Ten (Not So) Quick Hits:
1/ The Colts came up big against the Jaguars, in what was effectively their first playoff game. They scored a touchdown on their opening drive and that set the tone for the entire game. They fired on all cylinders: Peyton Manning was stellar; their run defense stepped up, slowing down the red-hot Maurice Jones-Drew; and they even managed to establish the run themselves (only the second time they've had a back go over a 100 rushing yards this season). One must-win down for Indy, two more to go.
2/ Speaking of the Colts, their wide receiver Austin Collie got another tough break when he sustained his second concussion of the season after a brutal hit from linebacker Daryl Smith as he caught a ball over the middle. Collie had already caught two touchdown passes at that juncture. He'll be missed by Manning down the stretch, but, at this point, his long-term health is or should be an issue of far greater importance.
3/ Everyone loves a good comeback and the Eagles came up with a doozie at the Meadowlands. Down 31-10 with just over 8 minutes left in the game, they managed to produce a remarkable succession of plays, including a recovered surprise onside kick and two long Michael Vick runs, to pull level with only a little over a minute left. But then the magic really happened when DeSean Jackson scored a touchdown on a punt return to win the game as time expired. It was an extraordinary turnaround in a game that the Giants had comfortably dominated for the first three quarters.
4/ That was some show of leadership by Matt Cassel, back on the field after an emergency appendicitis. He had to be in pain (I'm sure I saw him wince, briefly, once or twice) but he played tough for the Chiefs, even taking off and scrambling a few times. Kansas City needed him back.
5/ Tebow wasn't asked to make many deep or difficult throws on his debut as the starting quarterback, but he did produce some moments of magic in the first half, most noticeably this play. Lots of people didn't think he could do that in the NFL.
6/ Aren't CBS announcers supposed to be unbiased? Gus Johnson and Steve Tasker were positively gushing over everything Tebow did Sunday as if they were hometown announcers. Look, I have nothing against the Florida kid, but there is undoubtedly some kind of media obsession with him. And it won't do him any favors in the long run, when announcers treat him as if he's the second coming of Steve Young as he's making his first start, and only a decent one at that.
7/ Love that call by Mike McCarthy, onside kick to start the game against the seemingly unstoppable Patriots. Against Tom Brady, with a backup quarterback, you gotta try anything you can to get momentum on your side.
8/ How about that block from Deion Branch on Tramon Williams on the Patriots' first touchdown? After his Week 4 trade, Branch has gone from an after-thought in Seattle to a huge part of the league's best offense. Another example of great wheeling and dealing by Bill Belichick.
9/ Looks like no one wants the number one overall pick in next year's draft. The Panthers, the Lions, the Bills and the Bengals (who had a combined record of 9-43 heading into the week) all won on Sunday.
10/ Nice of you to make an appearance, Cedric Benson...
Studs of the Week:
a. Ravens running back Ray Rice: Was almost the Ravens' entire offense against the Saints. He ran the ball 31 times for 153 yards and a score, adding 80 receiving yards and a touchdown on five catches.
b. Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson: Made ten grabs for 152 yards, including some key catches at the end of the game to get Detroit into field goal range twice. Actually made Drew Stanton look pretty good.
c. Chiefs defensive end Wallace Gilberry: Is anything but a household name, but played like one against St. Louis. Got in Bradford's face repeatedly, victimizing the middle of St. Louis offensive line (center and guards). Recorded 3 sacks (forcing a fumble on one of them) and got two other shots in on Bradford.
Duds of the Week:
a. Rams quarterback Sam Bradford: Rough day for the 2010 number one overall draft pick in a game with serious playoff implications for St. Louis. Under pressure all day from the Chiefs defensive front, he was inaccurate with a lot of throws (completing less than 50 percent) and threw two interceptions.
b. Dolphins kicker Dan Carpenter: Hard to imagine a worse performance by a professional kicker than the one he delivered against Buffalo. Went 0-for-4 on field goals, including a 48-yarder that would have sent the game into overtime. Granted, they were all long kicks (48, 61, 53, 48), but at the NFL level, you'd expect him to hit at least one or two of those.
c. Seahawks Matt Hasselbeck: Maybe he gets more of the brunt of my negative attention because, living in the Northwest, I have to watch him week in and week out. But that mean he doesn't deserve his spot here. He threw two more picks against Atlanta, but it was his fumble that summed up his season. He tried to sidestep a defender in his own endzone, failed and fumbled, giving up a touchdown. Matt, you can't do that anymore, you ain't no Michael Vick.
Rookie of the Week: Browns quarterback Colt McCoy: Don't let the loss to Cincinnati fool you, McCoy was stellar in his return to the starting line-up. Completed 19 of 25 passes for 243 yards and a couple touchdowns. He continues to show great confidence and poise in the pocket. A lot of teams are kicking themselves for passing on him in the draft.
Play of the Week: He's known for making big plays. But this one was big even for him. First time in NFL history that, on the last play of the game, a punt has been returned for the winning touchdown.
Ridiculous Play of the Week: It was going to be this: the worst onside kick in the history of football??
Until this happened.
