How times flies. Already 16 weeks down and now just 16 more regular-season games to play.
The playoff picture is starting to form one way or another. And besides the postseason, the talk of season-ending awards has certainly begun. So with so much at stake and so little time remaining, there’s no better time for the following players and one remarkable head coach to be at their best.
And while we're on the subject, here's to having the best when it comes to your holidays.
Peyton Manning, Luke Kuechly And Robert Quinn Headline The NFL's Week 16 Honor Roll Slideshow
QB Peyton Manning
It's almost a no-brainer. On Sunday vs. the Houston Texans, the veteran quarterback threw for exactly 400 yards and four touchdowns in his team's 37-13 victory. In the process the Broncos also wound up clinching the AFC West (thanks to a loss by the Kansas City Chiefs) and Manning set a new single-season record with 51 touchdown passes with one game to go. He has also thrown for 5,211 yards this season and can tie or surpass New Orleans’ Drew Brees’ record for a season (5,476 yards in 2011).
RB Donald Brown
A lot was made near the start of the season when the Colts gave up a first-round pick in 2014 to get running back Trent Richardson from the Cleveland Browns. While he’s been a disappointment to date, he may have a lit a fire under Brown, who himself is a former first-round draft choice. In Sunday’s 23-7 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, he touched the ball just 13 times for 110 yards. But his 33-yard scoring reception and his 51-yard touchdown run were things of beauty.
WR Roddy White
You don't usually see a lot of players on our weekly list whose team came up short on the scoreboard. But on Monday night at San Francisco, White looked like the best player on the field despite the fact that his Falcons came up short to the 49ers, 34-24. Quarterback Matt Ryan targeted White 15 times and he responded with 12 catches for 141 yards and a touchdown.
TE David Nelson
The numbers are far from mind-boggling for Nelson, who caught four passes for 33 yards and both of quarterback Geno Smith's touchdown passes in the Jets’ 24-13 win over the visiting Cleveland Browns. But those scores were only half the story when it came to Nelson, who in this case was a receiver turned giver in the best way possible.
Offensive Line: Bills
While the Miami Dolphins are far from sensational against the run, there are few teams who can get after the quarterback better than Cameron Wake and company. In Buffalo's 19-0 win on Sunday at Orchard Park, the Bills ran for 203 yards on 51 attempts and quarterback Thaddeus Lewis was sacked just once in 26 drop backs. Doug Marrone’s team controlled the ball for 36:31 and ran 77 offensive plays compared to Miami’s 52.
DE Robert Quinn
He's back for a second straight week. The Rams inched closer to a .500 record with a 23-13 win over the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Quinn totaled six tackles and three more sacks in his team’s victory. The third-year pro now leads the NFL with 18.0 sacks and is looking to become the first Rams’ player to manage that feat since defensive end Kevin Carter (17.0) in 1999.
LB Luke Kuechly
On Sunday afternoon in Charlotte, the Saints and Panthers combined for 30 points. Meanwhile, Carolina's second-year middle linebacker totaled an astonishing 24 tackles (9 solo and 15 assists) in the Panthers’ crucial 17-13 win. Kuechly also had one of his team’s two interceptions of Drew Brees and also knocked down a pass in the victory. Carolina is headed to the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
CB Richard Sherman
Here is our second winner this week on a team that came up short. The rangy defender totaled eight tackles, knocked down two passes and picked off Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer twice in Seattle's 17-10 loss. It was the Seahawks' first setback at home since Week 16 of 2011. On the plus side, Sherman now leads the NFL with eight interceptions this season.
K Shaun Suisham
It was hard to ignore the box score when it came to Suisham, who has missed only two field goal attempts all season (28-of-30) and connected on a 31-yard attempt in Pittsburgh's snowy 38-31 win at Lambeau Field. But the Steelers' specialist also connected on five PATs and recorded two tackles in a victory that kept playoff hopes alive for Mike Tomlin’s team.
Coach: Bruce Arians
Andy Reid has done a great job in Kansas City and Ron Rivera has led the Carolina Panthers to 11 wins after a 1-3 start. But how many people had the Cardinals, losers of 11 of their final 12 games a year ago, with 10 victories in 2013? It's possible the Cards could finish 11-5 and miss out on the playoffs. But on Sunday, Arians and company did the unthinkable by beating the Seahawks in Seattle, ending a 14-game home winning by Pete Carroll's club.
-- Read more of Russell S. Baxter at ProFootballGuru.com. Follow him on Twitter @BaxFootballGuru.
