He still plays a little out of control and probably makes too many mistakes, but Mike McMahon is starting to look more and more like the Lions' quarterback of the future.

	Mike McMahon has rushed for 125 yards on 25 carries in limited action this season.

The fifth-round pick from Rutgers accounted for 316 yards, ran for a touchdown and had no turnovers as the Lions defeated Minnesota 27-24 for their first win of the season last Sunday.

McMahon was extremely impressive on what was ultimately the game-winning drive. The Vikings had scored 17 straight points to open the second half, taking a 24-20 lead in the process, when McMahon engineered a 13-play drive that covered 80 yards. Fullback Cory Schlesinger finished the drive with a one-yard run. However, it was McMahon who was the focal point. McMahon converted three third downs on the drive, including a 26-yard pass to David Sloan on third-and-24 from the Lions' 6.

Coach Marty Mornhinweg had plenty of praise for McMahon's play but did admit the athletic quarterback has plenty left to learn.

"I want him to think he's got it all figured out, yes, but not to the point where he thinks he's arrived," Mornhinweg told the Detroit Free Press. "He's going through a learning process that all young quarterbacks with movement ability go through."

Each Tuesday from now until the end of the regular season, ESPN.com will hand out its report card on how the new kids are doing. Here's an update on some of the league's most intriguing efforts by rookies in Week 14:

Offense

PLAYER, STATS	THE SKINNY
Bill Gramatica, K, Cardinals 2-2 FGs	Gramatica's season came to a bizarre end after the South Florida product injured his knee celebrating a field goal against the Giants. Gramatica tore the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus cartilage in his right knee when he landed awkwardly after jumping in the air following a successful kick. The Cardinals are expected to place Gramatica on injured reserve.
Anthony Henry, CB, Browns 6 tackles, 2 INTs	Henry is making a strong case for consideration as the best defensive rookie in the NFL. The second-round pick, starting in place of the injured Daylon McCutcheon, had two interceptions, the second of which he returned 97 yards for a touchdown to match the longest interception return in Browns history. "If there's a rookie in this league having a much better season than Anthony Henry, I don't know who it is," coach Butch Davis told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "This kid is phenomenal. Nine interceptions. And he turned the entire ballgame around and gave us a chance to get back into the ballgame and I'm very, very proud of the way our defense played." Henry's nine interceptions leads the NFL.
Freddie Mitchell, WR, Eagles 2 rec., 27 yds., 1 TD	The fast-talking receiver from UCLA finally had something to talk about after catching his first career touchdown in the Eagles' victory over the Redskins. "I felt it was time for me to step up this week," Mitchell told the Philadelphia Daily News. "I have the offense down now. Hey, a lot of people don't remember Week 2 or 3. They remember Week 13 or 14."
Dominic Rhodes, RB, Colts 29 att., 177 yds., 2 TDs	If the Colts can take one positive away from this season, it's the play of Rhodes. The undrafted free agent from Midwestern Texas State has filled in admirably for the injured Edgerrin James. With 754 yards rushing on the season, Rhodes has a chance to break the 1,000-yard mark. Rhodes' 177 yards against the Falcons was the highest single-game rushing effort by a Colts rookie since 1956.
Anthony Thomas, RB, Bears 31 att., 173 yds., 1 TD	The A-train is back. After missing two games with a hamstring injury and struggling some in the Bears' Week 13 loss to the Packers, Thomas exploded against the Bucs. He was particularly strong in the second half, rushing for 146 yards and one touchdown. A couple more big games and Thomas could play his way right back into the Rookie of the Year chase. He trails LaDainian Tomlinson by 188 yards for the rookie rushing lead.

Peter Lawrence-Riddell is the assistant NFL editor for ESPN.com.