Heroes:
Cam Newton
(Depending on your politics, of course.)
Newton’s moronic comments midweek and subsequent groveling apology dominated the build-up to this one but - leaving off-field issues aside - his performance for the Panthers against the Lions this week was nothing short of sublime.
Coming off the back of his much-improved showing last week, he put in another sterling display; he was elusive in the pocket as well as creative and versatile with his arm, and made 355 yards for three touchdowns and no picks.
The 2015 MVP seems to be reinvigorated in the last two weeks and he’s simply a joy to watch, if not to listen to.
Last time that happened? 🤔
He won MVP.
đź“ş: @gmfb
Nelson Agholor
The debate around the game has been primarily concerned with serious issues of late (see: above), and sometimes the sheer joy that it can bring to fans gets neglected.
Eagles WR Nelson Agholor had a difficult start to his life on the East coast but has been gazelle-like in attack this year. He had his finest week yet this time around, notching a stunning TD in his side’s win over the Cardinals.
So he gets on our heroes list for his big catch, dazzling run and boyish finish for the Philly this week.
Villains:
Lady luck
The Texans’ DE JJ Watts suffered a fractured tibia during the opening drive of his side’s defeat to the Chiefs this week. He suffered the injury, which has ruled him out indefinitely, from what looked like an innocuous coming together with a Chiefs OL while attempting to rush the QB.
He had to be helped off the field as fans in Houston, a city that’s suffered enough misfortune of late, gave him a standing ovation.
The Giants were 0-4 coming into their game against the Chargers this week and so had little room for misfortune if they were to turn their season around.
What they got was nothing short of catastrophic. Attacking lynchpin, WR Odell Beckham Jr, went down in the fourth quarter after an awkward landing left him with what turned out to be a broken ankle.
Age
Ben Roethlisberger has had a stellar NFL career to date, but his five-pick showing against the Jaguars has raised questions about his continued longevity.
Not surprising, with how bad the 35-year-old’s showing was, but what is surprising is that it was the Steelers QB himself who raised them.
When asked in the press pit after the game if he’d been doing anything differently on the field, he answered: “I don't think so, but maybe I am. Maybe I don't have it anymore. I'm not playing well enough."
This follows last week’s public spat with Antonio Brown over the QB failing to pick out his star wide receiver, who was in acres of space, and it’s difficult not to wonder if this is just a dip in form or the signs of ages finally catching up to the previously effervescent Roethlisberger.