Name: LaDainian Tomlinson
Position: Running back
Current Team: New York Jets
Outcome of game: New York 24 Denver 20
Stats:
Rushing Attempts: 16
Rushing Yards: 55
Rushing Touchdowns: 2
Receptions: 2
Receiving yards: 12
Analysis: Tomlinson continued to defy his age in yet another good game Sunday. His 55 rushing yards may not seem like much, but the two touchdowns he scored came at crucial moments late in the fourth quarter and won the game for the New York Jets. The Jets first tied the game at 17 with about eight and a half minutes left in the game. After a field goal by Denver kicker Matt Prater, the Jets marched down the field and LT scored on a 2-yard run, which would ultimately be the game-winning score, put the Jets up 24-20 with under two minutes left.
Next Week: Bye week
Name: Drew Coleman
Position: Cornerback
Current Team: New York Jets
Outcome of game: New York 24 Denver 20
Stats:
Tackles: 5
Analysis: Coleman, along with the Jets defense, continues to shine as he helped the team win its fifth straight game. The Jets defense ranks 14th overall and fourth against the run. The Jets have not allowed an opposing offense to score more than 24 points in any game this season and have been able to keep its opponents to 20 points or less in all but one game this season. This week the Jets have a bye and hope to get a few of its big playmakers on defense back from injury.
Next Week: Bye week
Name: David Hawthorne
Position: Linebacker
Current Team: Seattle Seahawks
Outcome of game: Seattle 23 Chicago 20
Analysis: Hawthorne started for the Seahawks against Chicago this week, but he did not accumulate any stats. Despite that, he constantly applied pressure to opposing quarterback Jay Cutler and helped the rest of the Seahawks defense keep the Bears in check.
Next Week: Hawthorne will face NFC West foes Arizona. It will be up to the defense to contain the Cardinals offense that ranks near the bottom of the NFL in both passing and rushing yards.
Name: Daryl Washington
Position: Linebacker
Current Team: Arizona Cardinals
Outcome of game: Bye week
Analysis: Next week the Cardinals take on the Seattle Seahawks who have been lackluster on offense this season. However, recently-acquired Marshawn Lynch has already brought new life to the Seahawks offense as he ran for 44 yards and a touchdown this week against the Bears. Washington will need to step up and have a good game for the Cardinals to win at home.
Name: Jerry Hughes
Position: Defensive End
Current Team: Indianapolis Colts
Outcome of game: Indianapolis 27 Washington 24
Analysis: Hughes was inactive for the fourth game this year. This is pretty unexpected for the first-round draft pick. Though some make the argument that the current Colts starting defensive ends, Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, didn’t have much playing time during their rookie seasons, neither were inactive for any games and they both played in the first half of their respective rookie seasons. It will be interesting in the coming weeks to see if Hughes sees playing time on the defensive side of the ball.
Name: Jason Phillips
Position: Linebacker
Current Team: Baltimore Ravens
Outcome of game: New England 23 Baltimore 20
Analysis: Phillips did not accumulate any stats this weekend, but saw some playing time on defense against the New England Patriots. He showed poor tackling when he was unable to wrap up wide receiver Wes Welker on back-to-back plays in the second half.
Name: Aaron Brown
Position: Running back
Current Team: Detroit Lions
Outcome of game: New York 28 Detroit 20
Analysis: Brown hopes to return from his finger injury this week, and if he does, it will be interesting to see whether he vies with Kevin Smith for the backup role in Detroit.
Judge Howell is a sophomore broadcast journalism major from Plano.
