Our Week 15 team of the week is our new Super Bowl favorite.
Michael Vick, handing off to Ray Rice, throwing to Vincent Jackson and Calvin Johnson? Unstoppable. James Harrison, Tamba Hali rushing the passer, Kyle Williams in the middle, Antoine Winfield and Brent Grimes in coverage; that’s tough to beat too.
It’s a flawless squad … unless right tackle Flozell Adams decides not to bring his “A” game and undermines the whole thing, which he surprisingly didn’t do to the Steelers in Week 15.
Quarterback— Michael Vick, Philadelphia (+5.6)
Tim Tebow actually graded a bit higher, but Vick’s heroics get him the top honors.
Running back— Ray Rice, Baltimore (+3.9)
Fantasy football fans who had been cursing him all year surely applauded his work in the fake football playoffs last week … unless they had him on their bench.
Fullback— David Johnson, Pittsburgh (+1.6).
Not a great week (or year) for fullbacks, so introducing David Johnson! Non-Steeler fans can be forgiven for not knowing his name; he doesn’t have a carry.
Wide receiver— Vincent Jackson, San Diego (+3.5)
You have to wonder how many of the close games the Chargers lost without Jackson wouldn’t have gone the other way. Sometimes, playing hardball has hard results.
Wide receiver — Calvin Johnson, Detroit (+4.6)
Owner of some of the best hands in the league and probably the best nickname (Megatron), Johnson’s 10-of-12 for 152 yards vs. Tampa keyed the Lions’ landmark road win.
Tight end— Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit (+3.6)
When Pettigrew does his job in the run game, as he did vs. Tampa, he’s a real asset.
Left tackle — Andrew Whitworth, Cincinnati (+8.6)
Wow. Whitworth was the best cog in one of the best offensive line performances by a team this year; they absolutely destroyed Cleveland’s front.
Left guard — Nate Livings, Cincinnati (+6.1)
See above. Livings shared time with Evan Mathis, and they were both great.
Center — Kyle Cook, Cincinnati (+5.1)
See above, and above. Cook has had a nice season for the Bengals, and ranks in the top 10 in our center grades.
Right guard — Jahri Evans, New Orleans (+3.7)
Welcome back, Jahri! He balanced his rough effort two weeks ago with a big one against the Ravens’ front, but where has this been all year?
Right tackle — Flozell Adams, Pittsburgh (+4.3)
This was certainly unexpected – Adams hasn’t flashed this type of ability all year, and it’s not a good reflection on what is supposed to be a stout Jets front.
DEFENSE
3-4 Defensive Front
Defensive end — Wallace Gilberry, Kansas City (+5.1)
Gilberry is having a very nice season in the Chiefs’ DL rotation, and has 34 total pressures as the Chiefs’ pass-rushing specialist up front.
Nose tackle — Paul Soliai, Miami (+4.2)
Dolphin fans have to be going crazy watching their offense torpedo what’s been a breakout season on the other side of the ball. Soliai has been great over the last two months.
Defensive end — Calais Campbell, Arizona (+4.3)
Campbell is one of the big reasons the Cardinals are scoring so much with their defense; he’s great against the run or pass, and is a rare beacon of consistency in the desert.
Outside linebacker — Tamba Hali (+7.7)
Hali is truly having an amazing season rushing the passer; he’s had five+ total QB disruptions in a game eight times this year, including eight vs. St. Louis.
Inside linebacker — Derrick Johnson, Kansas City (+6.2)
Johnson did it in all three phases vs. St. Louis, and is having a Pro Bowl-caliber season.
Inside linebacker — Daryl Washington, Arizona (+2.9)
He rewarded the decision to start him with 58 snaps and excellent work vs. the run.
Outside linebacker — James Harrison, Pittsburgh (+3.3)
Harrison truly is as good as you can be in this game. Since we started grading in 2008, few players have had so much impact so often.
4-3 Defensive Front
Defensive end — Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis (+6.8)
He didn’t have a sack, but proved yet again the limitations of that stat; he put pressure on David Garrard eight times as the Jags’ QB had a passer rating of 40.9 under pressure.
Defensive tackle — Kyle Williams, Buffalo (+6.1)
For more on Williams, see 42 percent of our articles over the past two months. We’re waiting for the Pro Bowl announcements this week to see if we’re going to have to picket the league offices on Williams’ behalf.
Defensive tackle — Sammie Lee Hill, Detroit (+4.5)
Hill struggled as a starter in his rookie year, but has been a real asset off the bench of late on what’s turning into a really good Lions defensive line.
Defensive end — Jason Babin, Tennessee (+6.9)
His pass rush has been great all year, but he also did a spectacular job helping to shut down Arian Foster in the run game in Week 15.
Outside linebacker — Jarrett Johnson, Baltimore (+5.7)
He rebounded from that marathon game in Houston with an across-the-board strong effort against the Saints.
Middle linebacker — Jon Beason, Carolina (+2.9)
Beason keyed a really spirited effort from the Panthers against Arizona.
Outside linebacker — Brian Cushing, Houston (+4.1)
Cushing had his second standout game in a month and is looking like the player he was as a rookie.
Cornerback — Brent Grimes (+5.0)
A huge game for Grimes, really the type of effort that was the difference between defeat and victory in a game that was closer than the score in Seattle.
Safety — Kendrick Lewis, Kansas City (+2.8)
Lewis has been consistently OK for the Chiefs, not too many lows or highs, but he was a big factor in the win over St. Louis.
Safety — Antoine Bethea, Indianapolis (+2.9)
The Colts’ ironman has only missed three snaps all year, and he really got it done in pass coverage in the huge win over Jacksonville.
Cornerback — Antoine Winfield, Minnesota (+4.2)
Winfield has been remarkably good and consistent for the Vikings, who have been anything but as a team in 2011.
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