightower praise have been a tad premature?

The Washington Redskins -- Normally I don't call out an entire team here, because to me it shows a lack of research and a touch of laziness. Here, I think it is justified. The 'Skins have lost five of their last six games with the latest coming at the hands of the Ryan Fitzpatrick and company. This is their second loss to a team with one win coming in and puts the Redskins at a stinky 7-7 with no chance of making the playoffs. Clinton Portis has gone from MVP candidate to liability for Washington. Fast question -- who is out in Washington first, Bush or Zorn?

Chris Johnson, RB Tennessee (13 carries, 65 yards) -- The rookie running back has been sensational for most of the season, but these "is he even playing" type games continue to show up. The Titans have lost two games this year, but yesterday's second half makes everyone who thinks this team is one and done in the playoffs justified. The Texans stuffed Johnson at the line and forced Kerry Collins to beat them, which is like arm wrestling Kimbo Slice for six figures. Not going to work. Hate to admit it. Johnson has been fantastic, and would probably win rookie of the year if not for that quarterback in Atlanta, but you still see at times his inability to take over a game.

Near Studly: Steve Smith, Dallas Clark, Bernard Berrian, DeAngelo Williams, Chad Pennington, and Antonio Bryant.

Near Dudly: Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Ted Ginn Jr., Derrick Ward, Marion Barber, and Eli Manning.