NFL Players Who Delivered in Week 16

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Dec 23, 2008

NFL Players Who Delivered in Week 16

Derrick Ward

Ward ran for career-best 215 yards, including a 51-yard burst in overtime that led to the game-winning touchdown, and helped the Giants clinch homefield advantage. Ward averaged more than 14 yards per carry in the overtime win.

Brandon Jacobs

In his first game back from a knee injury, Jacobs quickly reasserted himself as the bruising runner who keys the Giants' running game. Jacobs carried the ball 24 times for 87 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime.

DeAngelo Williams

Williams continued his assault on the NFC's rushing defenses Sunday night, running for 108 yards on 24 carries against the Giants. The third-year running back tallied his seventh 100-yard rushing game of the season and notched four touchdowns in a game for the second time this year.

Visanthe Shiancoe

In a game marred by fumbles and a failed chance at clinching the NFC North, Shiancoe stood out as a bright spot for the Vikings. He caught seven passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns as Minnesota fell 24-17 to the Falcons.

Peyton Manning

Manning completed his first 17 passes, picked apart Jacksonville's secondary and led the Colts to their eighth consecutive win and seventh straight playoff berth. He finished 29-for-34 and threw for 364 yards and three touchdowns as Indianapolis came up with 17 fourth-quarter points in its 31-24 win.

Dallas Clark

The tight end turned in his second consecutive big game, catching eight passes for 105 yards and a touchdown in Indianapolis' comeback win. Clark now has 789 yards receiving and six touchdowns.

Reggie Wayne

With Marvin Harrison and Joseph Addai out with injuries, Peyton Manning turned to Wayne when he needed big plays. Wayne had seven receptions for 108 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter.

Maurice Jones-Drew

The Colts managed to keep Jones-Drew out of the end zone, but they couldn't stop him from racking up chunks of yardage. The Jags' running back ran 20 times for 91 yards and caught seven passes for 71 yards.

Dennis Northcutt

The veteran wide receiver notched his second straight 100-yard game, catching a season-high eight passes for 101 yards and a touchdown in Jacksonville's tough 31-24 loss to the Colts.

Justin Gage

In the battle for the top spot in the AFC, Gage helped the Titans get off to a quick start, putting them ahead 10-0 with a 34-yard, first quarter touchdown catch. For the game, Gage caught five passes for a team-high 104 yards.

Jason Jones

Playing for the injured Albert Haynesworth, Jones had 3 1/2 sacks and forced Ben Roethlisberger into three fumbles as the Titans earned a hard-fought 31-14 victory and clinched homefield in the AFC.

Michael Griffin

Griffin stymied two Steelers drives with interceptions and shut down their last chance at a comeback late in the fourth quarter. Griffin picked off Roethlisberger and ran back across the field and up the left sideline for an 83-yard touchdown return with 16 seconds left, icing Tennessee's 31-14 win.

Hines Ward

The veteran wide receiver picked up his second straight 100-yard receiving game against one of the league's top defenses Sunday, hauling in seven passes for 109 yards and a touchdown against the Titans.

Matt Cassel

Despite snowy, freezing conditions at Foxboro, Cassell led the Patriots to nine scores in 10 possessions as New England obliterated the Cardinals 47-7. Cassel completed 20 of 36 passes for 345 yards and three touchdowns, a week after throwing for four touchdowns in a 49-26 win at Oakland.

Le'Ron McClain

Each time Tony Romo and the Cowboys battled back late against the Ravens, either Le'Ron McClain or Willis McGahee were there with an answer. One possession after McGahee tied the record for the longest touchdown run by an opponent in Texas Stadium history, McClain broke the record with an 82-yarder to seal the Ravens' 33-24 win.

Willis McGahee

On just eight carries, McGahee picked up his third 100-yard rushing game of the 2008 campaign. His 77-yard, fourth quarter touchdown run made a huge dent in those numbers and helped stifle the Cowboys' comeback in the final game at Texas Stadium.

Philip Rivers

The NFL's highest-rated passer threw for 287 yards and four touchdowns Sunday, helping the Chargers beat Tampa Bay 41-24 to keep their playoff hopes alive. It was San Diego's third straight victory in an essentially must-win game, and the club's 13th straight December win dating to 2005.

Antonio Bryant

Bryant picked up his third straight 100-yard game in a bruising matchup against the Chargers.Bryant caught six passes (one for 71 yards) for 127 yards and a touchdown.

Chad Pennington

With a wind chill of minus-12, Pennington threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns, putting the Dolphins one step closer to one of the most improbable playoff appearances in league history.

Larry Johnson

The Chiefs' running back picked up his third 100-yard running game of the season Sunday in frigid conditions. Johnson carried the ball 12 times for 108 yards and a touchdown as the Chiefs hung with the Dolphins before falling 38-31.

Fred Jackson

Although the Bills were outgained by the Broncos 532 yards to 275, Jackson made those yards count. He ran for 43 yards and a touchdown, but his biggest play came in the fourth quarter -- a 65-yard catch that set up a Steve Johnson touchdown.

Brandon Marshall

Jay Cutler broke Jake Plummer's franchise record for passing yards in a season by throwing to his favorite receiver, Marshall. The wideout caught 10 balls for 129 yards Sunday, giving him 98 for the season. He finished 2007 with 102 catches.

Cedric Benson

Benson rushed for a career-high 171 yards on 38 carries as the Bengals picked up their first road win of the season, a 14-0 victory over a fading and hapless Cleveland club.

Leon Hall

Browns quarterback Ken Dorsey couldn't get anything going Sunday, and Hall was a big reason why. Hall picked off Dorsey three times, and returned one of the interceptions 50 yards for a touchdown. They were the cornerback's first three interceptions of the season, after he tallied five during his rookie campaign.

Marques Colston

On a day in which Drew Brees used nine receivers to rack up 351 yards, Colston was his favorite target, hauling in nine catches for 99 yards and both of the quarterback's touchdown passes.

Drew Brees

Brees threw for 351 yards and two touchdowns as the Saints completely dismantled the Lions' defense, sending Detroit to the first 0-15 record in league history. Brees needs 402 yards passing at home against Carolina to break Marino's single season record of 5,084 set in 1984.

NFL Players Who Delivered in Week 16