This is a new feature here on GuysNation starting NFL Week 2, where we pick the top performers from each football game. In future weeks, this will get opened up to more contributors through Round Table discussion and polling and such. For now, NFL Week 2, it’s just me. And I’ll be picking at least three players, one of which I intend to be a defensive player.
Chicago Bears (10) @ Green Bay Packers (23)
Cedric Benson – NFL Week 2 Top Performers
Cedric Benson (RB – GB) – Normally if a player ends up on one of my lists but doesn’t have a touchdown, they’re likely going to be defensive players. Benson had 116 all purpose yards (81 rushing, 35 receiving), surpassing any of the guys who scored touchdowns (each of the three were scored by a guy who had one catch).
Mason Crosby (K – GB) – Outscored the Bears all on his own, with three field goals and two extra points (that’s 11 if you’re counting).
Clay Matthews (LB – GB) – 3.5 sacks, 1 pass deflection, 7 tackles
Kansas City Chiefs (17) @ Buffalo Bills (35)
C.J. Spiller (RB – Buffalo) – I won’t be surprised if C.J. Spiller’s 170 all purpose yards (123 rushing, 47 receiving on 3 catches) and 2 touchdowns is the biggest performance of the week. It could perhaps be one of the biggest of the year.
Dwayne Bowe (WR – KC) – Eight catches for over 100 yards with two touchdowns is probably about as good of a stat line you’re going to see from a team which only scores 17 points.
Jairus Byrd (S – Buffalo) – 7 tackles and an interception
Minnesota Vikings (20) @ Indianapolis Colts (23)
Donnie Avery (WR – IND) – 111 receiving yards on 9 carries (on 10 targets) and seven more on two rushes.
Percy Harvin (WR – MIN) – 104 yards receiving on 12 catches, and another Baker’s dozen rushing on a couple carries.
Jerrell Freeman (LB – IND) – 13 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble
Bonus: Reggie Wayne (WR – IND) – 6 catches, 71 yards receiving and 1 touchdown
Oakland Raiders (13) @ Miami Dolphins (35)
Reggie Bush (RB – MIA) – Another potentially all-season great performance, Bush nearly compiles 200 all-purpose yards with 172 on the ground and an extra 25 on 3 receptions, scoring 2 touchdowns in the process.
Brian Hartline (WR – MIA) – 111 yards on 9 receptions
Matt Shaughnessy (DE – OAK) – 4 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack
Arizona Cardinals (20) @ New England Patriots (18)
Rob Gronkowski (TE – NEP) – 75 yards and a touchdown on 6 receptions
Calais Campbell (DE – ARI) – 10 tackles, 3 for loss with 2 sacks
Stephen Gostkowski (K – NEP) – Four field goals
Cleveland Browns (27) @ Cincinnati Bengals (34)
Trent Richardson (RB – CLE) – 145 all purpose yards on 109 yards rushing and 36 receiving (on 4 receptions) with 2 touchdowns. All-season candidate performance.
Andy Dalton (QB – CIN) – 318 yards passing with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception
D’Qwell Jackson (LB – CLE) – 5 tackles, 3 for loss, 3 sacks, 1 interception and a pass deflected
Houston Texans (27) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (7)
Arian Foster (RB – HOU) – 147 yards (110 rushing, 37 receiving on 6 receptions) with 1 touchdown
Ben Tate (RB – HOU) – 97 yards (74 rushing, 23 receiving on 4 receptions) with 2 touchdowns
Russell Allen (LB – JAX) – 13 tackles
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (34) @ New York Giants (41)
Hakeem Nicks (WR – NYG) – 199 receiving yards on 10 receptions with 1 touchdown
Victor Cruz (WR – NYG) – 179 receiving yards on 11 receptions with 1 touchdown
Mason Foster (LB – TBB) – 13 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception and 1 pass deflected
Bonus: Vincent Jackson (WR – TBB) – 128 receiving yards on 5 receptions with 1 touchdown
Baltimore Ravens (23) @ Philadelphia Eagles (24)
Brent Celek (TE – PHI) – 157 receiving yards on 8 receptions
Ray Rice (RB – BAL) – 152 yards (99 rushing, 53 receiving on 6 receptions)
DeMeco Ryans (LB – PHI) – 7 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 1 pass deflection
New Orleans Saints (27) @ Carolina Panthers (35)
Charles Godfrey
Cam Newton (QB – CAR) – 253 passing yards, 71 rushing yards, 1 passing touchdown and 1 rushing touchdown
Charles Godfrey (S – CAR) – 11 tackles, 1 defensive touchdown, 1 interception and 1 pass deflection
Darren Sproles (RB – NOS) – 128 receiving yards on 13 receptions
Bonus: Pierre Thomas (RB – NOS) – 143 yards (110 rushing and 33 receiving on 4 receptions)
Dallas Cowboys (7) @ Seattle Seahawks (27)
Marshawn Lynch (RB – SEA) – 122 rushing yards and 1 touchdown
Miles Austin (WR – DAL) – 63 receiving yards and 1 touchdown on 5 receptions
Anthony Spencer (LB – DAL) – 7 tackles, 2 sacks and 1 pass deflection
Washington Redskins (28) @ St Louis Rams (31)
Robert Griffin III (QB – WAS) – 206 passing yards, 82 rushing yards, 1 passing touchdown and 2 rushing touchdowns
Danny Amendola (WR – STL) – 160 receiving yards and 1 touchdown on 15 receptions with 1 fumble lost
London Fletcher (LB – WAS) – 6 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception and 1 pass deflection
Bonus: Sam Bradford (QB – StL) – 310 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns and 1 interception
New York Jets (10) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (27)
Mike Wallace (WR – PIT) – 74 receiving yards and 1 touchdown on 5 receptions
Ben Roethlisberger (QB – PIT) – 275 passing yards and 2 touchdowns
Garrett McIntyre (LB – NYJ) – 7 tackles (4.5 for loss) with 2 sacks
Tennessee Titans (10) @ San Diego Chargers (38)
Dante Rosario (TE – SDC) – 48 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns on 4 receptions
Philip Rivers (QB – SDC) – 284 passing yards and 3 touchdowns with 1 interception
Will Witherspoon (LB – TEN) – 11 tackles, 1 forced fumble and 1 sack
Detroit Lions (19) @ San Francisco 49ers (27)
Frank Gore (RB – SF) – 105 yards (89 rushing, 16 receiving) and 1 touchdown with 2 receptions
Vernon Davis (TE – SF) – 73 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns on 5 receptions
DeAndre Levy (LB – DET) – 10 tackles (2 for loss)
Bonus: Jason Hanson (K – DET) – 4 field goals (longest from 48 yards) and 1 extra point
