Prime Time Players: Week 5

Terrell Suggs, LB, Ravens
“T-Sizzle” was on fire in Baltimore’s 26–23 win on the road at Miami. The self-proclaimed alum of “Ball So Hard University” recorded half of the Ravens’ six sacks, with all three of Suggs’ QB takedowns coming in the fourth quarter with the game on the line. “My wife told me to ‘bring momma three sacks,’” Suggs said after the game. “I said, ‘All right, momma said she wanted three, so go get it.’” The Ravens have a 14–1 record when the 2011 Defensive Player of the Year posts a multi-sack game.

DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles
Chip Kelly’s high-flying offense was back in business during a 36–21 win over the NFC East rival Giants. Although Philly failed to maximize its opportunities — kicking five field goals of 41 yards or less — Jackson was a big play waiting to happen. The electric wideout had seven catches for 132 yards (18.9 ypc) and a game-sealing TD grab, which was followed by a trolling mockery of the signature salsa dance made famous by New York’s Victor Cruz.

T.Y. Hilton, WR, Colts
Reportedly motivated by trash talk from the Seahawks secondary, Hilton had the last laugh in a 34–28 win over Seattle. Andrew Luck’s other go-to guy — opposite Reggie Wayne — had five catches for 140 yards (28.0 ypc) and a pair of TDs, including a 73-yard scoring strike that marked the longest TD in the careers of both Luck and Hilton. The play proved to be the turning point in the game, as Indy had 13 yards on 12 plays prior to the game-breaking bomb.

Peyton Manning, QB, Broncos
Sure, the four-time MVP completed 33-of-42 passes (78.6 percent) for 414 yards, four TDs and one INT for a 129.6 passer rating in a 51–48 win on the road at Cowboys Stadium. But the 16th-year veteran has been doing that just about every week. It was Manning’s naked bootleg TD run — his first rushing TD since 2008 — that stole the show. “You want to do it about every five years or so,” joked Manning.

Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys
This space is usually reserved for winners, but Romo’s historic losing effort deserves mention. In a 51–48 disappointing defeat to Denver, Romo became just the fifth quarterback in NFL history to pass for 500 yards and five TDs in a single game. Romo completed 25-of-36 passes for 506 yards, five TDs and one INT, going toe-to-toe with Manning in a shootout for the ages. Dallas and Denver combined for the second-highest scoring game in regulation (99) since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970.