Going Up Top: Week 6 in the NFL

It seems very much the case that RBs have been the biggest beneficiaries of the off-season lockout. So many guys are having so many big games around the league regularly, as run defences cannot seem to get any plays going. This week it was the turn of Michael Turner, Rashard Mendenhall, LeSean McCoy and Ahmad Bradshaw to go big, and they quite rightly took the plaudits for leading their respective teams to crucial victories. However, we at BtC like to look beyond the obvious - here are some of the other difference makers in Week 6:

5. Shane Lechler (Raiders) - Faked FG pass to Kevin Boss for 35 yard TD. Everyone knows we like a trick play. This one turned out to be a game winner as Oakland triumphed 24-17 over the Browns in their first match at the Black Hole since the passing of Al Davis. With Jason Campbell's collarbone shattered earlier in the game, the Raiders had relied on Jacoby Ford's kickoff return to get them into a position of strength. Lining up for a 53 yard FG seemed perfectly reasonable given Sebastian Janikowski's powerful leg. The Browns' blocking unit, totally missed the run of TE Boss and he was given a free ride into the endzone. One further exciting development around Campbell's injury is the possible return to NFL action of Carson Palmer!

4. Corey Webster (Giants) - 4 tackles, 1 assist, 2 INTs. It was a tight affair at New Meadowlands, with the difference in turnovers proving key as New York prevailed 27-24 over the Bills. Buffalo had at least one INT in their 5 previous matches this season to sit at an unexpected 4-1, including 4 picks off Michael Vick last week. However, for a change, the Giants and Eli Manning were able to keep possession of the football and allowed Ahmad Bradshaw to have a big day with 3 rushing TDs. It was CB Webster who made the big plays on defence to twice pick off Ryan Fitzpatrick and set up Laurence Tynes' game winning FG.

3. Josh Freeman (Buccaneers) - 23/41, 303 yards, 2 TDs. UK NFL fans should be very excited at the return of Freeman to Wembley next Sunday. After making his debut as a rookie in a blowout defeat to the Patriots two years ago, Freeman has relied on his unique skillset, as well as voodoo (in-joke), to become one of the hottest prospects in the game today. I love him, even if he has been overshadowed by his peer Matthew Stafford up in Detroit so far this season. Tampa seized control of the NFC South by beating the Saints 26-20, Freeman utilising the deep threat of "No Country For" Arrellious Benn for a 65-yarder in the first half. What was more impressive is how he put last week's tonking by the 49ers out of his head and came back looking much more assured and accurate in the pocket than he had done.

2. Kurt Coleman (Eagles) - 5 tackles, 2 assists, 3 INTs. Yes, it's the gratuitous Eagles pick. Only this time much deserved. Coleman was a 7th round pick last year but came up big alongside fellow second-year safety Nate Allen, giving under-fire defensive Juan Castillo (he's an O-Line man for Christ's sake) the big plays he needed in a 20-13 win over divisional rivals Washington. More importantly, his 3 INTs finally ended the ludicrous idea that Rex Grossman was going to take the Redskins to the playoffs. He's really not. John Beck came on and ran in a TD but it was too late. Coleman has done the rest of the league a big favour!

1. Chicago Bears' O-Line and Special Teams - Another unit that has finally done what everyone had wanted for such a long time and got Donovan McNabb benched in Minnesota. Christian Ponder came on and did OK, and will probably get the job this week. For an O-Line that generally gets Jay Cutler sat on his arse most of the time, only giving up 1 sack and allowing 119 rushing yards is a big result, especially as Cutler looked at his best in completing 2 big TD passes. Further to that, although Devin Hester always gets the credit, the blocking that allowed him his 98-yard kickoff return was also top notch. The Bears won 39-10 - a big offensive performance even without Matt Forte at his very best.

RM