Welcome to the latest edition of HNGN's NFL Weekend (and Monday and Thursday) Heroes!
Every Saturday, our panel of knowledgeable (sorta) experts (really, keep reading) handpicks the players we think will make the biggest impact for their team, 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 think will really bring it and why.
Week 10
Brandon
Josh McCown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback: Bear with me here.
Tampa Bay Bucs coach Lovie Smith has announced that the team is going back to McCown as their starting quarterback. Forget the fact that, at this point, we know McCown is a below-average quarterback (65.8 passer rating in two-plus games this season). If McCown lives, err, down to our current expectations, than Tampa Bay should lose a very winnable game against the dreadful Atlanta Falcons this weekend. And that is a good thing.
The Bucs need a franchise quarterback like George R.R. Martin needs to finish the next book. If McCown can keep leading them to defeat, they'll be in prime position to draft one of the top QB prospects. Tampa Bay is only a few hours from Tallahassee. Wouldn't Jameis Winston look great in a Bucs uniform?
So come on, McCown. Get out there and suck for your team!
Jordan
Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears quarterback: Longshot. Very longshot. Jay Cutler.
The odds are against me, but I want a "told you so" moment. I think Cutler is going to have a huge game against the Green Bay Packers AND come away with the win. By huge game, I'm thinking four touchdown passes, 350 yards and just one interception.
With two straight losses, the heat is on Cutler. It's also a division game, and I think he's going to respond. He'll come out swinging at Lambeau Field, but it's going to be "Good Jay Cutler" all game long.
He'll keep up with Aaron Rodgers, and the Bears' defense will get the win.
Thomas
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers quarterback: I thought this one was fairly easy.
My projected Weekend Hero is Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Packers will host the Bears on Sunday Night Football with both teams coming off their bye and embarrassing losses in Week 8. Green Bay already crushed Chicago at Soldier Field in Week 4 by the score of 38-17, with Rodgers throwing for 302 yards and four touchdowns. I'm predicting a similar performance from Rodgers since they're coming off a tough loss in New Orleans and the Bears' secondary has been getting gashed all season. The Chicago defense is tied for 25th in the NFL for allowing 16 passing touchdowns and are 23rd in the league in passing defense (262 yards per game).
In addition to that, Rodgers has a career record of 11-3 against the Bears, with only one loss at Lambeau Field. He's amassed a total of 3,377 passing yards and a 67% completion percentage to go along with 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions against his division rival. The Packers won't blow out the Bears as badly as they did in Week 4, but I'm predicting Rodgers to have over 300 yards passing and three touchdowns in the win.
Cal
Running Game, Philadelphia Eagles: At first I was just going to say LeSean McCoy, but after looking over the team's recent stats - the most carries, second-most rushing yards and third-highest yards per-carry in the league over their last four games - I gotta just go ahead and give the nod to the rushing attack in general.
Last season, the Eagles' run game led the way for an offense that ran the most plays and scored the most points in team history. This year, they've struggled to get things going as they've dealt with injury after injury to their vaunted offensive line. But with the return of guard Evan Mathis this week, they'll have four of their five preseason projected starters going on Monday night against a Carolina Panthers defense that currently ranks 26th in the NFL against the run.
LeSean McCoy, diminutive running back/receiver/returner/bowling ball Darren Sproles and the finally healthy Chris Polk should feast on the Panthers depleted front seven and be running roughshod over Carolina's defensive backs in no time.
