It's safe to say that there were some interesting performances in the third week of the NFL season. But which players actually came up the biggest? You'll be happy to know that there a slew of new faces and units on the list.
Then again, there's another performer who has earned a repeat appearance. This week, the 32 teams will begin to take their turn when it comes to getting a little rest. That will mean fewer choices for our prestigious roll call but, as usual, we will do our "best."
Peyton Manning, Jordan Cameron And DeMarco Murray Headline NFL's Week 3 Honor Roll Slideshow
QB Peyton Manning
Every time you want to give some other quarterback the nod, the prolific signal-caller comes out and wows you once again. On Monday night against the Oakland Raiders, Manning completed 32-of-37 passes for 374 yards and three more scores without an interception. Manning did lose a fumble when sacked but his accuracy more than make up for that. The Broncos get a visit from the Philadelphia Eagles and their shaky defense this Sunday.
RB DeMarco Murray
There's no truth to the rumor that Murray has asked to be traded to the Cardinals so he can face the Rams twice a season. Two years after the young running back rushed for a team-record 253 yards against St. Louis, Murray came up big Sunday again. The third-year performer ran for 175 yards and a score in the Cowboys' 31-7 win. More importantly, he amassed 26 carries compared to quarterback Tony Romo’s 25 passing plays as Dallas' balance was a big key to the victory.
WR Antonio Brown
It is sometimes hard to single someone out in a losing effort, but it was hard to ignore Brown in the Steelers’ 40-23 loss to the Bears on Sunday night at Pittsburgh. The emerging wideout hauled in eight passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns, the second score via a one-handed grab that must be re-seen to appreciate. Mike Tomlin's team is winless in the young season but Brown, a former Pro Bowl kick returner, could be on the verge of a very big year in the Steel City.
TE Cameron Jordan
Two weeks into the season, the Browns had totaled 16 points and one touchdown. On Sunday at the Metrodome, Cameron topped those totals all by himself. The emerging performer was targeted 11 times and caught six passes for 66 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those scores came via quarterback Brian Hoyer and the other from punter Spencer Lanning off a fake field goal attempt. Cameron's third score came with 51 seconds to play and was the difference in Cleveland's 31-27 victory. So who's playing quarterback for the Browns this week?
Offensive Line: Colts
Was it a surprise that the Colts went to San Francisco and beat the Niners? Maybe. Was it a shock how Chuck Pagano’s team got the job done? Absolutely. Was Jim Harbaugh’s club still reeling from being manhandled in Seattle the previous week or were outside linebacker Aldon Smith's personal issue a distraction to the team? That we will never know. But let’s give credit where credit is due and the fact is that the Indianapolis offensive front handed it to the Niners. The Colts rolled up 179 yards on the ground and three rushing touchdowns in a 27-7 win.
DE Greg Hardy
Ron Rivera's Panther defense spent as much time in the Giants’ backfield as did quarterback Eli Manning. Tom Coughlin's team ran for 60 yards and Manning was sacked seven times in a humbling 38-0 loss. While teammate Charles Johnson garners plenty of attention, Hardy began to come into his own last season. On Sunday, he turned Big Blue into Big Black and Blue, totaling eight tackles and getting three of the seven sacks of Manning.
LB Justin Houston
How much better has the Chiefs' defense been this season as opposed to a year ago? Last season, Kansas City gave up 40 points in a Week 1 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. In three games in 2013, Andy Reid’s club has surrendered a combined 34 points in three wins. Houston was a problem for the Philadelphia Eagles last Thursday night, totaling seven tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and three passes defensed. What kind of numbers will Houston rack up this week against the struggling Giants?
CB Terence Newman
Terry on the spot? The veteran cornerback was in the right place at the right time against the Packers. Newman totaled six solo tackles, had one of the team’s two interceptions of quarterback Aaron Rodgers and knocked down a pass. But the play of the game and perhaps the weekend came in the fourth quarter, when the Cincinnati defense forced a fumble that eventually wound up in the hands of Newman. The 11-year pro took back the prize 58 yards for what proved to be the game-winning score in the Bengals’ 34-30 win.
KR Tandon Doss
The Ravens only totaled 236 yards of offense against theTexans, including just 75 yards on the ground. But Doss came up with one of the game's most electrifying moments Sunday late in the second quarter, returning a punt 82 yards for a score in Baltimore's 30-9 win. The Ravens' offensive unit managed just one touchdown in the game but coach John Harbaugh's defense and special teams came up big all afternoon.
Coach: Jim Schwartz
Perhaps some should focus on what the Lions managed to do Sunday at FedExField than what Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III and company failed to do against Schwartz's team. Detroit has been the league's worst road team for more than a decade and the Lions franchise had never beaten the ‘Skins in Washington (0-21, including playoffs). But a 27-20 victory by Schwartz's club was big news for a team getting ready to host the 3-0 Chicago Bears this Sunday.
-- Read more of Russell S. Baxter at ProFootballGuru.com. Follow him on Twitter @BaxFootballGuru.
