Shark's Sunday MVPs Through Week 16

Shark's Sunday MVPs Through Week 16

It’s that time of the season and Christmas came early for some teams and players. The weather conditions played a major role in week 16’s games, just ask Brett Farve and Trent Edwards. In Chicago, the Bears defeated the Green Bay Packers behind snow flurries and 35 mph winds. The temperature at kick off was 18 below zero! The other Adrian Peterson stole the show with 30 carries, 102 yards and a touchdown. The 102 yards were only Peterson’s second 100-yard game of his career and his first since 2005. Freezing rain and snow in Buffalo did not slow down Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs as the New York Giants came from behind to beat the upstart Buffalo Bills. Bradshaw and Jacobs rushed for 296 yards and three touchdowns in the 38-21 playoff securing victory.

The Jacksonville Jaguars secured a playoff spot in the AFC behind sweet performances from Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew, again. The deadly duo combined for 155 yards rushing and two touchdowns on just 17 attempts. Jones-Drew added six receptions for 96 yards giving him 140 total yards and a touchdown. The Jaguars destroyed the Oakland Raiders 49-11 and secured the top Wild Card spot in the process. The Jags are a scary round one opponent and are poised to make a run at the AFC Championship game.  

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

1.    Shark's Sunday MVP – Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts – Manning has quietly had another dominating season. Sunday Manning was on fire going 28-of-35 for 311 yards and three touchdowns. Manning completed six passes in a row on a 92-yard scoring drive that ended with a six-yard touchdown strike to Dallas Clark. Manning has been one of the main reasons why this Colts team has not missed a beat without Marvin Harrison in the line up. With the score 38-7 in the fourth quarter, Peyton was taken out of the game. Manning is approaching 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns on the year and has completed over 62 percent of his passes.

2.    Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles – McNabb silenced the “Ba Humbug’s” in Philly by dismantling the New Orleans Saints. The hostile environment in the Louisiana Superdome did not slow McNabb and the Eagles. The crafty veteran had a monster game going 24-of-35 for 263 yards and three touchdowns and importantly added six rushes for 37 yards including a 40-yard gallop that brought us all back to the old Syracuse days. The Eagles knocked the Saints out of the post season with the impressive 38-23 win led by the soon to be Chicago Bear, McNabb.

3.    Kyle Vanden Bosch, Tennessee Titans – Vanden Bosch continued his Pro Bowl season Sunday as the Titans stayed alive in the AFC playoff race with a big 10-6 win against the heart-broken New York Jets. Vanden Bosch recorded 10.5 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble. The former Arizona Cardinal has flourished in Tennessee 's smash-mouth defense. In the last three seasons, Vanden Bosch has 28 sacks and he's missed just two starts.

4.    Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals – Boldin balled out Sunday posting two touchdowns and an impressive 13 receptions and 162 yards. In the process Boldin became the fastest receiver in NFL history to hit 400 career receptions. If Boldin would not have been slowed by small injuries he would have joined teammate Larry Fitzgerald on the NFC Pro Bowl squad. Boldin had SEVERAL one handed grabs and helped Kurt Warner escape some dicey situations with precisely ran routes. Boldin’s first and second quarter touchdowns propelled the Cardinals to an early lead that they would later relinquish in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter – classic Arizona Cardinal football. Boldin and Kurt Warner however stepped up late in the fourth and in overtime as the Cardic Cardinals pulled off the victory.

5.    Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants – Jacobs had his best day as a pro with 145 yards and two big touchdowns in the Giants must win game against in-state rival Buffalo. The 260-pound running back smashed Bill defenders with 24 carries including a 43-yard touchdown run right before half time that energized the Giants for the second half comeback. Ahmad Bradshaw and Jacobs proved too much Sunday as they personally knocked the Buffalo Bills out of the AFC playoff race.

6.    Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals – Warner came out and put on a show after a sub par performance last Sunday. Warner went 36-of-53 for 361 yards and three touchdowns without committing any turnovers. Warner and Boldin teamed up to guide the Cardinals back to an overtime victory after blowing a second half lead.

Honorable Mention

•    Reggie Wayne , Indianapolis Colts – Wayne’s World continued Sunday. 10 catches, 143 yards and a touchdown gets you on the Shark’s Sunday MVP list 9 out of 10 times. Wayne continues his magical year in the absence of Harrison. Manning and Wayne have been the driving force behind Indy’s offensive successes. Wayne now has over 90 receptions and 1,400 yards and double-digits in scoring for the second time in his career. The seventh year veteran looks to be a mainstay on the AFC Pro Bowl squad earning his second straight trip to Hawaii.

•    Laurence Maroney, New England Patriots – Maroney is turning it on late and was the main producer Sunday as New England remained perfect. Maroney had 151 yards on 17 rushes including a 59-yard touchdown burst in the 28-7 victory over the Miami Dolphins.

•    Jerricho Cotchery, New York Jets – Cotchery was the only thing the Jets had going Sunday. Cotchery had his best game of the 2007 season with eight catches for 151 yards, including a 48-yard catch and run and a nine yard touchdown snag.

•    Roddy White , Atlanta Falcons – White is back in the Sunday MVPs after toasting the Arizona Cardinals secondary. White had 12 receptions for 141 yards that gave the Falcons a chance to steal a late victory on the road. White has been the one bright spot in Atlanta this year.

•    Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants – Bradshaw was a beast Sunday in the Giants comeback victory. Bradshaw had career day with 17 carries for 151 yards, including the game clinching 88-yard touchdown jolt. The 88 yarder is the longest touchdown run from a rookie since the fantastic Bo Jackson in 1988.