NFL Players Who Delivered in Week 17

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Dec 30, 2008

NFL Players Who Delivered in Week 17

Calvin Johnson

The Lions suffered their 16th loss, but it didn't come without another solid effort from Calvin Johnson. The second-year wideout caught nine passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns.

Drew Brees

Brees needed 402 yards to pass Dan Marino's single-season record for passing yards. Although he led an improbable fourth quarter comeback, bringing the Saints back from 20 points down and throwing four touchdowns in the process, he fell 16 yards short of the record.

Michael Turner

Turner capped his first season as a starter with his second 200-yard rushing game of the year. He ran for 208 yards and a touchdown as the Falcons held off the Rams for a 31-27 win at the Georgia Dome.

DeAngelo Williams

A week after scoring four touchdowns against the Giants, Williams set a Carolina franchise single-season rushing record. Although he didn't get into the end zone, he did rush for 178 yards, giving him 1,515 yards on the season, eclipsing Stephen Davis' 1,444 in 2003.

Steve Smith

Smith recorded his eighth 100-yard receiving game of the season with a 134-yard effort against the Saints. Smith hauled in big passes throughout the game, including a 39-yarder late in fourth that helped set up John Kasay's game-winning field goal.

Matt Schaub

Down 10-0 after the first quarter to a Bears club fighting for its playoff life, Matt Schaub and the Texans rallied back, ending Chicago's postseason hopes. Schaub threw for 328 yards and two touchdowns on 27-of-36 passing as Houston closed out its season by winning five of its last six.

Andre Johnson

Johnson had touchdown catches of 43 and 3 yards and rebounded from last week's two-catch performance with 10 receptions for 148 yards. It was his NFL-record seventh game this season with at least 10 catches and his eighth 100-yard game. His 1,575 yards this season are the most for a receiver since 2003.

Ed Reed

Reed made two interceptions, bringing his season total to nine -- the most in the league. In the second quarter, his 7-yard interception return and lateral to Haloti Ngata set up a Le'Ron McClain touchdown run, which gave the Ravens a 24-7 lead heading into the half, and helped them lock down a playoff spot.

Michael Bush

Michael Bush rushed for a career-high 177 yards and scored on a 67-yard, fourth-quarter run, helping the Raiders overcome a 10-point deficit and hand the Bucs their fourth consecutive loss. It was the rookie out of Louisville's first 100-yard game.

Steven Jackson

Jackson went almost yard-for-yard with Michael Turner as the Rams nearly upset the Falcons in their season finale. Jackson carried the ball 30 times for 161 yards and two touchdowns to close the season with back-to-back 100-yard games.

Larry Fitzgerald

After disappearing last week in the snow at Foxboro, the Cardinals offense reappeared in the second quarter Sunday with Larry Fitzgerald leading the charge. The 6-3 wide receiver hauled in five catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns as Arizona spoiled Mike Holmgren's last game with the Seahawks.

Ryan Longwell

Tom Coughlin used two timeouts to ice him, but Ryan Longwell split the uprights from 50 yards out, giving the Vikings their first division title since 2000 with a 20-19 win over the Giants.

LaDainian Tomlinson

Tomlinson had his first three-touchdown game of the season as the Chargers rolled over the Broncos, 52-21, and clinched the AFC West. Tomlinson carried the ball 14 times for 96 yards and passed Marcus Allen for second place on the all-time list of rushing touchdowns with 126 before leaving the game with a groin injury.

Chad Pennington

Cut during the offseason by the Jets, Pennington went 22-of-30 for 200 yards and two touchdowns against his former team, helping the Dolphins complete a turnaround that took them from 1-15 to AFC East champs. "'It's always a sweet feeling to be a champion," he said after the game.