Week 15 Heroes & Zeros

This was a great week to start…

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers – Posted a career-high (and near-NFL record) 503 yards and 3 TDs, without a turnover.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers – Kept pace with Big Ben by passing for 383 yards and accounting for 4 TDs of his own, without turning the ball over.
Peyton Manning, QB, Colts – Played till the final buzzer and torched the Jags for 308 yards and 4 TDs, with but one INT.
Joe Flacco, QB, Ravens – Tossed 4 TDs while generating 234 passing yards and no turnovers.

Jerome Harrison, RB, Browns – Eclipsed Jim Brown’s team record with 286 rushing yards and 3 TDs. Too bad nobody started him.
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers – Took advantage of DeAngelo Williams’ early exit by combining for 123 yards and 2 TDs.
Jamaal Charles, RB, Chiefs – Kept his second-half sprint rolling with 154 rushing yards and a TD, plus 2 catches for 16 yards.
Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars – Rushed for 110 yards and 1 TD, and added 5 receptions for 30 yards and another TD.
Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Giants – Ran for 61 yards and 2 TDs, and added 3 catches for 29 yards.
Marion Barber, RB, Cowboys – Helped shock the Saints with 62 tough rushing yards and 2 TD runs, plus an 11-yard reception.

Vincent Jackson, WR, Chargers – Scored twice while hauling in 5 passes for 108 yards.
Steve Smith, WR, Panthers – Hauled in 9 passes for 157 yards and a TD.
Andre Johnson, WR, Texans – Didn’t reach the end zone, but 9 catches for 196 yards is still mighty impressive.
DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles – Scored on an uncharacteristically short 19-yard pass, and finished with 6 receptions for 140 yards.
Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts – Reeled in 5 passes for 132 yards and the game-clinching TD.
Smilin’ Miles Austin, WR, Cowboys – Hauled in 7 catches for 139 yards and a monster TD to foretell the upset.

Dallas Clark, TE, Colts -- His 7 catches generated 95 yards and 2 TDs.
Todd Heap, TE, Ravens – Scored twice while gaining 56 yards on 5 receptions.

Browns defense/special teams – Soared with Josh Cribbs’ dual 100-yard kickoff returns.

This was a great week to play against…

Tom Brady, QB, Patriots – Passed for a measly 115 yards and just 1 TD (plus an INT).
Jay Cutler, QB, Bears – Continued his awful season with just 94 passing yards, 0 TDs and a trio of INTs.
Kyle Orton, QB, Broncos – A modest 278 yards and 1 TD against a mediocre Raiders squad.
Brett Favre, QB, Vikings – Held to 224 yards and 1 INT, without a score.
Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seahawks – Picked off 4 times while passing for 256 yards and a single TD, and lost a fumble.
Drew Brees, QB, Saints – Held to 298 passing yards and a single TD, plus 1 INT.

Michael Turner, RB, Falcons – Aggravated his sprained ankle after one 7-yard carry and wasn’t seen again.
DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers – Also left early after gaining just 13 rushing and 3 receiving yards.
Arian Foster, RB, Texans – Last week’s free-agent hope fumbled early and was limited to 20 combined yards.
Kevin Faulk, RB, Patriots – Ran once for 7 yards and caught a 3-yard pass.
Chris Jennings, RB, Browns – A bystander for Harrison’s theatrics, gaining just 18 yards on the day.
Reggie Bush, RB, Saints – Left the game with a pulled hammy after just 29 rushing and 17 receiving yards.
Thomas Jones, RB, Jets – Held to a mediocre 52 rushing yards.
Joseph Addai, RB, Colts – In a high-scoring, seesaw game, ran for a modest 59 yards and caught 3 short passes for 14 yards.
Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals – Limited to 53 rushing and 19 receiving yards.
Matt Forte, RB, Bears – Posted another lackluster outing, with just 69 rushing yards on the day, while losing one of his two fumbles.

Roy Williams, WR, Cowboys – An bystander in his team’s upset with just one 14-yard catch.
Percy Harvin, WR, Vikings – Played despite migraines, but only had a 10-yard catch to show for it.
Pierre Garcon, WR, Colts – Left the game with early with a minor injury, leaving his owners with just 2 catches for 16 yards.
Terrell Owens, WR, Bills – Limited to 2 receptions for 20 yards.
Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions – Managed only 3 catches for 35 yards.
Antonio Bryant, WR, Buccaneers – Same for him.
Roddy White, WR, Falcons – Got the Darrelle Revis treatment, pulling in just 4 passes for 33 yards.
Wes Welker, WR, Patriots – Caught a shockingly low 4 passes for 40 yards.

Jay Feely, K, Jets – Botched all three of his field goal attempts.

I didn’t see that coming…

Matt Moore, QB, Panthers – His 299-yard, 3-TD, 0-INT outing led to the Vikings’ shocking upset on Sunday night.

Michael Bush, RB, Raiders – Relieved the injured Justin Fargas and rushed for 133 yards and 1 TD.
Maurice Morris, RB, Lions – Amassed 126 rushing yards, a TD and 5 catches for 35 yards in his first start for the injured Kevin Smith.

Mike Wallace, WR, Steelers – He’s had nice outings before, but we didn’t expect 79 yards and 2 TDs on his only 2 receptions of the day, against the NFL’s third-ranked pass defense, no less.
Justin Gage, WR, Titans – Another non-starter who scored on his only two receptions, which totaled 43 yards.