The RedZone: Week 12 in the NFL

Ryan's Top 5

5. Brian Westbrook - 23 carries, 136 yards, 1 TD. The man of many concussions has really been underused by the 49ers this year, mostly appearing on 3rd and short situations. However, despite the former Philadelphia star was needed on Monday night as Frank Gore's season was ended by a cracked hip. Westbrook promptly ran all over the hapless Cardinals defense as San Francisco improved to 4-7 with a 27-6 victory, a competetive record in the NFC West, currently led by the Rams of all people!

4. Chad Henne - 17/30, 307 yards, 2 TD's, 1 INT. Henne's had it pretty rough this year. One of the more inconsistent QB's in the league right now, it looked as though his season was ended by a knee injury. Tyler Thigpen struggled against the Bears as the offense were shut out in Week 11, so Henne's return, with Chad Pennington on IR, was crucial for the Dolphins. Thankfully for them, he had one of his better days as he led his side to a 33-17 win over the Raiders.

3. Dwayne Bowe - 13 catches, 170 yards, 3 TD's. The man responsible for making Matt Cassel's numbers look good in 2010. Bowe now has 13 TD's in the last 7 games, with at least one score in each of those matchups. A big, physical receiver who has put previous attitude problems behind them, Bowe deserves a trip to the playoffs and Hawaii. The Chiefs ran out 42-24 winners over the Seahawks.

2. Glover Quin - 3 tackles, 1 assist, 3 INT's. Another man who, like Henne, has bounced back from a tough couple of weeks. Quin is probably the most maligned of the worst secondary in the NFL, giving up the crucial scores in the previous two games. However, with the Titans' fielding rookie QB Rusty Smith, Quin led the Texans defence to a 20-0 shutout. Shame his contribution was all but forgotten once Andre Johnson decided to land one on Cortland Finnegan.

1. Tom Brady - 21/27, 341 yards, 4 TD's. I know it's a very obvious joke, but the Patriots can certainly be Thankful that they have Brady. For most of the first half, it looked as though they were in a real game with a scrapping Detroit outfit, who really have deserved better than 2-9 so far this season. However, Brady, with a supposedly depleted receiving unit since Randy Moss left and a supposedly ageing side in general, rallied the troops in the second half in a 45-24 win, allowing them to keep pace with the supposedly (but not actually) superior Jets.

Graeme's Top 5

5. The Chargers' Linebackers - 19 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INT's between them - Peyton Manning was once again made to rue his mistakes as San Diego continues its infuriating run of playing really well in the midseason, but only because they lost all their opening games and are under pressure. This team has a serious problem with starting the season. It does not, however, have a problem with its linbackers. Shawn Merriman is a distant memory, and they are proving that he was surplus to requirements. Against the Colts, the LBs shut down the Indy short passing game and their screen passes and draw runs, leaving Manning little option other than to toss it up there.

4. Ryan Fitzpatrick - 23/45, 265 yards, 1 TD - It is safe to say that almost all NFL players are more athletic than I am (thank god for punters). Fitzpatrick, though, is a Harvard grad as well as an NFL QB, and thus may be more intelligent than me as well. He probably isn't, but he is certainly a 'gamer'. This Bills team just looks so much more effective with him at the helm. He is quite simply a good football player. Unlucky to lose to the Steelers this week; they would have won (and deservedly so) if Steve Johnson could have reeled in Fitzpatrick's OT deep shot.

3. Mike Martz, Bears OC - Cutler 14/21, 4 TD's and no INT's, Forte 114 yards rushing - Martz has finally saw some sense and stopped exposing Cutler to so many shots. He found a way to exploit the speed of his recievers against the Eagles without having Cutler sitting in the pocket waiting to be sacked. The ball was spread about the field, the running game complemented things well and Jay C executed things to perfection.

2. Dwayne Bowe - 13 catches, 170 yards, 3 TD's - Holder of the Chiefs franchise record for consecutive games with a TD, and now with 14 TD's on the season. He is a big man with remarkable body control, and he can muscle his way open much like Andre Johnson does. Further confirmation that the tall, strong modern WR is almost unstoppable.

1. Sam Bradford - 22/37, 308 yards, 3 TD's - I love Sam. I have a major bromance for Sam. This week he got his first road win and his first 300 yard game, against a Bronco's team that showed it still has some fight after thrashing Kansas City at Mile High earlier this year. Look at the recievers Bradford has to work with, and realise how brilliant this bloke is. If the Rams can continue to draft well, then they could ultimately become a team much like the New England Patriots have been. Namely, good.

GM and RM