Take Two

You can't cover greatness!

Steve Smith didn't go for big yards in week 11 - just 41 on 5 receptions - but he did score a touchdown and a two point conversion. His TD (after illegal contact) put the Panthers up 9-0 on the Lions in the first quarter, while his two point conversion tied the game 35-35 in the fourth quarter. Carolina's defense (and Cam Newton's second INT) couldn't keep the Panthers in the game after that, but Steve Smith keeps making big plays. Everyone knows Newton is looking for him in the end zone, but there's nothing Eric Wright can do about it!

Smith picks up another ProUte of the Week award for his playmaking ability ahead of Alex Smith (20-38, 267 yds, 2 TDs, INT), Eric Weddle (5 tackles), and Sione Pouha (7 tackles).

Affront

Lance Ball runs off a block by Zane Beadles.

Mike McCoy's offense isn't pretty these days in Denver, but you can't argue with results. The focus is all on Tim Tebow of course, but he better be splurging on a sumptuous dinner for his offensive line! Denver was down to a third-string running back, yet managed 244 yards rushing in Kansas City. The Chiefs had no sacks on Tebow (only attempting eight passes had something to do with that), and the Broncos ground out the yards on the ground. We are recognizing Zane Beadles as our ProUte of the Week for making that curtailed offense go. What will he be able to do against last week's ProUte Sione Pouha and the Jets defense on Thursday night?

Other nominees: Alex Smith (19-30, 242 yds, TD, INT), Brice McCain (2 tackles, 2 PDef, INT), and Eric Weddle (9 tackles).

Jarhead

FUMMMBLE!

This week's ProUte Sione Pouha used his head to jar the ball loose from Fred Jackson (watch the replay), and a teammate covered it up. Pouha had seven tackles as the Jets held the league's leading rusher under 100 yards rushing and won the division match up.

Pouha's considerable effort edged out the consistent play of Alex Smith, the combined returns of David Reed, and the collected fumble and half-sack of Paul Kruger.

Sly in the Spotlight

Stevenson Sylvester was featured in the Steelers Spotlight this week!

Double Dip

Eyes on the Prize

Eric Weddle upped his game on Monday Night Football, taking away two interceptions and another ProUte of the Week award. Let's see Brice McCain beat that! Weddle had 7 tackles and 2 PDef in addition to the pair of picks. That stat line edged out Paul Kruger, who had two sacks and two tackles. Both players doubled their production from the week before. The two Smiths continued their productive seasons: Alex was 15-24 for 177 yards and a TD, and Steve had another 7 receptions for 100 yards and a TD. Alex ran four times for 22 yards, while Steve ran once for 12.

Honorable mention goes to Stevenson Sylvester, who made his first start for the Steelers, and R.J. Stanford, who saw his first action of the season and got in on a couple of assisted tackles.

Finders Keepers

Look what I found!

Tennessee's receiver didn't want to catch the ball, but when it bounced to Houston defensive back Brice McCain he knew what to do with it. He zigged and zagged his way through a crowd en route to a 38 yard INT return for a TD to cap the Texans' 41-7 victory over the Titans. The win gave Houston first place in the AFC South, and the play gave Brice McCain his first ProUte of the Week Award!

McCain wasn't the only ProUte to snag an interception this week - Eric Weddle also made a pick at the goal line against the Jets. Weddle had more tackles than McCain (6 to 3), and his pick prevented points, but McCain converted his INT into six points. Each of them also had a PDef. Dolphins' DB Sean Smith did not have an INT or a PDef this week, but he did have 7 tackles against the Broncos. Seven was the number for S. Smith in Week 7, as Steve Smith had 7 catches for 143 yards (and one carry for six more).

Hit the Sack

Koa Misi bringing down Tom Brady last season.

Koa Misi's second season with the Miami Dolphins (0-5) has not started as well as his rookie season did. The former second round pick has been in a sack slump, according to this article by Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. That changed on Monday, when Misi sacked Mark Sanchez. It's a bit of stretch to name him the ProUte of the Week for his three tackles, one sack in a 24-6 loss to the Jets, but any hit on Sanchez is worth mentioning.

The article by Jackson also mentions the struggles of Sean Smith, another second round pick now in his third season. He did not break out of his slump against the Jets, but Paul Soliai contributed three tackles for his franchise tag.

This week the Dolphins will host Tim Tebow on "Gator Day," no less. Hopefully he will receive a warm welcome from Koa and crew.