Lamar Jackson continues to stun, Ezekiel Elliott and Saquon Barkley failed to deliver and the Seahawks edged the Niners to complete Week 10.
Arizona Cardinals
Christian Kirk had a huge game in the loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was going to take time for Kyler Murray and the young Cardinals’ receiving corps — exempting Larry Fitzgerald — to gel. Murray and Kirk were on the same page Sunday as they connected six times for 138 yards and three TDs. Kirk outdid his fellow Texas A&M WR, Mike Evans, on the other side as the Bucs’ star WR had four grabs for 82 yards in the win.
Atlanta Falcons: The defense
Atlanta came to life and made the day a living hell for Drew Brees. They sacked the Saints’ QB six times and had pressure on him throughout the game as New Orleans was stunned by the Falcons at the Superdome.
Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson
Who else? The second-year QB is absolutely dazzling. He had a perfect passer rating while throwing three TD passes and rushed for another 65 yards, including a spectacular TD run. A serious contender in the NFL MVP race. Ask Mark Ingram what he thinks.
Buffalo Bills: Corey Bojorquez
The Bills’ offense was sluggish in the loss to the Browns. Punter Corey Bojorquez did his part to help pin Cleveland deep. He punted four times for a 49.8 yard average and dropped three inside the 20. A weapon on special teams.
Carolina Panthers: DJ Moore
Would have gone with the usual Christian McCaffrey pick but he was stuffed at the end of the game. So, the audible is to DJ Moore, who had a major game with nine catches for 120 yards on 11 targets from Kyle Allen.
Chicago Bears: Mitchell Trubisky
Give some love to the oft-criticized Mitchell Trubisky. The Bears’ QB hit a hot streak among his day of 16-for-23 pass with 173 yards as he threw a trio of TD passes in a span of about six minutes bridging the halves and Chicago held on to down Detroit.
Cincinnati Bengals: None
You lose 49-13 at home to fall to 0-9 and expect anyone to receive credit for a great effort? No chance.
Cleveland Browns: Nick Chubb/Kareem Hunt
The Browns have not had much success in 2019. However, with Kareem Hunt back from suspension the potential exists for a strong backfield combo with Nick Chubb. Against Buffalo, they combined for almost 200 yards of total offense. They could give the offense a balance to make the passing game reach the heights expected before the season.
Dallas Cowboys: Amari Cooper
The star wideout from Alabama had a huge game, along with Randall Cobb, as Dallas fell at home to Minnesota. Cooper caught 11 of 14 targets for 147 yards and a TD. Cobb chipped in with 106 yards on six catches and a TD.
Detroit Lions: Jeff Driskel
The backup quarterback rushed into a start when Matthew Stafford was ruled out, Jeff Driskel did a solid job for Detroit. He threw for 269 yards and a TD and led the Lions’ rushing attack with 37 more. Not easy to jump in against a tough Chicago defense, but Driskel more than held his own.
Green Bay Packers
Aaron Jones had a trio of touchdowns on the ground and that was more than enough in the rare game that saw Aaron Rodgers not throw a TD pass. Jones rushed for better than seven yards a carry in going for 93 yards.
Indianapolis Colts: No one
You lose at home to Miami, no matter who is your quarterback, and you don’t earn accolades. Indy needs Jacoby Brissett to return ASAP … or it should put in a call to Andrew Luck.
Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes returns and earns his familiar spot for another stunning performance. The third-year QB — is that possible it is only his third season? — threw for more than 400 yards on 50 pass attempts and had three touchdowns. He found Tyreek Hill 11 times for 157 yards and a score.
Los Angeles Chargers: Melvin Gordon
Have to wonder what kind of season Melvin Gordon and the Chargers would have had if the RB did not hold out. He has found his groove again but it appears too late for a playoff run. Gordon rushed for more than 100 yards and a score Thursday in the loss to the Raiders.
Los Angeles Rams: Aaron Donald
The great defensive lineman, Aaron Donald, tackled Mason Rudolph in the end zone for a safety early in the fourth quarter that drew the Rams within 14-12. He finished with five tackles, a half sack and two tackles for loss in his first appearance in his hometown since the Rams took him in the 2014 draft out of Pittsburgh.
Miami Dolphins: The defense
From winless and hopeless to capturing two in a row. Miami has come together for coach Brian Flores in a stunning way. The Dolphins shut down the Colts and picked off Brian Hoyer three times in winning a game on the road. Look out!
Minnesota Vikings: Mike Zimmer
Mike Zimmer and the Minnesota coaching staff came up with the perfect scheme to shut down Ezekiel Elliott. The Vikings’ defense held the Cowboys’ star to less than 50 yards in capturing a victory on the road.
New Orleans Saints: Michael Thomas
The rest of the Saints had an off-day. Michael Thomas never seems to have one. The great wide receiver had 11 catches for 152 yards as he went over 1,000 for the season. Unstoppable. #Cantstopmike is absolutely right
New York Giants: Darius Slayton
True Daniel Jones threw four TD passes without a pick. However, the rookie from Duke continued his improbable ability to fumble multiple times in a game, losing one of three to the Jets. So, the choice is WR Darius Slayton, who caught 10 passes for 121 yards and a pair of TDs.
New York Jets: Jordan Jenkins and the ‘D’
Gang Green kept the heat on Daniel Jones, who threw four TD passes despite being under siege and sacked six times. Jordan Jenkins had two of the takedowns as the Jets rebounded from an embarrassing performance against Miami to run its record to 2-7.
Oakland Raiders: Clelin Ferrell
One of the Raiders’ three No. 1 picks in 2019, Clelin Ferrell harassed Philp Rivers into an awful game. Ferrell had two of the Raiders’ five sacks and the defense forced three interceptions, including a pick six by Erik Harris, who had a pair of INTs.
Pittsburgh Steelers: T.J. Watt and the defense
The Pittsburgh defense is rising into another version of the Steel Curtain. It shook, rattled and rolled all over Jared Goff, who was awful in the loss to the Steelers. T.J. Watt had two of Pittsburgh’s four sacks and the defense forced three picks and a trio of fumbles by Goff in the Steelers’ victory that bumped them to 5-4.
San Francisco 49ers: Defense
The Niners’ defense was stirring all night. Sacks, turnovers, harassing Russell Wilson. What a brutal way to see your undefeated season come to a halt.
Seattle Seahawks: Jason Myers
Magnificent performance against the formerly undefeated 49ers. Great defensive plays and Russell Wilson was incredible in OT. However, Jason Myers nailed the field to win it — twice no less as the Niners called time before the first kick in OT. A fantastic game.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: O.J. Howard
The tight end from Alabama has been banged up and slumped in 2019. He finally showed some life, catching four passes for 47 yards in the Bucs’ pinball win over the Cardinals.
Tennessee Titans
Derrick Henry ran all over Kansas City, erupting for 188 yards and a pair of TDs as the Titans rallied to stun the Chiefs.
