The RedZone: Week 13 in the NFL

Ryan's Top 5 - a Running Back Special
There were so many outstanding performances from the backfield this week that I felt it would be an idea to focus on that position and let Graeme pick up on the other efforts of the week.

5. Steven Jackson - 28 carries, 102 yards, 1 TD; 1 catch, 13 yards. In a game low on offensive quality (the Cardinals were involved after all), Jackson stood high above the rest as the Rams continued on their way to an unlikely NFC West title in Sam Bradford's rookie season. The fact is that they actually have the best offensive line in the division right now and as such both Bradford (although not in ths game) and Jackson are able to make big plays, such as the 27-yard TD run which sealed the deal in a 19-6 win.

4. Chris Ivory - 15 carries, 117 yards, 2 TD's. Reggie Bush may have returned, but undrafted rookie Ivory has become the featured back for the Saints in the continued absence of Pierre Thomas. And boy, was his power and speed needed in a game against the Bengals which was not expected to be as close as it turned out. The fact that their hot offense is beginning to take on a more rounded shape is pretty ominous for the rest of the league heading into the postseason. The Saints continue to look good for a wildcard spot with a 34-30 victory.

3. Tashard Choice - 19 carries, 100 yards, 1 TD. In many ways, Choice is the man who best sums up the Cowboys' season. It was he who was stripped by DeAngelo Hall in the Week 1 matchup against the Redskins as it turned out that Dallas were not all they were cracked up to be. And yet he bounced back in style with Marion Barber out and Felix Jones continuing to underwhelm. An early TD and continued big plays set up the defense to pick Peyton Manning and the Colts 4 times as they chased the game. They forced overtime, then fell 38-35 thanks to a David Buhler FG.

2. Adrian Peterson - 16 carries, 107 yards, 3 TD's; 1 catch, 1 yard. It was only the Bills, but circumstances are everything. Brett Favre was knocked out on the first play of the game, leaving Tarvaris Jackson to run the offense. Who was skittish at best. Yet Peterson, who was questionable all week with an ankle knock, showed no ill effects, particularly on a vibrant 43-yard TD run in the 4th quarter. Sidney Rice was also a big factor in the Vikings' 38-14 success.

1. The Giants' 1-2 Punch: Brandon Jacobs - 8 carries, 103 yards, 2 TD's; Ahmad Bradshaw - 25 carries, 97 yards, 2 TD's; 1 catch, 8 yards. The Redskins have fallen apart in almost every sense. Their defense has not benefitted from the switch to 3-4 and now Albert Haynesworth has been suspended. Both these backs have been vying for a starting spot all season as Tom Coughlin looks to use his varied weapons as much as possible to back up Eli. Jacobs is the wrecking ball, Bradshaw the more manoevurable, but the results are pretty much the same

Credit also to: LaGarette Blount, Maurice Jones-Drew and Marshawn Lynch. However, the best play of the week (not by a RB) was by Carolina punter Jason Baker, who pulled out a spectacular tap tackle on Leon Washington just as he held the ball up for what would have been an 86-yard return TD. LAD!

Graeme's Top 5

I think my Top 5 this week became a bit of a lineman special. I also have no qualms about putting Jason Baker in at number 5, because the tackle he made was simply one of the best I have ever seen in any sport by any player.

5. Jason Baker - The ankle tap is an incredibly difficult tackle to pull off. In my experience playing rugby, it is as much down to good angles and luck as technique. Needless to say, I don't pull it off that often! So for a punter to get all three of these things right is outstanding. To be honest, just watch it: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/american_football/9261006.stm
It's not his fault that his Panthers team is so shit, and he doesn't mind much because he gets to punt more and show off!

4. Raiders' D - San Diego held to 21 rushing yards, 13 points, 1 TD - The Chargers offense has been lethal this year, but Oakland were up for the challenge. The defensive line disrupted the San Diego running game, which has of late been providing some balance to the Chargers' pass dominated play. With nothing to fall back on, Rivers was sacked 4 times and was unable to get anything going. The context of this game was also important; the Raiders went to San Diego and came away with their playoff chances still alive. In doing so, they have put San Diego in trouble that can only be compared to the trouble Ron Burgandy and Veronica Corningstone were in stuck in the Bear Pit prior to the News Team showing up.

3. Cowboys' O-Line - 217 yards rushing, John Kitna not sacked! - The rushing totals were impressive, but to get John Kitna through a game against Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis without as much as a scratch is impressive. Kitna was even able to gain 28 of those rushing yards by himself. And he's as fast as continental drift.

2. Patriots' O-Line - The Jets were run out of Foxboro in shame after being thrashed 45-3 in front of the entire nation of America and whoever stayed up to watch it at 2am elsewhere. This victory was priceless. It established the Pats at the top of the AFC East and wiped the smile off Rex Ryan's smug, fat face. It aslo demonstrated the continuing effectiveness of New England's offensive lineman. Up against the most hyped D in the NFL, Brady was not thrown off his rhythm and the Pats were able to go on long drives, convert third downs and run the ball for 5+ yard gains with consistency.

1. Tom Brady - 21/29, 326 yards, 4 TD's, 0 INT's - This must rank as one of Brady's best regular season games. Fine, as number 2 this week shows, the O-Line was outstanding but time in the pocket or not Brady still had to go to work against the best pass defence in the league, including a fit again Darrelle Revis. 11 first downs, 4 TD's and no mistakes of any kind. MVP?

GM and RM