NFL Monday Memo
In this December 2010 photo, Al Davis of the Oakland Raiders smiles and looks on during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Davis the long time owner of the Oakland Raiders was reported as passed away on the teams website. Credit: Getty Images
As we say goodbye to legendary owner Al Davis, who passed away on Saturday at age 82, we give you the best and worst of an emotional NFL Week 5:
• Offensive player of the week: Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers: Coming off a listless performance against the Texans and hobbling on a bruised foot, Roethlisberger tied a team record with five TD passes in a 38-17 win over Tennessee. (Honorable mention: Fred Jackson, Bills, RB. Had 196 yards from scrimmage in 31-24 win over the Eagles.)
• Defensive player of the week: Nick Barnett, LB, Bills. Had two interceptions against the Iggles, including the one that clinched the win in the fourth quarter.
• Special teams player of the week: Sebastian Janikowski, K, Raiders. He kicked four field goals in a 25-20 win over the Texans. A fitting tribute to Raiders owner Al Davis, who died the day before the game at age 82.
• Game of the week, Part I: Bills 31, Eagles 24. Bills win another wild one in Orchard Park, running roughshod over an Iggles team in disarray.
• Game of the week, Part II: Saints 30, Panthers 27. Saints QB Drew Brees threw for 359 yards and two TDs, including a brilliant final drive to cap the win.
• Game of the weak, Part I: Vikings 34, Cardinals 10. In a matchup of former Iggles QBs Donovan McNabb (Minnesota) and Kevin Kolb (Arizona), it was running back Adrian Peterson who stole the show with 122 rushing yards. Vikings were up 28-0 less than 13 minutes into the game.
• Game of the weak, Part II: Chiefs 28, Colts 24. Matt Cassel threw for four TDs, sending the Peyton Manning-less Colts to 0-5 Chiefs. Indy had a 24-7 lead in the first half, only to see it vanish in the second.
• Emotional win of the week: Raiders 25, Texans 20: After it was over, head coach Hue Jackson dropped to his knees on the sideline and wept as the Raiders paid tribute to their departed owner.
• Put me in, coach: Tim Tebow nearly brought the Broncos back against the Chargers at home. Time for John Fox to see what he's got with his second-year quarterback. At 1-4, why not?
* Stat of the week: The Patriots have scored 30 or more points in 13 straight games.
• Coach on the hot seat, Part I: Andy Reid, Eagles. The nightmare continues for the Dream Team, proving yet again money can’t buy championships in the NFL. Iggles can’t stop a nose bleed on defense, and Michael Vick threw a career-high four picks against the Bills.
• Coach on the hot seat, Part II: Jack Del Rio, Jaguars. Team owner Wayne Weaver said before the season that Del Rio needs to make the playoffs to keep his job. At 1-4 looks like that idea is out the window.
• Coordinator on the hot seat: Juan Castillo, Eagles, defensive coordinator. After spending years as the Iggles’ offensive line coach, Castillo is proving to be overmatched as the defensive signal caller.
• Surprise team of the season: 49ers. At 4-1, Jim Harbaugh has the Niners believing. And why not? After back-to-back wins over the Bengals in Philadelphia back east, the Niners returned home to pummel the Bucs 48-3 behind Alex Smith’s three TD passes. It’s the 49ers’ best start in nine years.
• In your face award: Roddy White suggested after last year’s playoff loss to the Packers that the Falcons were still the better team. Any questions, Roddy? Aaron Rodgers threw for 396 yards and two TDs to lead Green Bay to a 25-14 win over the Falcons.
• Giant of the week: Victor Cruz, WR. He had a career-high eight catches for 161 yards and a touchdown. But he’d surely like to have one play back – the one where the ball tipped off his hands and was returned for a game-clinching 94-yard touchdown return by Brandon Browner.
• Jet of the week: Shonn Greene, RB. We’ve been critical of Greene this season, but not on Sunday, when he rushed for 83 yards and a touchdown to bring back memories of the Jets’ Ground & Pound style, albeit in a losing cause.
