Left Side, Strong Side

Stewart runs (and runs well) off a block by Jordan Gross (#69)

Jordan Gross may not have been named to the Pro Bowl, but he is our ProUte of the Week. The Panthers offense romped all over the injury-depleted Buccaneers defense, and Gross led the way. Of Carolina's 433 total yards, 270 came on the ground. Carolina fired on all cylinders: Jonathan Stewart, DeAngelo Williams, Cam Newton - even Steve Smith got in on the action with this 23 yard end around. Newton broke Peyton Manning's rookie passing record, yet he only had 171 yards in this game (91 on a single play, the longest in franchise history). Smith only caught one ball for nine yards, as many key starters sat out the fourth quarter.

Gross is one of those key starters the Panthers can't function without. He manhandled rookie Adrian Clayborn at the point of attack, springing Stewart (and others) for the scamper seen here. Smith's run went away from the left-side anchor, but Gross still made a key block in the backfield to ward off the backside pursuit. The Panthers averaged an astounding 8.7 yards per rush and 9.1 per pass, scoring on eight of the first nine possessions. You don't get production like that without a dominating performance by your offensive line, which gave up one sack on the day.

Gross kept the award in Carolina for another week, despite the best efforts of Brice McCain (7 tackles, 2 PDef), Eric Weddle (6 tackles, 2 PDef), and Jonathan Fanene (2 tackles, 2 sacks) to wrest it away.

Injury update: Koa Misi was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.

Pro Bowl Bound

A deflected ball about to become another Weddle INT.

Steve Smith and Eric Weddle won't be going to the playoffs this year, but they will be going to the Pro Bowl! The NFL announced the rosters for the Pro Bowl last night, with Smith and Weddle listed as reserves for the NFC and AFC, respectively. It will be Smith's fifth Pro Bowl appearance - the first since 2008 - and Weddle's first trip. He talked about earning his first selection on the Chargers Blog.

Smith will be joined by one of his offensive linemen, but it isn't Jordan Gross. At least one blogger on ESPN.com thought that Gross was more deserving of the honor than Jermon Bushrod from the Saints. New Orleans, the team Carolina plays at the conclusion of the regular season, still has a shot at the Super Bowl, which might open the door for Gross to make another trip to Hawaii.

It would be nice to see Alex Smith get recognized for his performance this season, but there are more prolific quarterbacks in the NFC; at this point he isn't listed among the alternates from the 49ers. With a first-round bye and San Fran's suffocating defense, Alex just might have a shot at the Super Bowl as well!

Back in Blue

The NBA is back, and Andre Miller is back in a blue Nuggets uniform. With the lockout shortening the season Miller began his second stint with the Nuggets last night. Denver traveled to Dallas and defeated the defending champs, 115-93. Miller came off the bench to play 27 quality minutes, in which he scored 18 points on 6-8 shooting (2-2 on 3 pointers) from the floor and 4-4 shooting from the line. Miller also led the team in assists with 5 and added 5 rebounds, 3 steals, and a blocked shot to his stat line. Not bad for an old hand - maybe he will add Sixth Man of the Year to his list of accomplishments! 

Andrew Bogut was productive in his first game back on the hardwood, shooting 7-14 FGs and 3-4 FTs for 17 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block in a one point loss (96-95) at Charlotte.

Smith's Smooth Moves

Smith slips in for the score.

Steve Smith showed he's still got the moves, slipping right by Johnathan Joseph for this seamlessly smooth touchdown. It was one of two 26 yard receptions on the day for Smith, who totaled 5 catches for 82 yards and the score. The resurgent receiver has 1,299 yards and 6 TDs in his 11th season in the league.

While Steve Smith put on the moves, Alex Smith showed the poise on Monday Night Football as the lights went out in Candlestick Park and so did the Pittsburgh pass rush. Alex was not sacked at all in this game (he's been sacked an NFL-high 39 times this season), and he completed 18 of 31 passes for 187 yards and a TD on a well-executed play-action fake.

On the other side of the ball, Eric Weddle had 4 tackles and a PDef, while Jonathan Fanene had a tackle, a sack, and a PDef.

Sione Seals It With a Safety

Go to a happy place, like Tempe, Arizona circa 2005!

Sione Pouha tackled Jackie Battle in the end zone for a safety in the fourth quarter, sealing the Jets' victory over the Chiefs and the ProUte of the Week award in the process. Pouha also had three tackles and this sack of Tyler Palko, bringing back fond memories of the 2005 Fiesta Bowl!

The big fella beat out Eric Weddle, who had 3 tackles, a PDef, and his seventh INT of the season (putting him in a three-way tie for first in the NFL); Sean Smith, who also had a PDef and an INT to go with one tackle; and Steve Smith, who caught six balls for 125 yards.

Practice squad update: Robert Johnson was signed to the 53 man roster of the Titans after safety Anthony Smith was placed on injured reserve.

Fly By Sly

This fumble brought to you by Fly By Sly.

 

It's tough to pass over Alex Smith when he posted a career-high 142.3 rating, or Eric Weddle after the play he made on this interception (he's tied for second most in the NFL), but we're going to give the ProUte of the Week to Stevenson Sylvester for forcing a fumble on a kick return. Sly doesn't get nearly the amount of playing time as Alex or Eric, so he has to make a big impact any time he's on the field. That's exactly what he did on this fly by forced fumble! Sylvester also made a tackle in the game. Weddle made four, although he missed a tackle on a tackle, and a PDef. Smith was 17-23 for 274 yards and 2 TDs.

Smith Gives Thanks for the Romo

The SS Interceptor

Sean Smith caught a Romo and the ProUte of Week 12 Award. It was Smith's first interception of a trying season (although it was Romo's second pick of the first quarter). Sean added two tackles and a PDef in the Thanksgiving Day game, which was decided by a last-second field goal.

Smith's interception put him ahead of Eric Weddle, who had more tackles (7) and a PDef of his own.