Here's my quick review of everything we saw in Week 13 of the 2001 NFL season:
| TJ'S TOP 10 |
W-L |
TJ SAYS |
| 1. Steelers |
10-2 |
Cowher and company survive without The Bus.
|
| 2. Rams |
10-2 |
Handled the 49ers for the sixth straight time.
|
| 3. Packers |
9-3 |
Swept the Bears and into first place in NFC Central.
|
| 4. 49ers |
9-3 |
Offense was virtually non-existent in St. Louis.
|
| 5. Raiders |
9-3 |
Overcame big day from Chiefs RB Priest Holmes.
|
| 6. Dolphins |
9-3 |
Ran all over Colts on Monday night.
|
| 7. Bears |
9-3 |
Offense fails to impress Packers' defense once again.
|
| 8. Patriots |
8-5 |
An off day for Tom Brady, but a win nonetheless.
|
| 9. Ravens |
8-4 |
Primetime showdown next Sunday with Steelers.
|
| 10. Eagles |
8-4 |
Just enough offense to offset the Bolts.
|
Offensive player of the week:
Chiefs running back Priest Holmes. Despite a losing effort at Oakland, he ran for 168 yards and a score (becoming K.C.'s first 1,000-yard runner since '91) and totaled 109 yards receiving and a touchdown against the Raiders.
Defensive player of the week:
Rams cornerback Aeneas Williams. Four tackles, two interceptions and three passes defensed. More importantly, he helped limit 49ers wide receiver Terrell Owens to a season-low three catches.
Special team player of the week:
Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown. On Heisman weekend, the 1987 winner returned a punt for a score, his 100th career touchdown, as Oakland squeaked by Kansas City.
Number of the week:
177. The difference between the points allowed by the Rams in their first 12 games this season (190) and last season (367).
Surprise of the week:
Cowboys over Giants. Emmitt Smith broke off his longest run of the year and Cowboys quarterback Quincy Carter was effective as the defending NFC champions fell to 5-7.
Coaching move of the week:
Dennis Green. Just when the Vikings looked hopeless and with quarterback Todd Bouman making his first NFL start, Minnesota's offense scored six touchdowns against the hapless Titans.
Rising this week:
New England Patriots. Bill Belichick's team didn't play overly well, but they've now won three staright.
Falling this week:
New York Jets. Quarterback Vinny Testaverde has to start throwing the ball downfield.
Store it away:
For the third straight time, the slumping New York Giants will follow a Super Bowl season with a non-playoff campaign.
Tom Jackson is an NFL analyst for ESPN.
