MVP meter

Week 11

By Michael Holbrook, Managing editor of special projects
Nov. 27, 2001

1. Rich Gannon, Raiders QB — Despite playing in a downpour, shredded the vaunted Giants defense for 221 yards on 13-of-20 passing. He threw three touchdowns and was not intercepted as the Raiders won impressively on the road. For the season, Gannon leads the AFC with 207-for-315 (65.7%) passing for 2,324 yards with 18 touchdowns and two interceptions. His 104.0 passer rating is far and away the best in the NFL. In addition, he’s only been sacked 16 times.
2. Marshall Faulk, Rams RB — Carried the ball 12 times for 55 yards and caught two passes for 11 yards as the turnover-prone Rams dropped their second home game of the season, 24-17 to Tampa Bay Monday night. For the season, Faulk has 126 carries for 682 yards (5.4 avg.) with five touchdowns. He also has 49 catches for 412 yards (8.4 avg.) with three touchdowns.
3. Jerome Bettis, Steelers RB — May not have scored or hit the 100-yard mark, but ran hard and freed up a revitalized QB Kordell Stewart to work his magic in a 34-24 victory over Tennessee in once-feared Adelphia Coliseum. Finished with 73 rushing yards on 21 carries. For the season, Bettis has carried the ball 206 times for 991 yards (4.8 avg.) with three touchdowns.
4. Jeff Garcia, 49ers QB — Coolly efficient in directing the surging 49ers to a 40-21 victory over the Colts in Indianapolis. He was 14-of-22 passing for 179 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. For the season, Garcia leads the NFC in passing, completing 221-of-340 passes (65.0%) for 2,442 yards with 22 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
5. Brett Favre, Packers QB — Took a licking but kept on ticking vs. the Lions on Thanksgiving Day, completing 18-of-26 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions in a 29-27 victory. He now has completed 204-of-316 passes (64.6%) for 2,530 yards with 21 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
6. Curtis Martin, New York Jets RB — Did not play since the Jets were on their bye week. Returns to action Sunday against his former team, the much-improved Patriots. For the season, he has 983 rushing yards on 212 carries (4.6 avg.) with 10 touchdowns.
7. Ahman Green, Packers RB — Showed a national television audience his many skills in the Packers’ Thanksgiving Day win. He ran for a 26-yard touchdown to open the scoring, then caught a short pass from Brett Favre and turned it into a 35-yard TD reception. Finished with 102 rushing yards on 22 carries and caught two passes for 48 yards. Green now leads the NFC with 938 rushing yards on 188 carries (5.0 avg.) and five touchdowns. He also has caught 44 passes for 395 yards (9.0 avg.) and one touchdown.
8. Kurt Warner, Rams QB — Was befuddled by an aggressive Buccaneers defense Monday night and only completed 19-of-39 passes for 291 yards and one touchdown. More importantly, he threw two interceptions and fumbled twice while being sacked three times. For the season, Warner has completed 243-of-366 passes (66.4%) for 3,000 yards with 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
9. Brian Urlacher, Bears LB — Was all over the field, making 12 total tackles (eight solo) in the 8-2 Bears’ 13-6 victory over Minnesota in the Metrodome Sunday night. Now has 73 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and four passes defensed as the leader of a strong Chicago defensive unit.
10. Terrell Owens, 49ers WR — Hauled in six catches for 103 yards, including a 35-yard TD reception in the Niners’ impressive 40-21 victory in Indianapolis. For the season, Owens has 69 catches for 970 yards (14.1 avg.) with a league-best 12 touchdowns.

 

Best of the rest

11. Michael Strahan, Giants DE — Made two tackles and had one sack in the Giants’ dismal 28-10 loss to the Raiders. He now has 16 sacks in 11 games and needs 6.5 sacks to break ex-Jet Mark Gastineau’s NFL single-season record.
12. Donovan McNabb, Eagles QB — Was held to 92 passing yards and 39 rushing yards by the resurgent Redskins defense in a 13-3 loss at home. For the season, he has completed 185-of-316 passes (58.5%) for 2,006 yards with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also has rushed 47 times for 298 yards (6.3 avg.) and two touchdowns.
13. Tom Brady, Patriots QB — Improved his record as a starter to 6-3 with a four-touchdown passing performance against the Saints Sunday. Brady threw for 258 yards and four touchdowns by completing 19-of-26 passes in the Pats’ 34-17 win. For the season, the rookie is the No.2-ranked passer in the AFC with 1,869 yards on 178-of-274 passing (65.0%). He has thrown 16 TD passes against seven interceptions.
14. Rod Smith, Broncos WR — Came into the Broncos’ Thanksgiving Day game with one badly sprained ankle then sprained the other ankle during the game. In spite of that, caught seven passes for 81 yards in helping Denver to a much-needed 26-24 victory. He now has 82 catches for 1,029 yards (12.5 avg.) with nine touchdowns.
15. Ray Lewis, Ravens LB — Made six tackles in the Ravens’ 24-21 win in Jacksonville. He now has 98 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one interception and one forced fumble this season. He also has six passes defensed.

Dropped out

Marvin Harrison
Ricky Williams

Last week’s list

1. Marshall Faulk
2. Rich Gannon
3. Jerome Bettis
4. Jeff Garcia
5. Brett Favre
6. Curtis Martin
7. Donovan McNabb
8. Kurt Warner
9. Ahman Green
10. Michael Strahan
11. Rod Smith
12. Terrell Owens
13. Marvin Harrison
14. Ray Lewis
15. Ricky Williams

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