NFL Week 13 awards: Chiefs' Eric Berry has storybook homecoming
Awards, observations and a quick review of Week 13 in the NFL ...
Stud of the week: Eric Berry. What a homecoming for the brilliant Chiefs safety, who ran back a Matt Ryan interception for a 37-yard touchdown at the Georgia Dome and promptly presented the football to his mother as an ultimate souvenir. Then Berry topped himself after the Falcons seemingly completed a comeback rally with a go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter. He intercepted Ryan again on the two-point conversion attempt and raced the length of the field to register the first “pick-two” in NFL history, the game-winning points in a thriller. Berry’s big day was more special because of his comeback last year after battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma – primarily in his hometown, where he underwent treatment and handled the bulk of his rehab. It’s no wonder that Berry is considered the soul of the Chiefs.
Offensive player of the week: Joe Flacco. What passion? The Ravens quarterback acknowledged last week that while he didn’t lose any sleep over it, he was indeed a bit stung by the recent comments from former teammate Ray Lewis questioning his passion. Then he put up a performance that reminded everyone that he still has some type of fire by scorching the Dolphins for a season-high 381 yards and four TDs. And now he won’t have to hear any more grief about finding Dennis Pitta in the end zone as his close friend and tight end (nine catches, 90 yards) caught his first two TDs of the season.
Comeback player of the week: Andrew Luck. The Colts quarterback returned Monday night after missing a game while recovering from a concussion and had some willing partners on the Jets defense to help him make up for lost time. Aided by the huge windows, Luck had his most efficient game of the season with his four TD passes packaged with a 78.6% completion rate and 147.6 passer rating. Of course, T.Y. Hilton was an accomplice (nine catches, 146 yards), while Dwayne Allen hauled in 3 TDs. Luck has led the Colts to victories in his last three starts, which is just the momentum needed for the race against the Texans and Titans – all are 6-6 – to the AFC South crown.
Special teamer of the week: Albert Wilson. Hail to the Chiefs, inspired by Andy Reid, for springing the element of surprise on the Falcons with a fake punt in the third quarter. And kudos to Wilson, the up back in punt formation, for making it work. Wilson took the direct snap and hauled off for a 55-yard score that marked the first rushing touchdown off a fake punt since 2008 and demonstrated yet another way the Chiefs can beat you.
Rookie of the week: Jordan Howard. On a bad-weather day when the three quarterbacks on both teams combined to throw 33 passes, the Bears running back had nearly as many rushes (32) as he sloshed through the snowy mix for 117 yards and three TDs against the struggling 49ers.
Unsung heroes: Bucs defense. Jameis Winston is undoubtedly the face of the Bucs resurgence, but the Mike Smith-coordinated defense has provided the backbone of the four-game winning streak that has catapulted the team into the playoff race. In mowing down Philip Rivers and the Chargers, the biggest plays came from linebacker Lavonte David, who turned a tipped pass by rookie corner Vernon Hargreaves into a pick-six and Keith Tandy, who made the game-sealing interception. During the current winning streak, the Bucs D has produced NFL-best numbers for points allowed (13.3 per game), takeaways (11) and opposing quarterback rating (67.3). Hot. Somewhere, Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks and John Lynch – pillars of the Tampa 2 unit that used to rule the roost at Raymond James Stadium – would be proud.
This week’s genius: Teryl Austin. For the first time all season, the first-place Lions didn’t need a fourth-quarter comeback to pull out a win. That’s because Austin’s defense did some major work on Drew Brees – at the Superdome of all places. The Lions snapped Brees’ streak of consecutive home games with a TD pass (60) and picked him off three times. And Detroit’s offense added juice for the D by controlling the clock for 36 minutes, 52 seconds.
Boneheaded Blunder: Cam Newton. The failure to comply to coach Ron Rivera’s travel dress code by not wearing a shirt with a tie, the Panthers quarterback was benched for the start of the prime time game at Seattle. It cost Carolina right off the bat, as Derek Anderson’s first pass was intercepted, leaving the Panthers in an early 3-0 hole. A case might also be made for Rivera executing a boneheaded move by benching the NFL’s reigning MVP over a wardrobe matter. Some players get special treatment. And Newton’s dress was professional and dapper enough, with a black turtleneck accented by a black derby hat. Then again, Newton – a team captain – ran afoul of team policy. Newton’s excuse that he didn’t have a shirt after shipping clothes home at the end of a two-week stay on the West Coast is flimsy, but interestingly, he maintained that previous violations of the dress code were not punished – at least not this harshly. In any event, Rivera has had enough, which might be the difference between a 15-1 regular season last year that paved the way to a Super Bowl berth and an embarrassment of a 4-8 season that shows just how quickly fortunes can change in the NFL. Perhaps this was Rivera’s essential message: He will no longer serve as an enabler to Newton’s follies. But hey, at least the fashionable Newton didn’t bolt out of the postgame news conference again.
How ya like me now? Carson Palmer. A week after a clunker at Atlanta, the Cardinals quarterback rebounded with a flashback performance that was reminiscent of his brilliant 2015 campaign. Palmer stung Washington for 300 yards and three TDs. Just as revealing, Palmer had his first outing in five games without an interception.
Did you notice? Cowboys tight end Jason Witten saw his streak of consecutive games snapped at 160 games on Thursday night at Minnesota … but still wound up making a clutch grab when he recovered the onside kick that sealed the victory. Witten, whose streak spanned over 13 seasons, would have an 11-yard reception on third-and-8 that would have netted a first down … but it was wiped out by a penalty.
Stat’s the fact: Patriots star Tom Brady marked his new NFL-record 201st victory (including playoffs, surpassing Peyton Manning) by completing 23 passes to wide receivers. According to ESPN Stats and Information, that’s the most completions that Brady has had in a game to receivers since 2013 – more significant as it illustrates how New England can at least partially compensate for the loss of tight end Rob Gronkowski to season-ending back surgery. And it also provided a reminder of just how Brady has won 201 games.
Follow Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell.
PHOTOS: Best of NFL Week 13