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Three best individual performances CB Will Blackmon, Packers Blackmon became the first player to score on a punt return and a fumble in more than 30 years, since Cincinnati's Lemar Parrish on Oct.6, 1974. Blackmon returned a punt 57 yards and recovered a Raiders fumble in the end zone for scores.
QB Tony Romo, Cowboys Romo rallied Dallas from a 13-point deficit with touchdown drives of 56 and 83 yards in the fourth quarter for a 28-27 victory at Detroit. He threw the winning touchdown to TE Jason Witten with 18 seconds left. Throw in the Monday night comeback at Buffalo this season, and that's two signature victories for Romo.
WR Plaxico Burress, Giants Unable to practice because of a severe ankle sprain, Burress caught seven passes for 136 yards and the game's only touchdown in a 16-13 win against the Eagles that virtually assured the Giants of an NFC wild-card berth. Diva receivers across the league called their coaches Monday asking for the week off from practice.
Three worst individual performances QB Kurt Warner, Cardinals With Arizona needing a win to stay alive in the NFC West, Warner threw a career-worst five interceptions at Seattle.
QB Kyle Boller, Ravens One week after he looked surprisingly sharp against the Patriots, Boller was abysmal against the Colts. He threw three interceptions in the first three quarters and was replaced by rookie Troy Smith. Either Boller's previous performance was a fluke, or Indianapolis' defense is much better than New England's. Maybe both are true.
Bryant Gumbel, NFL Network The bright side of the NFL Network's limited availability: Only a handful of fans are subjected to Gumbel's play-by-play butchery. His mangling of players' names - yes, he actually said "Rick Romo" - makes the late Harry Caray seem like a linguist.
Three for the record books TE Jason Witten, Cowboys While most of his teammates played in a funk, the Pro Bowltight end broke a 40-year-oldDallas record with 15 catches, including the winning 16-yard touchdown with 18 seconds left. Witten overcame a fumble on the previous possession to catch four passes from QB Tony Romo on the winning drive in the final two minutes at Detroit.
CB Antonio Cromartie, Chargers Cromartie intercepted Titans quarterback Vince Young for hisninth pick of the season, tyingthe San Diego team record setby Charlie McNeil in 1961, thefranchise's second season. Cromartie, a second-year player from Florida State, is the league's interception leader. And he wasn't even a starter at the beginning of the season.
RB Fred Taylor, Jaguars The 10th-year pro and formerGator set a Jacksonville franchiserecord for longest scoring runwith an 80-yard touchdownagainst Carolina.
Biggest idiot Best spunk Best new ends, I and II Anthony Smith, Steelers The second-year safetyguaranteed a victory againstthe Patriots. Then he got beaton two deep touchdownspasses, one to Randy Moss -newsflash, Moss goes deep sometimes - the other a flea-flicker to Jabar Gaffney. Of course, Smith must have had trouble keeping up with his foot stuck in his mouth.
Tom Brady, Patriots Brady was 32-of-46 for 399 yardsand four touchdowns in a 34-13drubbing of the Steelers. Bigdeal. But did you see him mix itup with a couple of Pittsburghdefenders after a touchdown toss? Brady is one of the game's most polished performers, but he plays with an edge, too. After listening to the Steelers jaw all week, Brady wasn't content to let his play do all the talking.
Greg White, BucsPatrick Kerney, Seahawks In his first full NFL season after starring in the Arena FootballLeague, White had anotherbig day with three sacks andtwo forced fumbles against theTexans. It was the first three-sackgame by a Bucs defender sinceSimeon Rice in 2004. White leadsthe Bucs with 8.5 sacks. That soundspretty impressive, until you consider Seahawks DE Patrick Kerney, bottom right, who had three sacks Sunday for the third time in the past four games. Kerney leads the league with 13.5 sacks. Think he's glad he left Atlanta?
Three teams on the rise Vikings They won their fourth straight, androokie RB Adrian Peterson had3 rushing yards. Looking like abalanced team, Minnesota scored on an interception return, a pass by QB Tarvaris Jackson and a long run by Chester Taylor.
Bills They not only beat the winlessDolphins, they pummeled them witha 31-point first half. Rookie QB TrentEdwards has folks in Buffalo believingthe long search for Jim Kelly's successor is over.
Chargers They were awful for three quartersagainst the Titans but rallied from a17-3 deficit to score the final 20 points,including RB LaDainian Tomlinson'swinning 16-yard touchdown in overtime. San Diego has won three straight and has Detroit coming to town.
Three teams fading fast Panthers After a 37-6 loss at Jacksonville,Carolina's playoff hopes are kaputat 5-8. Not that we took themseriously.
Eagles A win against the Giants wouldhave made a statement, but theyconverted two of 13 third downsagainst a secondary that started two rookie safeties. That's why they're 5-8.
Lions From 6-2 and sitting pretty, the Lionshave lost five straight to fall below.500. They beat the Cowboys for58 minutes, 42 seconds on Sunday, then lost by a point.
Three good games in Week 15 Bills (7-6) at Browns (8-5) 1 p.m. Sunday
Who would have thought it at the beginning of the season, but the winner of this Great Lakes tilt is on solid ground for the AFC's final wild-card berth. Cleveland is the early favorite.
Jaguars (9-4) at Steelers (9-4) 1 p.m. Sunday
These are the two best teams in the AFC after New England and Indianapolis, and this matchup could be a preview of a juicy first-round playoff game. Can the Steelers shake off the loss to the Patriots?
Redskins (6-7) at Giants (9-4) 8:15 p.m. Sunday
Washington still has the slimmest of playoff hopes. Any time two NFC East teams tangle, it's worthy of prime time.
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Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
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