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 pointing skyward, 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 for Week 11.Studs
Ricky Williams, RB, Miami (22 carries, 119 yards, three touchdowns): No, it's not 2002. Yes, Ricky Williams was on the top performers of the week. Williams, filling in as the starting running back for injured Ronnie Brown went nuts against Carolina last Thursday, topping the 100-yard mark and finding the end zone three times -- twice on the ground, one through the air -- in a 24-17 Miami win. Williams' 22 carries were the most he's had since a 28-carry day in Week 17 of 2005. He followed that up by violating the league's substance abuse policy and being suspended for all of 2006. Let's hope he's got healthier plans this time around.
Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit (26 of 43 passing, 422 yards, five touchdowns): High drama in Detroit Sunday as the Lions won on the game's final play -- well, the game's second final play. On the first, when the clock actually hit 0:00, Stafford threw an incomplete pass in the end zone with Detroit down six and was driven hard to the turf, injuring his left shoulder. But a pass interference call, plus an odd timeout by Browns coach Eric Mangini, gave Stafford another chance. He then hit Brandon Pettigrew for a TD and Detroit went on to win 38-37. Stafford's five TDs set an NFL rookie-QB record, and his gutsy performance probably won over more than a few of the Lions' blue-collar fans.
Wes Welker, WR, New England (15 catches, 192 yards): The Patriots' trade for Wes Welker before the 2007 season -- a deal that sent a second- and seventh-round draft pick to Miami -- might go down as one of the best deals in NFL history. Welker's made 302 catches in the three seasons since then; he has 79 so far this year, with 15 coming Sunday in the Patriots' 31-14 win over the Jets. Welker didn't find the end zone, but his effort was just one grab shy of the team's single-game record for receptions, held by Troy Brown.
Duds
Kris Brown, K, Houston (1 of 3 field goals): Let's just say the Texans' confidence in Brown has to be waning a bit. Back in Week 9, with the Texans in position to score one of their biggest wins ever, Brown pulled a 42-yard field goal wide left as time expired and Houston lost, 20-17, to Indianapolis. Then on Monday, with the Texans badly in need of a victory, Brown yanked another attempt wide left at the buzzer, as Houston lost another 20-17 heartbreaker, this time to Tennessee. Brown also missed a 42-yard try earlier in the second half against the Titans that would have given Houston a three-point lead.
The AFC North: JJ Cooper already documented the division's Week 11 troubles in detail, but it's worth mentioning again -- despite matchups with the Lions, Chiefs and Raiders (Baltimore's loss to Indianapolis is forgiven), the division went 0-4. Both the Browns (at Detroit) and Steelers (at Kansas City) lost on their game's final play, while Cincinnati gave up 10 points in the final minute -- to Oakland. Seattle's Run Game (12 rushes for nine yards): Sure, Seattle was playing against Minnesota's tough front, and the Seahawks fell behind 21-0 in the second quarter en route to a 35-9 loss. But anytime you can't reach the coveted double-digit mark in yards rushing, there's an issue. Justin Forsett led the way with eight carries for nine yards -- though, he did have a touchdown. With the "effort," Seattle is now worst in the NFL with an 85.4 yards per game rushing average.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DUDS---
YOU FORGOT the Steelers Kick coverage team.
You called that one right !
Ricky Williams gets props for his 46 yard touchdown run that finished off the Panthers, BUT without that run, he had 76 yards off of 21 carries for a 3.6 yard per carry average. I understand that he is in his thirties, but people have worn his performance into the ground (no pun). Deangelo Williams did not give his team a winning touchdown run, but if you take away his 50 yard scamper, he still has the same yardage off of half the carries for almost 6.5 yards per carry. But I guess the winner always gets the attention.
Stud: Brett Favre - 22/25 (88% completion) 4 TD's and 0 Int's. Leading a 9-1 team. No disrespect to Natthew Stafford, but two 1-9 teams battling to a one-point game really isn't that big of a deal. Any of the Top 25 in college football could challenge Cleveland right now.