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.
We've decided to extend Studs and Duds into the playoffs. Here's the Divisional Weekend at a glance, where we point out the horses destined for the Kentucky Derby and jeer those headed to the glue factory.
Studs
Larry Fitzgerald, WR Arizona (8 catches, 166 yards, 1 TD) -- Local FanHouser Matt Snyder and I were having a conversation about Fitz this weekend and he made an excellent point. If the Cards win this game and actually go to the Super Bowl (Leitch faints), Fitzgerald will become a super-duper star in the realm of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Yep, we said it. Think about it -- the guy could catch the flu in a hyperbolic chamber and has reached the level of "40 yard pass, three defenders, pass interference" and you're not even surprised when the guy comes down with it. In a game when nobody (except one guy ... coughs) picked them to have a chance, Larry Fitz was the best football player on the planet for a group that have never won one of these games.
Willie Parker, RB Pittsburgh (27 carries, 146 yards, 2 TDs) -- I guess it never hurts to make your best game of the season a playoff game against a tough Chargers team when no home team had won all weekend. Parker, who most had projected to have a fairly monster year, dealt with all sorts of problems in 2008, but it is a new year and, I'm assuming, a new Willie. While Darren Sproles struggled to get anything going, and LaDainian Tomlinson was forced to sport a big coat and beanie again in the playoffs, Fast Willie found the holes, turned the corner and showed a burst of speed not known in Pittsburgh this season. If he can keep this going for another week, I'd say the Steelers are destined for Tampa.
Duds
Jake Delhomme, QB Carolina (17-for-34, 205 yards, 1 TD, 5 INTs, 1 fumble) -- It was the perfect storm of FAIL. Your birthday, at home, biggest favorite of the weekend and much talk earlier in the week about how "playoff clutch" you really are. Delhomme threw nearly 15 percent of his passes in the hands of Cardinals players, and introduced us all to something equally as fantastic -- the Jake Delhomme Face.
Eli Manning, QB NY Giants (15-29, 169 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs) -- Just when you think you knew a guy, this happens.
Manning and the Giants were lucky enough to lock up the No. 1 seed in the NFC, which meant their first game would be against the hottest team in football. Lucky them. Philly never sacked Eli, but there was some pressure at times and Manning did the rest. Two costly picks, nothing that ever resembled anything comfortable in the pocket and a momentum killing fourth-and-one where Manning couldn't push forward with the quarterback sneak has Eli and company heading to the showers for good. One thing we learned about the Giants this weekend -- not having Plaxico Burress was as big as any story this postseason. Their offense just isn't the same.
Near Studly -- Derrick Mason, Cardinals secondary, Santonio Holmes, Justin Gage and Ray Lewis.
Near Dudly -- Steve Smith (NY), John Carney, and LenDale White.
