The projected top 4 performers at RB, QB, and WR for Week 15

RUNNING BACKS

CHRIS JOHNSON (TEN): Though Johnson was far from exceptional last week he faces a far from exceptional defense this week. The Colts are 30th against the run, yielding an average of 144 yards per game and 18 rushing touchdowns on the season. Regardless of who is at quarterback, Johnson should have no problem incorporating himself into both the pass and run games. The Colts have all but given up and are collecting checks at this point. They start out with fire but it is easy to quench that fire once down. CJ2K is as good a start as you will get this week.

ARIAN FOSTER (HOU): Foster had a dud by his standards last week but like CJ gets a great match up this week against Carolina. The Panthers are 24th vs. the run, allowing 128 YPG with 15 scores on the year. The interior line for Carolina has been less impressive with each week and fits Foster’s strengths perfectly. Their secondary is underrated and should be able to make it a tougher game for Yates which means Foster will see plenty of touches.

FELIX JONES (DAL): The injury to Demarco Murray opens the door once again for Jones to display why he was expected to win the job in the first place. After an injury riddled season, Jones is finally healthy and faces the hapless Bucs. The Bucs are far form the Giants defensive front which allowed Jones a 100+ total yard day. Tampa has allowed 19 rushing scores on the season and are beyond vulnerable in the middle. The Bucs are down to second stringers and Haynesworth, who is not the greatest run stopper. The Bucs will also be without Aquib Talib, which means more EJ Biggers, leaving the linebackers to try and chase down Jones all day…Not happening for a defense ranked 28th against the run and flaming out.

BEANIE WELLS (ARI): The Browns are great at stopping the pass but absolutely miserable against the run, ranking 31st and allowing 150 YPG. Every team has been able to pound the rock against their front with success, despite the Browns knowing exactly has opposing offense are going to attack them. Add to that the fact Colt McCoy may not be available (as anemic as he has been) and the Browns should lose the possession battle by a large margin. Wells will have plenty of touches and no problem finding the end zone a few times.

WIDE RECEIVERS

MARQUES COLSTON (NO): The Minnesota secondary has been adept at getting torched this year, allowing 248 YPG passing and 26 touchdowns through the air. Brees and the Saints are coming off a sub par performance and nothing sparks Brees like not being at his best. Ponder has also been averaging a turnover once every 15 attempts so Brees is likely to have the ball in his hands way too long which means good things for Colston.

JORDY NELSON (GB): With Greg Jennings set to miss 2-6 weeks, Nelson becomes the big play receiver. Though the Chiefs are decent against the pass (10th) the last time they faced an offense like this was New England which ripped them for 34 points. 

CALVIN JOHNSON (DET): Megatron has now gone 2 straight games without a score and faces Oakland’s 17th ranked secondary. The Raiders have allowed 23 scores through the air compared to only 14 on the ground. Though the Raiders have clamped down the last few games, the offense has been turnover prone and Detroit knows how to capitalize off turnovers. Stafford will ensure Megatron gets his targets, especially given the Raiders should have no problem stopping the run.

WES WELKER (NE): Welker has averaged double digit targets the last three games and faces a Denver team which is 16th vs. the pass. Denver has only been torched twice, both by gunslingers Stafford and Rodgers. Brady is next in line and should have no problem connecting with Welker as Gronkowski will be the primary focus. Welker has caught 3 scores in three games with no less than 85 yards in each. 

QUARTERBACKS

TOM BRADY (NE): As stated above, Brady is the best quarterback the Broncos will have seen since Matt Stafford who threw for 3 scores and Aaron Rodger who threw for 4 scores. The Pats have had huge issues running the ball recently and will sling it around the field once again.

TONY ROMO (DAL): Romo draws the unlucky Bucs who allowed 7 turnovers last week, making Blaine Gabbert look like a decent NFL quarterback. Romo has been gaining confidence and has been letting it loose his last few games. The Bucs are a miserable 27th vs. the pass, allowing 22 touchdowns and a whopping 45 passes of 20+ yards this season. Now with Demarco Murray out, the emphasis will be on the pass to set up the run. Romo now has all his weapons back out wide so it will be easy pickings this week.

DREW BREES (NO): As state with the Colston pick, Brees has one of the best match ups this week and looks to bounce back after an average performance last week. Though he did get back on track the second half, Minnesota offers nothing close to the coverage abilities of the Titans. The Vikings have allowed 26 scores through the air and are ranked 26th in pass defense.

MATT STAFFORD (DET): Like Brees and Manning, Stafford also has one of the most favorable match ups which is why Megatron also landed on this list. After hitting a rough patch, Stafford put up 2 touchdowns against the Vikings last week and now faces the Raiders 17th ranked secondary. 

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AJ Feeley has been ruled out for MNF and with Sam Bradford ailing it could be a Tom Brandstater or Kellen Clemens getting the nod. Bottom line here is how much can you trust either QB and their impact on Brandon Lloyd and Steven Jackson? Better to look for other more dependable options given the importance of this week.

Nate Washington hasn’t practiced all week and though he is technically a game time decision things don’t look good. Look for CJ2Kto receive a healthy amount of touches against the Saints run defense which is ranked 16th.

Kevin Smith was unable to finish practice after being unable to cut and run his routes. Looks like another week of Maurice Morriswhich in turn means we will see a lot of passing against the horrific Vikings secondary. Megatron, Stafford, and both Tight Endsmake for some of the best plays of the weekend.

Jeremy Maclin is now a game time decision after re-injuring his hammy but did make the trip to Miami. Regardless, Maclin shouldn’t be expected to produce this week against a Miami defense which is surging.

Peter King from SI is already reporting Ben Roethlisberger is almost a given not to play next week. If you are able to win round one or had a bye this week, get ready to scavenge the wire if you don’t have a solid reserve.

PFT reports that Willis McGahee will be available on Sunday against the Bears. While this slightly upgrades Tim Tebow’s value, I am not sold on McGahee being able to produce much against the Bears 8th ranked defense. The threat of Mcgahee allows Tebow to take advantage of broken plays and the misdirection of the Bears defense since they won’t be able to key solely on Tebow. Still, I expect the offense as a whole to have issues. If Tebow is going to have a chance he will need to do it through the air so expect him to come out passing in an effort to put the Bears on their heels.

Scott Chandler has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Chargers so David Nelson gets the biggest boost because of his red zone targets. Nelson should be considered a solid WR #3/Flex option.

Adrian Peterson is a game time decision and by his own admission isn’t at full speed. Percy Harvin is a must start once again despite facing a solid Lions secondary. With Suh and Fairley out, Christian Ponder will have a much easier time allowing plays to develop and Harvin to use his speed getting open. Harvin is a solid WR #2 start this week.

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DENVER BRONCOS 35 @ MINNESOTA VIKINGS 32

 

BRONCOS: The last time Denver won 5 straight road games was when John Elway was the quarterback which must be unsettling to the legend. Elway has refused to give Tebow a vote of confidence all season despite Tebow clearly being the future of this franchise. Tebow may be unorthodox, but it wan’t so long ago Mike Vick was being bashed with all the same critique Tebow is receiving. Now, Vick is praised for his style and the league is looking at a new breed of hard nosed quarterbacks whose strengths are the run game. Ironically, Tebow did it this week with his arm, passing for 202 yards with 2 touchdowns while only rushing for 13 yards. The Minnesota secondary allowed the Denver receivers enough separation throughout the game which allowed Tebow to connect with Demaryius Thomas 4 times for 144 yards and both scores. Tebow was as accurate as we have seen him all season so hopefully this is something he can build off of. As usual, Willis McGahee was key, rushing for 111 yards and scoring once. McGahee did leave the game on the next to last drive with an undisclosed injury so it may be serious given they would have used him on the final drive. Eddie Royal also left the game in the 4th with a neck injury. The Broncos are in the thick of the race and a playoff run would silence the critics once and for all. Though Thomas caught the touchdown pass this week, Eric Decker has the most fantasy upside the rest of the way. If you made it to the playoff’s, there are only two guys you can trust on this team. Tebow and Mcgahee are the heart and soul of this offense and guaranteed to get their touches. Watch McGahee’s production level at practice. Most likely he won’t participate until Friday but that will be the key day in determining if he is a go or not.

 

MINNESOTA VIKINGS: Christian Ponder was stellar for most of the game but erred when the Vikings needed him most. Ponder finished with 381 yards with 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, the last pick coming with 1:30 left in the game which set up the game winning field goal for the Broncos. Ponder’s early pick six hurts all the more knowing it was the difference in the final score. Ponder’s top and most efficient target was once again Percy Harvin. The two connected for 156 yards with 2 touchdowns. Harvin did not need to see many more carries out of the backfield with Toby Gerhart rushing for 91 yards on the day. Gerhart was the bruiser this week, pounding up front which allowed Ponder and the offense to open things up a bit. Percy is the guy you want here, especially heading into the playoff’s. He is Ponder’s top target and had had one of the best runs in his career with Ponder at the helm. Adrian Peterson did do some work on the side early in the week but high ankle sprains are touchy and could have set backs at any time. (See Sam Bradford) Make sure you pick up a waiver claim if you are short at RB with Peterson out.

 

CAROLINA PANTHERS 38 @ TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 19

 

PANTHERS: Cam Newton ran his way into the history books after setting a record 13 rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a single season. Given we still have 4 weeks left, he may be setting a record only he or Tebow will ever hope to break. The Panthers were extremely effective from the get go, executing with ease against the bottom feeding Bucs defense. The run game set the tone early and would amass 163 yards on the ground with four scores, 3 by Newton alone. Jonathan Stewart led the way with 80 yards and a score compared to Deangelo William’s 29 yards on just 3 fewer carries (11). The Panthers and Bucs now stand tied for third place in the NFC South, each team seemingly heading in different directions. As I’ve stated 100 times, Stewart is the clear fantasy back on this team and the most productive. Of course you have to start Newton and Smith, but I would avoid Williams unless injury strikes.

 

BUCCANEERS: Josh Freeman sat this one out with shoulder issues which left Josh Johnson to start the game. Though Johnson was ineffective, neither quarterback would have made a difference given the poor defensive play by the Bucs up front and in the secondary. Poor angles, poor tackles, and gaps in the Cover 2 scheme allowed the Panthers to move the ball at will and run up the score. Legarrette Blount was the primary focus of the Panthers defense, containing him to only 19 yards on 11 carries. Thanks to garbage time, Mike Williams was the only bright spot, catching 5 passes for 93 yards. Raheem Morris was officially put on notice by management this week and this was not the way to respond. Analysts who have attended Bucs practices have noted the team has lacked fire and discipline under Morris. Given the names who will be available next season along with possible other firings, Morris is looking like he will be returning to a coordinator position next year. As Freeman goes so do all your Bucs. The Bucs have some solid match ups coming ahead so I would avoid everyone except for Legarrette Blount who is probably your best #2 RB. He is only trustworthy because of his touches but could let you down as he did this week.

 

CINCINNATI BENGALS 7 @ PITTSBURGH STEELERS 35

 

BENGALS: The Bengals made it easy for the Steelers after failing to convert in the red zone early, leading to a blocked field goal attempt coupled with a fumbled kick return which helped Pittsburgh jump to a 21 point lead. Once the Bengals became one dimensional the elite Steelers defense was able to play freely and aggressively. Andy Dalton connected with A.J. Green for the Bengals only score of the day, Green finishing with 87 yards to go with the score. Dalton had trouble finding an open receiver most of the day, the Steelers defense allowing him only 135 yards with the touchdown before exiting the game with a hip injury. Cedric Benson was unable to contribute much, rushing for 52 yards on 13 carries. Anytime a team is spotted 21 points in the NFL it is a near death sentence for the game and turned out that way this week. All week Jay Gruden had been touting the potential of this offense but came up flat against a team they will have to beat in order to take the next step. Keep tabs on Dalton’s status through the week although it looked like the Bengals were just playing it safe. If he does play, AJ Green has been on fire and is a solid #2 WR for the playoff’s.

 

STEELERS: Finishing the sweep for the season, Pittsburgh used tight/bunch formations which confused the Bengals from the start. Rashard Mendenhall had his second multi-score game in three weeks, rushing for 60 yards and converting once in red zone territory. Ben Roethlisberger was his usual efficient self, converting 15/33 passes for 176 yards, 2 touchdowns, and a passer rating of 117. Antonio Brown quickly negated the Bengals only scoring drive in the game by returning a 60 yard punt for a touchdown, adding to his 67 yards receiving on the day. Don’t buy into the Mendenhall numbers and go starting him next week. He is a boom or bust player which could easily cost you a win. Look elsewhere! If you have Antonio Brown…start him no matter what! He is the leading receiver on this team and seems to get better game by game. His targets alone make him a top tier start.

 

NEW YORK JETS 34 @ WASHINGTON REDSKINS 19

 

JETS: Mark Sanchez had one of the best mental games of the season, leading the Jets to their second consecutive 4th quarter comeback. Sanchez was accurate and quick with his decisions, completing 11 of his first 14 passes of the game and would finish with 165 yards with a score. While the numbers are not eye opening, he avoided squeezing the ball into tight coverage and checked down often, a characteristic we have not seen from the hesitant quarterback this year. He connected with Santonio Holmes for 58 yards on the day, the most important one coming on a 30 yard connection with 4:49 left in the 4th which gave the Jets the lead. Shonn Greene carried the load, rushing for 88 yards on 22 carries with 3 touchdowns. Ladainian Tomlinson left the game with what seemed to be a bad ankle injury, L.T. unable to stand up on his own after getting tackled along the sideline. The Jets have kept their Wild Card hopes alive with the win but face four of the hottest defenses in the next weeks against KC, PHI, NYG, and end with the Dolphins. Holmes is catching back on fire but bottom line is Sanchez has not been reliable which means neither are Holmes or Plax. Shonn Greene did rack up 3 scores and with LT possibly missing time he is a solid low end #1 RB.

 

REDSKINS: Roy Helu was once again the difference maker, carrying the Skins with 100 yards rushing and a score to go with 42 yards receiving. Amazingly, Shanahan stuck to his work and Helu was the only Skin with touches in the run game. Unfortunately, Helu couldn’t throw the ball as well. Rex Grossman was on a roller coaster ride from snap to snap, looking efficient one moment then making poor throws the next. Grossman finished with 221 yards with one interception and a miserable QB rating of 47. Santana Moss was able to make more of a contribution this week with 42 yards but Fred Davis led the team with 99 yards receiving. Shanahan’s decision not to chase a free agent quarterback this past off-season is proving costly, especially now that he has a back to rely on. Finally we have a dependable fantasy option outside of Fred Davis. Helu looks every bit as advertised and is finally getting a chance to shine. Helu is a dependable start as long as Shanahan sticks to his word.

 

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 10 @ CHICAGO BEARS 3

 

CHIEFS: The Chiefs continued their strong defensive play, allowing only 181 total yards to the Bears. Derrick Johnson led the way in a defensive effort which would yield 7 sacks, 3 interceptions and 10 tackles for a loss. Offensively the focus was on the run game which totaled 113 yards on the ground among the three headed attack. This week was Dexter McCluster’s turn, finishing with 61 yards rushing and 46 yards receiving  with a score. Tyler Palko managed a great game against a Bears defense which was coming off the edges constantly, throwing for 157 yards with a score. Though he made a solid effort to retain the starting job, Kyle Orton will most likely be the successor next week as the Chiefs only hope is to win out and pray Oakland or Denver stumble. Forget trusting anybody on this team come next week. Orton may get the start which means he won’t be completely in sync with Bowe and this has become a backfield where it is a crap shoot. If you have to start Bowe then I would trust him as a Flex or low end #2 but no more until Orton gets a game under his belt. If Palko gets the start again, bump Bowe up to a #2 start.

 

BEARS: Caleb Haine had multiple opportunities to connect with receivers but was off target in what would result in a 3 interception, 133 yard day. It should be fairly obvious Haine is not going to lead the Bears to a playoff birth, especially given Matt Forte’s injury. Forte left the game in the 1st quarter after taking a helmet to the right knee. It is being ruled a MCL sprain and couldn’t come at a worse time. Forte should be in no rush as this injury plays perfectly into his hands. The Bears have yet to extend his contract and Forte needed only to miss 3 1/2 quarters to show just how bad this offense is without him. Forte has been the heart and soul of this offense with and without Cutler so perhaps it’s a bit of karma for the Bears ownership. All you should have been considering is Forte but given the injury things are bleak for him being available next week. Hopefully you have some decent reserves, but if not search the wire for someone like Maurice Morris who could get the start next week given Kevin Smith’s injury.

 

OAKLAND RAIDERS 14 @ MIAMI DOLPHINS 34

 

RAIDERS: With Michael Bush finding his first struggle of the season, Oakland was forced to rely on Palmer who was having issues himself. Palmer struggled with his accuracy most of the day, forced to try and squeeze passes into tight quarters. Palmer would finish with 273 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception while completing 20/41 passes. The onus was on Palmer even before the game started since he was without Ford and Moore and would have to deal with a skeleton receiving corps. Michael Bush’s 18 yards on 10 carries didn’t help ease the burden in a game where the Raiders were very readable offensively. Luckily, McFadden is closer to a return and they still are tied for the divisional lead with Denver surging. Unluckily, they face the Packers next week on the road. Marcel Reece didn’t pan out as well as I thought and you can put a fork in him if McFadden returns this week. If you have Bush, don’t freak and bench him. McFadden will likely be on a snap count so Bush is a solid flex option.

 

DOLPHINS: The Fins continued their stellar defensive play, and Reggie Bush continued his breakout rushing season. Bush racked up 100 yards with a score and continues to look like the back he was in college but failed to reproduce in his first 5 seasons in the NFL. Matt Moore is also securing himself as the future of the franchise with his smart yet efficient play. Moore finished with 162 yards with a touchdown but also added a rushing score on 22 yards. In his last 5 games Moore has 8 touchdowns with only 1 interception and a record  of 4-1. Reggie Bush is the clear fantasy stud here and we can even trust Brandon Marshall. Matt Moore’s production has been consistent and he has made Marshall consistent in turn.

 

TENNESSEE TITANS 23 @ BUFFALO BILLS 17

 

TITANS: CJ2K is officially back after gashing the Bills for 153 yards and 2 touchdowns. Johnson often went untouched before hitting the second level, a testament to the offensive line and the quality level in which they are currently playing. This is now Johnson’s second straight 100+ game and he is doing it the way we are used to seeing him be effective. Instead of running for the edges as he has most the season, the last two games Johnson has opted to dance between the tackles and use his acceleration to puncture defensive fronts. Matt Hasselbeck had a forgettable but efficient game, finishing with 140 yards passing and goose eggs. Damian Williams was high man receiving with 62 yards, leading the team while Nate Washington played through an ankle injury and was largely ineffective. Unfortunately for the Titans, the Texans were bailed out by their defense today and still hold a 2 game lead in the division. While CJ is still a start based on match up, he has done it two weeks straight and should be in your lineup. Damian Williams makes a sneaky flex given Washington’s recent injury history. Weigh him against your #3/Flex and put him in accordingly.

 

BILLS: C.J. Spiller started hot with a 35 yards touchdown run in the first quarter but was held down for the rest of the game, adding just 45 yards on the ground for a total of 83 on the day. Despite Buffalo beating the Titans in nearly every category, fumbles by both Fitzpatrick and Chandler proved costly in the outcome. Fitzpatrick did have an otherwise solid game, passing for 288 yards with a touchdown. Brad Smith was the leading receiver, catching 7 passes for 72 yards. The Bills may have a hidden gem in Smith’s athleticism and ability to play multiple positions. Stevie Johnson is a must start, but I would also put Spiller in the #2 RB must start as well. Spiller has stepped up to the challenge and Gailey trusts him to take on the same work load as Fred Jackson.

 

ATLANTA FALCONS 10 @ HOUSTON TEXANS 17

 

FALCONS: Matt Ryan couldn’t overcome a poor start, going 3/9 and 2 interceptions. Though Ryan did not get sacked, the Texans were in his face the whole game, knocking him down 10 times and pressuring him on nearly every drop back. Ryan finished with 267 yards with a touchdown pass to Roddy White in the 3rd quarter which tied the game. The defense could not hold though and had issues containing run after being pounded all game. The defense would eventually tire out in the final quarter, allowing the winning score. Offensively, Mike Turner found little room to work, running for just 44 yards and often found multiple defenders charging at him before he could hit the line of scrimmage. The loss makes Atlanta’s Wild Card chase more of an uphill battle given they face all three divisional opponents in the last 4 games. Matt Ryan has been a see-saw ride all season. Roddy White and Mike Turner are the only two reliable fantasy plays.

 

TEXANS: Down to their third string quarterback, the Kubiac opted for a run heavy offense which carried the ball 42 times. Arian Foster led the way with 31 touches for 111 yards and the game winning score to go along with 41 yards receiving. T.J. Yates did everything the Texans could have asked of him, managing the game without making a turnover. Yates finished with 188 yards and a touchdown pass to Joel Dreesen but it was Andre Johnson who was high man with 97 yards on 4 catches. Johnson pulled up lame in the 3rd quarter, flopping to the ground after injuring his left hamstring. Johnson says it isn’t as bad as his previous injury to his right hammy but he downplayed that one as well. Given the latest injury to Johnson it will be a day by day progression which will probably lead to a game time decision. Arian Foster is of course the must start but Tate will have value given Yates inexperience. Tate will possibly see even more touches if Johnson misses more time.

 

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 24 @ NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 31

 

COLTS: New Defensive Coordinator Mike Murphy was able to rally his unit and stopped the Patriots with only 3 points scored in the first quarter. Vegas nearly imploded with the solid defensive start, but Murphy’s scheme and personnel were overwhelmed once Brady and the Pats started running the no huddle. The change in pace by the Pats had the Colts on their heels the rest of the game. Dan Orlovsky kept the game within reach by attacking the league worst secondary and racking up 353 passing yards with 2 touchdowns and an interception. The performance made Pierre Garcon relevant once again, catching 9 passes for 150 yards and 2 touchdowns. The run game continues to underachieve, with both Brown and Addai totaling 80 yards and Brown getting the score. Don’t buy into Garcon’s performance. All Colt’s are best avoided at this point in the fantasy season.

 

PATRIOTS: There was a collective holding of the breath for anyone with a vested interest in the game early, but two quick scores in 3 minutes at the end of the second quarter settled any anxiety. Once Brady and the offense got the ball rolling, the outcome was inevitable. Brady threw for 289 yards with 2 touchdowns, connecting with Rob Gronkowski for both scores. Gronkowski decided to mix it up a bit and added a rushing  touchdown from 2 yards out. At this point the Pats are cruising and don’t face a formidable defense the rest of the season. With Washington, Denver, Miami, and Buffalo left, the Pats are looking at sealing the division within the next two games. Uh….Start your Pats as usual.

 

BALTIMORE RAVENS 24 @ CLEVELAND BROWNS 10

 

RAVENS: While the Browns secondary lived up to their expectations, so did their rush defense. Ray Rice blasted the Browns 29th run squad for 204 yards with a touchdown. The effectiveness of Rice allowed the Ravens a lopsided time of possession, getting 15 minutes more time offensively to keep the ball and game at their mercy. Joe Flacco and the rest of the offense merely watched Rice do his thing, finishing with just 158 yards passing on the day. With the win Baltimore stays tied with the Steelers for the divisional lead. Their toughest game comes week 17 against the Bengals who would love to play spoiler if things stay as they are. Rice has been the only consistent for this team all year and while Boldin is a must start, he should be relied on to only produce #2/Flex numbers.

 

BROWNS: Peyton Hillis accounted for nearly half the Browns offensive production, rushing for 45 yards and catching one pass for 52 yards. Cleveland’s lone score came on a pass to Evan Moore in garbage time as McCoy finished with 192 yards with one score and one pick. Given that Peyton Hillis was the leader in both rushing and receiving, that really tells you the whole story. The Browns are far from being competitive offensively and things can only get worse unless ownership decides to go on a spending spree in the off-season. You can safely start Hillis as a RB #2 again with upside.

 

GREEN BAY PACKERS 38 @ NY GIANTS 35

 

PACKERS: Two of the best quarterbacks this season faced off in this game but it was the champ who retained his belt. Aaron Rodgers lit up the sky with 369 yards passing to go with 4 touchdowns and oh my God….an interception. Rodgers manufactured a 5 play 68 yard drive to set up the game winning field goal for what was the best game of the weekend. Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson finished tied as high men with 94 yards each receiving but Jennings getting the touchdown to edge him out. Clay Mathews led the way defensively and contributed to the cause with a pick six off Manning and added a sack. Charles Woodson exited the game with a head injury in the second half which negated some of the blitz packages the Packers would have normally used against Manning, making this one come down to final possession. If there is a weakness on this team it is their run game which only posted 89 total yards, 32 of those yards amassed by Rodgers. Cmon son…start them.

 

GIANTS: Eli Manning held his own and then some against Rodgers, finishing with 347 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. Manning and Victor Cruz connected for 119 yards but it was Hakeem Nicks who tallied 2 touchdowns on 88 yards receiving. Brandon Jacobs outperformed Ahmad Bradshaw despite getting 3 fewer touches, rushing for 59 yards and a touchdown early. This was a bitter loss for the Giants to swallow, but one which proved they are in elite company after being only the second team to lose to the Packers by less than a touchdown all season. The Giants have a pivotal game against the Cowboys next week and can tie for the divisional lead with a win. If you are lucky enough to have Cruz then you are lucky enough to most likely be making a playoff run. If you have Jacobs and a #2 back either ailing or underachieving, consider Jacobs has been more effective with Bradshaw healthy than without.

 

DALLAS COWBOYS 13 @ ARIZONA CARDINALS 19

 

DALLAS: Tony Romo tested the secondary early with success, connecting with Dez Bryant in the second quarter for the Cowboys only score. Laurent Robinson exited the game briefly with a shoulder injury which was enough time for the Cards to regroup and put a clamp down defensively. Romo completed 28/42 passes for 299 yards and the lone score to Bryant. Demarco Murray was held to only 38 yards rushing against one of the better but lesser known overall defenses in the league. In the end, this game will be remembered for Jason Garrett’s icing of his own kicker with 7 seconds left. Garrett called a timeout on a kick which Bailey would have made and eventually missed on the second try after having time to think about it thanks to his coach. Garrett can rationalize it all he wants but bottom line is he should have known better and let the game play out instead of over-coaching and making sure everything was in place. This loss makes next week’s game against the Giants all the more important instead of taking a two game lead into the match up.

 

CARDINALS: Kevin Kolb had a solid return to the lineup after missing several weeks, pulling out a win on a 52 yard touchdown pass to Stephens-Howling in overtime. Kolb totaled 247 yards with the touchdown in a game where Larry Fitzgerald was held to 55 yards on the day. Andre Roberts picked up the slack, being Kolb’s go to receiver by catching all 6 targets for 111 yards. Beanie Wells rushed for 67 hard earned yards against a wall of Dallas defenders for most of the game. Wells scored once in the fourth quarter to tie the game in what was a game of two halves for Arizona. The Cards were anemic the first half but came out blasting in the third, building momentum and ultimately getting the edge once Bailey missed the field goal.

 

ST. LOUIS RAMS 0 @ SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 26

 

RAMS: AJ Feeley got the start after a setback in Sam Bradford’s ankle this week and was unable to lead the team to even a field goal. Facing the 11th overall defense in the NFL, Feeley finished with just 156 yards and an interception. Steven Jackson had nothing to work with against the Niners top ranked rush defense, totaling just 19 yards on 11 carries. The Rams were outmatched from the start and were a miserable 3-13 on third downs.

 

49ERS: With the Rams unable to get anything going, the Niners dominated time of possession by 13 minutes and used every minute with a display of solid execution. Alex Smith completed 17 of 23 passes for 274 yards and 2 touchdowns. Mike Crabtree finished as high man with 96 yards and a touchdown, never truly facing solid coverage and able to work his routes. Frank Gore chipped in with 73 yards rushing and a score, helping to wear down the Rams resolve. With the win the Niners clinched their division and can work on adding some wrinkles to their playbook. The Niners have been as good as it gets when it comes to execution but are lacking the splash plays which will be needed once the playoff’s start.

 

 

DETROIT LIONS 17 @ NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 31

LIONS: At this point Coach Schwartz needs to come under fire for his lack of teaching this team discipline. The Lions racked up 107 yards worth of penalties which seemed to always set them up for an uphill third down. Kevin Smith exited the game with an ankle injury once again, leaving Morris and Williams to carry the load. Matt Stafford passed for 408 yards with 1 touchdown in the loss, a majority coming in the second half. Calvin Johnson finished with 69 yards on the day, locked up and double teamed most of the night which left Nate Burleson as high man with 93 yards. Despite the injury, Smith still finished as the team high rusher with 34 yards and a score. The Lions all but abandoned the run game playing from a deficit so not too much can be read into there. The Lions have now lost 3 of their last 4 but face a nice string of games against the Vikings, Raiders, and Chargers. They will need to separate themselves from the Wild Card pack those three games before facing off with Green Bay week 17.

 

SAINTS: Brees was nearly flawless, going 26/36 for 342 yards and 3 touchdowns. The aerial attack set up some easy runs for Mark Ingram who rumbled his way to 54 yards and a score. Darren Sproles amassed 161 all purpose yards with a score, once again adding that extra wrinkle at the most opportune times. Robert Meachem finally stepped back into the lime light with 119 yards receiving and a score. Jimmy Graham wasn’t far behind, totaling 89 yards on the day. The Atlanta loss gave the Saints a two game cushion but they will be squaring off against the Falcons in Week 16.

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