Welcome to the latest edition of HNGN's NFL Weekend (and Monday and Thursday) Heroes!
Every Monday, our panel of knowledgeable (sorta) experts (really, keep reading) will hand-pick the players we thought made the biggest impact for their teams, win or lose.
A big block, a timely tackle - heck even some interceptions or a touchdown or two; every game is different and every play is important.
Here, we let you know who we thought really brought it.
Week 5
Jordan
-Tom Brady, New England Patriots QB: Brady needed a big game Sunday night after New England's blowout at Kansas City, and he delivered. People talked about his age all week long, but he looked like vintage Brady last night while throwing for 292 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
There are problems with his offensive line, and he still doesn't have a big-name receiver - a problem he's had for most of his career. Cincinnati's 43-17 bout shows Brady's poor start to the season has less to do with being 37 years old, and more to do with the bargain offense Bill Belichick has assembled around him.
More importantly, the strong performance puts the blame on Belichick and his (lack of) personnel moves. The bigger question isn't how age is treating Brady - it's has Belichick the Genius lost his touch? His draft moves over the years haven't been great, and his willingness to part with key players (ie; Wes Welker, Logan Mankins) hasn't worked like it used to.
Cal
-Brian Hoyer, Cleveland Browns QB: I know what you're thinking. Man, Brian Hoyer. Really?
Yep. After a slow start in this weekend's game against the Tennessee Titans, and a drive late in the second half that saw him toss a pretty inexcusable interception, it was starting to look like just another mediocre affair for Hoyer.
But with the game on the line, Hoyer threw two tough fourth-quarter touchdowns to Travis Benjamin, helping bring the Cleveland Browns back from a 28-3 deficit to a last minute 29-28 victory with 26 unanswered points in the last 30 minutes. Hoyer, who finished with 292 yards passing, three touchdowns and an interception, improved his starting record as the Browns QB to 5-2 with his third two-minute game-winning drive of the season.
Hoyer is what he is for the most part; namely a game-managing quarterback who is going to do some brilliant things, then quickly balance that out with some idiotic things, every week. But he's also starting to develop a reputation as a guy who can get the job done when it matters most.
Brandon
-The History of the Game: History. Yes, history is my hero of the week.
As football fans, we take greatness for granted. I want to stop for just a moment and appreciate Tom Brady and Peyton Manning for what they've done in this league. On Sunday, both QBs passed historic milestones. Brady crossed the 50,000 passing yard threshold, while Manning passed 500 career touchdowns. Only six quarterbacks in NFL history have more passing yards than Brady, and only one quarterback has more passing touchdowns than Manning (for now).
How lucky are we to have two of the greatest signal callers of all time playing neck and neck with each other for over a decade? This doesn't happen often, people. Say a little prayer to the football gods tonight for treating us so well over the last 15 years.
Tom
-Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants receiver: My NFL hero of the week is Odell Beckham Jr. Call me biased (I'm a Giants fan), but did this guy not give New York what they've been waiting to see?
The rookie receiver was essentially sidelined since OTAs in June because of a hamstring issue, and hadn't fully participated in practice since then. He was limited in practice all week before his debut on Sunday against the Falcons, and he managed to catch four passes for 44 yards, including the 15-yard game-winning touchdown with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. He showed quickness on the line, the ability to gain separation and great ball skills.
Sure, nothing is definite in terms of his overall future production in the NFL, but these are all positive signs moving forward for a developing New York Giants offense. Maybe GM Jerry Reese's decision to choose Beckham over other first round selections (WRs Brandin Cooks and Kelvin Benjamin) wasn't such a bad choice after all.
