MVP meter

Week 13

By Michael Holbrook, Managing editor of special projects
Dec. 11, 2001

1. Marshall Faulk, Rams RB — Nothing came easy in a 27-14 victory over the 49ers, but as usual, Faulk delivered the goods when the Rams needed them. He ran 25 times for 88 yards and a touchdown and caught five passes for 19 yards and another score. The first touchdown broke a scoreless tie and the second returned momentum back to the Rams after the 49ers had cut the lead to 14-7 in the second quarter. For the season, Faulk has 163 carries for 840 yards (5.2 avg.) with six touchdowns. He also has 60 catches for 559 yards (9.3 avg.) with seven touchdowns.
2. Rich Gannon, Raiders QB — Coolly efficient in leading the Raiders to a nail-biting, 28-26 victory over the Chiefs. He was 18-for-24 passing for 195 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also ran nine times for 26 yards with one touchdown as the Raiders took control of the AFC West with a 9-3 record. For the season, Gannon leads the AFC with 254-for-384 (66.1%) passing for 2,821 yards with 22 touchdowns and five interceptions. His 101.5 passer rating is far and away the best in the NFL.
3. Brett Favre, Packers QB — Showed once again how difficult he is to beat at Lambeau Field by completing 15-of-27 passes for 207 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a 17-7 win over the Bears. He now has completed 228-of-358 passes (63.7%) for 2,892 yards with 24 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
4. Jerome Bettis, Steelers RB — Sat out the Steelers’ 18-7 victory over the Jets with hip and groin injuries. He is expected to play Sunday vs. the Ravens in a key AFC Central battle. Int total, Bettis has carried the ball 225 times for 1,072 yards (4.8 avg.) with four touchdowns. He is third in the AFC in rushing.
5. Kurt Warner, Rams QB — Was in complete control against the 49ers as the Rams took a one-game lead on the Niners in the NFC West. He completed 26-of-42 passes for 294 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. For the season, Warner has taken over as the NFC’s top-ranked passer, completing 286-of-431 passes (66.4%) for 3,636 yards with 24 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.
6. Ahman Green, Packers RB — Seemed to get stronger as the game wore on in helping the Packers stuff the Bears 17-7 and take over first place in the NFC Central. Finished with 125 rushing yards on 29 carries and caught two passes for 49 yards. For the season, Green now has an NFC-best 1,094 rushing yards on 234 carries (4.7 avg.) with six touchdowns. He also has caught 51 passes for 518 yards (10.2 avg.) and two touchdowns.
7. Tom Brady, Patriots QB — Although he did throw two interceptions, he was his usual steady self — completing 19-of-28 passes for 218 yards and no touchdowns — to lead the surprising Patriots to another victory. The Pats are now 8-3 when Brady is the starting quarterback. For the season, Brady is the No.2-ranked passer in the AFC with 2,300 yards on 217-of-330 passing (65.8%). He has thrown 16 TD passes against nine interceptions.
8. Jeff Garcia, 49ers QB — Had arguably his worst game of the season in the 49ers’ 27-14 loss to the Rams, which dropped San Francisco a full game behind St. Louis in the NFC West standings. Garcia struggled to complete 13-of-36 passes for 146 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He did score one touchdown on the ground. For the season, Garcia dropped to third in the NFC in passing, completing 253-of-403 passes (62.8%) for 2,777 yards with 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
9. Curtis Martin, New York Jets RB — Carried the ball 18 times for 58 yards and caught four passes for 29 yards in the Jets’ 18-7 loss in Pittsburgh. He failed to score. For the season, he has 1,140 rushing yards on 250 carries (4.6 avg.) with 10 touchdowns.
10. Brian Urlacher, Bears LB — Made plays all over the field in a 17-7 loss to Green Bay. He had 11 tackles (seven solo) with a sack and an interception that he returned 41 yards deep into Packers territory. He now has 90 tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles, three interceptions and six passes defensed as the leader of a strong Chicago defensive unit.

 

Best of the rest

11. Donovan McNabb, Eagles QB — Still not playing great but is doing just enough to lead his team to victory. He was 22-for-44 passing for 221 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in Sunday’s 24-14 win over San Diego. He also led the Eagles in rushing with 39 yards on seven carries. For the season, he has completed 225-of-386 passes (58.3%) for 2,496 yards with 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also has rushed 63 times for 378 yards (6.0 avg.) and two touchdowns.
12. Chris Chambers, Dolphins WR — Caught three passes for 36 yards in the Dolphins’ 41-6 romp over the Colts Monday night. However, two of those catches were for touchdowns and continued Chambers’ ascent as a main cog in the Miami offense. Only a rookie, Chambers has emerged as Miami’s top receiver, a deep threat who has big-play potential each time he touches the ball. More importantly, he’s given a stagnant offense the boost it desperately needed and provides balance to the running game. For the season, he has 34 catches for 640 yards (an NFL-best 18.8 avg.) with seven touchdowns.
13. Michael Strahan, Giants DE — Made four tackles and registered a sack, giving him 16.5 for the season. He now needs six sacks to break ex-Jet Mark Gastineau’s NFL single-season record.
14. Ray Lewis, Ravens LB — Did not play with the Ravens on their bye week. For the season, he has 116 tackles, 2.5 sacks, one interception and one forced fumble. He also has six passes defensed.
15. Terrell Owens, 49ers WR — Made three catches for 54 yards and generally was a non-factor in the 49ers’ 27-14 loss to St. Louis. For the season, Owens has 78 catches for 1,096 yards (14.1 avg.) with a league-best 13 touchdowns.

Dropped out

Rod Smith, Broncos WR

Last week’s list

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

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