Shark's Sunday MVPs for Week 15

Shark's Sunday MVPs for Week 15

Got snow, sleet and windy conditions? The weather definitely played a major role in week 15’s games. The majority of all East Coast and Midwest games were hit with down right nasty, winter conditions. The white out was present in Cleveland, Pittsburg and Foxboro. In Cleveland, there were several inches of fresh snow to go along with sever snow flurries behind 30 mph gusts. Jamal Lewis stole the show, playing like a kid in the back yard. Lewis always seems to play well in the snow and Sunday was not exception. The former Pro Bowl running back had 163 yards on 33 carries and one big catch for 11 yards as the Browns beat the Bills in a must win game, 8-0. In Pittsburg, Fred Taylor ran wild in the second half and propelled the Jaguars to an impressive win on the road 29-22. The snow was falling all game as was the Steelers’ defense chasing after Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. Taylor and Jones-Drew combined for 216 yards rushing on 37 attempts and proved once again that they are the best one two rushing attack in the NFL as they cruised over the stingy Pittsburg Steelers defense.

The San Diego Chargers stepped up on once again and beat the frustrated and confused Detroit Lions behind another sweet game from LaDainian Tomlinson. L.T. and Darren Sproles battered the Lions for 238 yards and four touchdowns in the 51-14 crushing of the Detroit Lions. The Miami Dolphins are finally on the board, the JV squad no more. Miami beat the dismal Baltimore Ravens in overtime behind Cleo Lemon’s 315 yards and the go ahead 64-yard touchdown strike to Greg Camarillo. Camarillo came out of now where with 109 yards and the go ahead catch and run in extra time to end the victory drought in Dade County.

Here are the top six performances from Sunday's action and Shark's Sunday MVP.

1.    Shark's Sunday MVP - Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints – Brees has been one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks after starting the season super slow. The former Purdue Boilermaker had one of his finest games of the year in a must win contest against the Arizona Cardinals. Both teams had a shot at the playoffs entering Sunday’s clash in New Orleans. Brees stepped up and carried the Saints going 26-of-30 for 315 yards and two touchdowns and ZERO interceptions. Brees found seven different receivers but went to Marques Colston early and often. “We’re alive in the playoff race and that’s the only thing that matters to us,” said Colston. “Drew was on fire today and gave us all opportunities to make plays.”

2.    Mario Williams, Houston Texans – Williams’ Pro Bowl season continued against Denver on the NFL Network. Williams has been on a tear this season and has quieted most of his critics. Williams has proven that he was the better draft pick between Reggie Bush and Vince Young who have had their moments but Williams has been more consistent performer, maturing faster which is very evident this year. Williams had the best game of his career with seven tackles and 3.5 sacks and in the process became Jay Cutler’s worst nightmare in Houston’s big win. Williams now ranks second in the NFL with 13 sacks.

3.    Fred Taylor, Jacksonville Jaguars – Taylor continues his push for his first Pro Bowl appearance. The ageless Taylor impressed once again rushing for 147 yards on 25 carries, including a late 12-yard dash that sealed the deal for the Jags. Taylor now has 1,091 yards rushing on only 216 attempts, including four consecutive 100-yard games. Taylor now ranks 19th among the NFL career rushing leaders but is the only player in that group who has never made a Pro Bowl. Voters, get real, Taylor is certainly in the top three among AFC running backs- L.T., Joseph Adai, Fred Taylor.

4.    Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints – Colston makes his first appearance on the Shark’s Sunday MVPs after an impressive eight catch, 114 yard effort in a must win game for the Saints. Colston surpassed the 1,000 yard mark for the second straight season (not bad for a seventh round draft choice). Colston’s biggest catch was an early 19-yard touchdown, his ninth of the season. Colston has been fantastic down the stretch and is making a strong bid for an NFC Pro Bowl spot.

5.    Atari Bigby, Green Bay Packers – Bigby wasBIG for Green Bay Sunday against a healthy St. Louis Rams squad. Bigby had 3.5 tackles and two huge interceptions that helped Brett Farve and the offense get the job done. Bigby’s key interception on the Packers’ 22-yard line late thwarted a potential Rams’ scoring drive that proved to be the defensive play of the game. Behind a new found run game and consistent play form the defensive secondary, many feel Green Bay, not Dallas is the team to beat in the NFC.

Honorable Mention

•    Jamal Lewis, Cleveland Browns – Lewis is the main reason why the Browns are in the hunt in the AFC playoff picture. Lewis had a monster game and was the Browns’ snowplow, smashing Buffalo defenders for 163 yards on 33 carries. Lewis accounted for more than 50 percent of the Browns offense.
•    Aaron Stecker, New Orleans Saints – Stecker continues to impress in prime-time, backing up the injured Reggie Bush. Stecker had his second consecutive big game rushing for 95 yards on 22 carries, including two touchdown runs in the Saints must win game.
•    Darren Sproles, San Diego Chargers – The San Diego Chargers ran wild Sunday. Sproles came in after L.T. posted 116 yards early against Detroit. The former Kansas State Wildcat picked up where L.T. left off and ended up bettering the former M.V.P’s performance with 122 yards on 25 carries including two touchdown gallops in the blow out victory.
•    Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams – Jackson and the Rams showed us what it could have been like in 2007 in the first half against the Green Bay Packers. Jackson had 143 yards on 24 carries including a 46 yard touchdown burst that tied the game early. Jackson looks like the fantasy stud from a year ago-too bad it came after a slow start and a month long injury, too late.
•    Cleo Lemon, Miami Dolphins – Lemon was the difference maker and the reason why Miami won their first game of the season. The fourth year quarterback had his most meaningful game of his NFL career. Lemon had no turnovers going 23-of-39 for 315 including the game winning touchdown strike in overtime for the victory. Lemon also had three timely rushes for 12 yards.  
•    Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers – Gore is finishing the season on a tear. The former Miami Hurricane has proven that last year was no fluke by working through the 49ers injury woes at the quarterback and offensive line positions this year. Gore’s patience and work ethic is overlooked by most journalists but not here at Football.com. Gore was a beast, again, keeping the 49ers in the game, rushing for 138 yards on 29 carries including a 10-yard run an a draw play on third and nine that closed the deal against the Cincinnati Bengals.