Full Cupboard

The cupboard is full of candidates for ProUte of Week 17, which is even more impressive with all three Smith boys being rested! Sealver Siliga was a brute, racking up 5 tackles, 4 assists, a sack, and a forced fumble! That's bigger than Star Lotulelei's tackle, assist, and sack. Brice McCain had 5 tackles, 2 PDefs, and an interception. Eric Weddle had 9 tackles, 5 assists, and ran for a first down on a fake punt. Matt Asiata had a breakout game, rushing for 115 yards on 14 carries, an average of 8.2 ypc, with a long of 39 yards (and a fumble lost). Zane Beadles was a key member of the highest-scoring offense in NFL history.

How to choose one award-winning performance, then? Context. Siliga's play is remarkable for a practice squad journeyman, but New England didn't have much to lose against Buffalo. The Patriots are the second seed in the AFC regardless. The Panthers are the second seed in the NFC, and Star's sack was one of a team-record 9 against Atlanta. Houston had nothing left to play for, but they went down fighting, as McCain's game against Tennessee can attest. He has a knack for picking off Titans' passes! Asiata played well in a win, but Minnesota's coach was fired anyway. Beadles had a big year, but was it a big week for him?

And then there's Weddle, who bulled his team's way into the playoffs. When Mike McCoy decided to fake a punt from his own 28 in overtime, he put the ball in Weddle's hands. Can that really be considered a gamble? Weddle got it done, and San Diego got the help they needed to land a wildcard spot after defeating Kansas City's backups. Weddle got the victory, so Weddle gets the trophy.

Mr. Incredible

Weddle (or is it younger Dwalin?) exults on the battlefield.

Sealver Siliga continued to tear it up against Baltimore, bringing down Joe Flacco for a sack to go along with a tackle and three assists. That would have been enough for the ProUte of the Week, if not for this. That was Eric Weddle, the Pro Bowl-bound free safety, making an incredible interception. Watch it again. That's all effort by Eric, and that's why Siliga didn't get his first award. Weddle added two tackles, two assists, and a PDef on the afternoon.

Steve Smith caught a 44-yard pass, but had to leave the game with what was diagnosed as a PCL sprain. He would play in the season finale if his coach would allow it, but Carolina has clinched a playoff berth, so they will sideline Smith against Atlanta.

Third String

It's tough not to give the ProUte of Week 15 to Alex Smith when he completes 17 of 20 passes for 287 yards and 5 touchdowns - really tough. That performance really belonged to Jamaal Charles, who scored on passes of 49, 39, 16, and 71 yards, however. Alex threw another touchdown to Sean McGrath, and, aside from losing a fumble, was nearly perfect with a rating of 158.3. He would walk away with the award if not for the sudden emergence of a third-string running back.

Due to injuries to Adrian Peterson and Toby Gerhart, Matt Asiata got the start for Minnesota. He carried the ball 30 times for 51 yards, an average of just 1.7 yards per carry. His longest run of the day was 10 yards. Those numbers aren't exactly Quinton Ganther-like, but Asiata did punch the ball into the end zone again and again and again. He had two one-yard TDs and one from five yards out, as the Vikings demoralized the Eagles. Asiata added three receptions for 15 yards, giving him 66 yards on 33 touches to go with his 3 touchdowns. Matt Asiata busted through for his first ProUte of the Week Award!

Sealver Siliga and Sam Brenner started opposite one another, with Siliga recording a sack and two tackles for the Patriots.

Paul's Haul

A pair of Pauls and a pair of Smiths make up the candidates for the ProUte of Week 14. Paul Kruger and Paul Soliai both had sacks, Alex Smith had a 122.3 rating, and Steve Smith made a fierce touchdown grab. Steve's score came at the end of a rout by New Orleans, ending Carolina's win streak. Alex threw 20 passes, completing 14 for 137 yards and 2 touchdowns in the snow. Soliai had a sack, a tackle, an assist, and a PDef.

Kruger doubled him up with two sacks, two tackles, two assists, a PDef, and a forced fumble. It was his best game in a Browns uniform, and it got him his first ProUte of the Week Award this season.

Sealver Siliga got his first start for the Patriots, and came up with 6 assists in the comeback victory.

R.J. Stanford was placed on injured reserve by the Dolphins.

The Pick Is In

The pick for ProUte of Week 13 is in, and it's Eric Weddle. He caught his first interception of the season, which he returned 21 yards. He recovered a fumble, which he returned 27 yards. He had six tackles, an assist, and a pass defensed. That's a Weddle performance worthy of the ProUte of the Week Award.

Alex Smith played well against the Broncos, but not well enough to win the game or the week 13 award. He completed 26-42 passes for 293 yards and 2 touchdowns with one interception. He also ran 4 times for 46 yards.

Sean Smith had 5 tackles and a PDef in the loss; Koa Misi had 3 tackles and a sack in a win over the Jets.

Sealver Siliga was signed from the practice squad and played for New England, registering one tackle and one assist. David Reed was waived mid-week by Indianapolis.