MVP: Panthers QB Cam Newton-"Superman" was at his best Thursday night, tearing apart the Buccaneers for 221 yards on 23-32 passing with two touchdowns, along with 11 carries for 50 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Other Candidates: Panther WR Ted Ginn Jr. (5 catches, 80 yards)
Unsung Hero: Panthers D-The very good Panthers defense, led by linebacker Luke Kuechly, held Tampa Bay to 13 points while registering three sacks and seven tackles for a loss.
Story of the Game: A Streak and a Skid Continue-The Panthers have won three straight to climb above .500. Cam Newton has thrown for 667 yards, six touchdowns, and no picks during that time. The Bucs, meanwhile, continue to struggle, falling to 0-7. It doesn't look like Greg Schiano will be the coach much longer.
Browns (3-5) 17 Chiefs (8-0) 23
MVP: Chiefs QB Alex Smith-Smith was able to lead the Chiefs to another victory with his mistake-free approach. He was 24-36 with 225 yards and two touchdowns.
Other Candidates: Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles (18 carries, 74 yards), Browns WR Josh Gordon (5 catches, 132 yards, TD)
Unsung Hero: Chiefs K Ryan Succop-Field goals won this game. Ryan Succop was 3-4 on field goals of 42, 35, and 40, one of them putting Kansas City up six with seconds to play.
Story of the Game: Chiefs March On-The Chiefs escaped again, preserving their perfect record and their place atop the NFL. A stout defense, solid quarterback, and stud running back have helped establish them as the league's best team.
Cowboys (4-4) 30 Lions (5-3) 31
MVP: Lions WR Calvin Johnson-Megatron had a HUGE day Sunday, helping the Lioms win a hotly-contested game with a catch in the closing seconds to set up Matthew Stafford's leap over the goal line for the deciding touchdown. He came within seven yards of the NFL record for receiving yards in a game, finishing with 14 catches for 329 yards and a touchdown.
Other Candidates: Lions QB Matthew Stafford (33-48, 488, TD, 2 INT), Lions RB Reggie Bush (21 carries, 92 yards, TD)
Unsung Hero: Lions QB Matthew Stafford-You may not think of a quarterback who threw for 488 yards and rallied his team to win in the final seconds as an "unsung hero", but it was the way he did it that got him in this spot. After Johnson caught a pass on the one yard-line with 12 seconds left, Stafford signaled to the offense to hustle to the line so he could spike the ball. But instead of spiking it, he faked everyone out, including Calvin Johnson and most of his team, by lunging over everybody and putting the ball over the goal line for a game-winning touchdown.
Story of the Game: Battle of Top WRs-During the week leading up to this game, Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant said something to the effect of thinking he was the best receiver in the NFL, even better than Calvin Johnson. Dez, you're not the best receiver in te NFL, as Megatron showed Sunday. Dez did catch three passes for 72 yards and two touchdowns, but he was also seen getting in the faces of Tony Romo and Jason Witten and complaining after the Lions' game-winner.
Dolphins (3-4) 17 Patriots (6-2) 27
MVP: Patriots D-In a slow game offensively, the Pats defense came up big, allowing 17 total points while getting six sacks, eight tackles for a loss, and two picks. They picked up a struggling offense and helped New England come out victorious.
Other Candidates: Patriots WR Aaron Dobson (4 catches, 60 yards, TD)
Unsung Hero: Patriots RB Stevan Ridley-With Tom Brady struggling and the passing game sputtering, Ridley picked up the slack, carrying the ball 14 times for 79 yards and a touchdown.
Story of the Game: TomTerrific?-The Patriots won, but yet again, it wasn't pretty. Tom Brady struggled again, going 13-22 for 116 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.
Bills (3-5) 17 Saints (6-1) 35
MVP: Saints QB Drew Brees-Brees was at it again, lighting up the Bills for five touchdowns on 26-34 passing and 332 yards. Plus, my new name for my fantasy football team is "Warm Summer Brees".
Other Candidates: Saints WR Kenny Stills (3 catches, 129 yards, 2 TD)
Unsung Hero: Saints D-The Saints offense was the bigger story, but the Saints defense played solidly, giving up 17 points while racking up four sacks, eight tackles for a loss, and a pick.
Story of the Game: Brees Continues to Bomb it-Drew Brees threw five touchdown passes Sunday, extending his NFL record of games with five or more touchdown passes to eight. He continues to tear up opposing defenses and lead the lethal Saints.
Giants (2-6) 15 Eagles (3-5) 7
MVP: Giants K Josh Brown-Brown won a offensive-challenged game for the Giants, kicking a career-high five field goals. He literally scored all of the Giants' points with field goals of 40, 44, 33, 46, and 27 yards.
Other Candidates: Giants QB Eli Manning (25-39, 246 yards)
Unsung Hero: Giants D-The Giants defense held a high-flying Eagles offense that was electric through the first six games to 200 total yards and zero points (Philly got a touchdown on a fumble recovery). They also had four sacks, six tackles for a loss, and two interceptions. The Giants defense has not allowed a touchdown the last ten quarters.
Story of the Game: Eagles Shot Down-The past two games, the Eagles have scored a grand-total of ten points and zero touchdowns in losses to the Cowboys and Giants. After lighting up opposing defenses the first six games, the offense has gone dormant. Chip Kelly said it's due to unstable quarterback play, and he couldn't be more right. The combination of Michael Vick, Nick Foles, and Matt Barkley has been ineffective.
49ers (6-2) 42 Jaguars (0-8) 10
MVP: 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick-To be honest, just about anybody in the NFL can be an MVP against the Jaguars, but it was Kaepernick who tore then up Sunday. He was 10-16 throwing for 164 yards and a touchdown, and added 7 carries for 54 yards and two rushing touchdowns.
Other Candidates: 49ers RB Frank Gore (19 carries, 74 yards, 2 TD)
Unsung Hero: 49ers QB Colt McCoy-McCoy was not a hero in any kind of way, but when you play the Jaguars, you don't need a hero. However, Colt did get playing time late and was 1-1 for 13 yards. Good job, Colt!
Story of the Game: Losers in London-The two games played in London so far this year have been pretty lackluster. The first game was between the then-winless Steelers and then-winless Vikings (a game won by the Vikings, who haven't won another), and then the second one was a drubbing of the winless Jaguars by the 49ers. Sorry London.
Jets (4-4) 9 Bengals (6-2) 49
MVP: Bengals WR Marvin Jones-I could've gone with Andy Dalton, who threw five touchdown passes, but Marvin Jones had four touchdown receptions. He and Dalton were basically playing catch against the Jets Sunday. Jones also had 122 yards on eight catches.
Other Candidates: Bengals QB Andy Dalton (19-30, 325 yards, 5 TD, INT)
Unsung Hero: Bengals D-The Bengals defense, like the offense, had a field day against the Jets Sunday. Holding them to just three field goals while also registering four sacks, six tackles for a loss, and two pick-sixes.
Story of the Game: Lions Pounce on Jets-that was an absolute demolition of the Jets by Andy Dalton, Marvin Jones, and the Bengals. Te Bengals are a very impressive team, especially after that thrashing.
Steelers (2-5) 18 Raiders (4-3) 21
MVP: Raiders QB Terrelle Pryor-Pryor got going right out of the gate Sunday, scoring on a 93-yard run on the first play from scrimmage, an NFL record for longest run by a quarterback. He finished the day with 106 yards rushing for a touchdown, while also throwing in 88 yards passing.
Other Candidates: Raiders RB Darren McFadden (24 carries, 73 yards, 2 TD)
Unsung Hero: Raiders D-After the record-breaking score to start the game, the offense settled down. Thanks to the defense, though, they held on. Oakland's D had five sacks, ten tackles for a loss, an two picks.
Story of the Game: End of the Bye Week Blues-Coming into this game, the Raiders had lost nine straight games coming off bye weeks. They ended that Sunday, getting their first win coming out of a bye since 2002.
Redskins (2-5) 21 Broncos (7-1) 45
MVP: Broncos QB Peyton Manning-Manning made more mistakes than usual in this game, throwing three picks, but he still played Peyton Manning-like, throwing for 354 yards on 30-44 passing with four touchdowns.
Other Candidates: Broncos WR Demaryus Thomas (7 catches, 75 yards, TD), Broncos WR Wes Welker (6 catches, 81 yards, TD)
Unsung Hero: Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno-Moreno continued his impressive season Sunday by producing out of the backfield and in the passing game. He had 13 rushes for 43 yards, plus six receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown.
Story of the Game: Another Week, Another Homecoming-A week after Peyton Manning's return, Washington head coach Mike Shannahan made his first appearance in Denver since he was fired as the Broncos' head coach in 2008. He won two Super Bowls and was 87-31 in Denver.
Falcons (2-5) 13 Cardinals (4-4) 27
MVP: Cardinals RB Andre Ellington-Ellington, a rookie sixth-round pick out of Clemson, started in place of the injured Rashard Mendenhall and played much better than Mendenhall has all season, rushing for 154 yards on 15 carries, including an 80-yard touchdown run.
Other Candidates: Cardinals QB Carson Palmer (13-18, 172 yards, 2 TD, INT), Falcons WR Harry Douglas (12 catches, 121 yards)
Unsung Hero: Cardinals D-Man, I have a lot of defenses as "Unsung Heros" , don't I? Well, the Cards D gave Matt Ryan fits, sacking him four times and picking him off four times.
Story of the Game: Electric Ellington-Ellington impressed Sunday, and I reaped the benefits, having picked him up an putting him in my starting fantasy football lineup a couple of days before. Even when Mendenhall comes back, Ellington should remain the starter.
Packers (5-2) 44 Vikings (1-6) 31
MVP: Packers QB Aaron Rodgers-Aaron Rodgers was Aaron Rodgers Sunday night, completing a very accurate 24-29 passes for 285 yards and two touchdowns. He paced the Pack to another victory.
Other Candidates: Packers WR Jordy Nelson (7 catches, 123 yards, 2 TD)
Unsung Hero: Packers RB Eddie Lacy-Lacy continued his solid rookie season and helped balance the Packers offense once again, rushing 29 times for 94 yards and a touchdown.
Story of the Game: Cordarrelle Patterson!!!-Patterson, a rookie receiver and kick returner out of Tennessee whom I really liked heading into the season, opened the game with a 109-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He also two receptions for 26 yards in a losing effort.
Seahawks (7-1) 14 Rams (3-5) 9
MVP: Seahawks D-This game was a struggle offensively, and it came down to a goal-line stand by the Seahawks defense to win the game. They also had three sacks and two picks against Rams backup Kellen Clemens.
Other Candidates: Seahawks WR Golden Tate (5 catches, 93 yards, 2 TD)
Unsung Hero: Rams D-It was such a struggle offensively, the Rams defense got "Unsung Hero". They held Seattle to two touchdowns and racked up seven sacks in a near-upset.
Story of the Game: Receiver Rice Done-The Seahawks lost wide receiver Sidney Rice for the season Monday night with a torn ACL. In related news, receiver Percy Harvin did not return Monday night because he suffered a minor setback in his rehab last week.
G-Rex's Week 8 Observations:
•DDDDDDDD-Fense!!!-As I mentioned earlier, their was a lot of good defense last weekend. 7 defense got "Unsung Hero" and two even got MVP.
•Cordarelle Patterson!!!!!!!!!
Week 7 Highs and Lows
Most Points-Bromcos, 45 (vs. Redskins)
Least Points-Eagles, 7 (vs. Giants)
Most Passing Yards-Lions Matthew Stafford, 488 on 48 attempts (W vs. Cowboys)
Least Passing Yards (QB with min. 20 pass attempts)-Patriots Tom Brady, 116 on 22 attempts (W vs. Dolphins)
Most Rushing Yards-Cardinals Andre Ellington, 154 on 15 carries (W vs. Falcons)
Least Rushing Yards (RB with min. 10 carries)-Falcons Steven Jackson, 6 on 11 carries (L at Cardinals)
Most Receiving Yards-Lions Calvin Johnson, 329 on 14 catches (W vs. Cowboys
Least Receiving Yards (WR/TE with min. 5 catches)-Redskins Pierre Garçon, 46 on 7 catches (L at Bronncos)
Most Passing Touchdowns-Saints Drew Brees, 5 on 34 attempts (W vs. Bills), and Bengals Andy Dalton, 5 on 30 attempts
Most Rushing Touchdowns-3 players, 2
Most Receiving Touchdowns-Bengals Marvin Jones, 4 on 8 catches (W vs. Jets)
Most Tackles-Vikings Erin Henderson, 14 (L vs. Packers)
Most Sacks-Rams Robert Quinn and Chris Long, 3 (L vs. Seahawks)
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