LeSean McCoy, RB, Eagles
Philly improved its record to 13–0 following a bye week under coach Andy Reid, with a 34–7 statement win over NFC East rival Dallas under the lights on Sunday night. “Shady” led the way, with 30 carries for a career-high 185 yards and two trips to the end zone. The Eagles outgained the Boys 495-to-267 yards, won the time of possession battle 42:09-to-17:51, snapped a five-game losing streak at Lincoln Financial Field and shut up Big D coordinator Rob Ryan — who previously called the team “all-hype” before admitting he was “outcoached” by Reid following the lopsided loss.
Steven Jackson, RB, Rams
After watching the hometown Cardinals win the World Series on Friday night, the Rams — who wore vintage 1999 throwback jerseys from the “Greatest Show on Turf” Super Bowl days — went out and earned their first win of the year, an improbable 31–21 upset over the Saints Sunday afternoon. Jackson had 25 carries for 159 yards and two TDs, his first 150-plus yard effort and multi-TD game since 2008. With his 28th career 100-yard effort, Jackson passed Marshall Faulk for second in franchise history and now trails only Eric Dickerson (38).
Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings
A rookie quarterback shootout between the Vikings’ Christian Ponder and Panthers’ Cam Newton quickly became the A.P. show. Peterson bulldozed his way to 162 yards from scrimmage and two TDs — with 21 carries for 86 yards and a 9-yard score on the ground, as well as five catches for 76 yards and a 19-yard TD through the air — during a 24–21 win at Carolina. The NFL’s leading rusher and highest paid runner, Peterson has 798 yards and nine TDs through eight games so far this season.
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Cliff Avril, DE, Lions
Tim Tebow was thrown to the Lions on Sunday and it wasn’t pretty. Detroit ended its two-game losing streak with a 45–10 blowout at Denver, in a game that featured several highlights — including Chris Houston’s 100-yard pick-six and Stephen Tulloch’s “Tebowing” celebration after sacking the Broncos quarterback. But Avril had perhaps the best overall game, recording two of the Lions’ seven sacks of Tebow, along with two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery returned 24 yards for a TD. Detroit’s defense applied constant pressure to Tebow, who only converted 2-of-17 on third and fourth downs.
