NFL Week 13 Bests & Worsts: Andrew Luck Finally Turns It On

Every week, we’ll go through some of the best and worst of the notable Sunday performances and plays. Here they are for Week 13.

Offensive Player of the Week: Andrew Luck, Colts

Luck lit up the Jets Monday night in a 41-10 snoozer. He completed 22 of 28 passes for 278 yards with four touchdowns and a league-high 147.6 passer rating for the week. The win tied the Colts for first place in the AFC South, though being part of a trio knotted at 6-6 probably isn’t worth bragging about.

The Colts needed Luck to step up Monday night and he did. There have been a ton of questions about whether or not he’s worth the $87 million guaranteed he got this offseason. Against the Jets, Luck was efficient and made all the throws.

Thus far on the season he has completed 258 of 403 passes (64.0 percent) for 3,105 yards, with 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His passer rating of 98.3 ranks 11th league-wide.

Luck needs to be the guy he was Monday night if the Colts want to reach the playoffs and actually go anywhere this season.

Defensive Player of the Week: Vontaze Burfict, Bengals

Most weeks when discussing Burfict we’re talking about his latest cheap shot that left an opponent injured or drew a flag. But this week the Bengals linebacker was stellar on the field and (largely) within the rules. He led the league with 15 tackles (10 solo) in Week 13, while adding two interceptions in Cincinnati’s 32-14 win over the Eagles.

When Burfict settles down and plays sound football, he’s a force on the field. I think we all just wish he’d focus on that and rein in the shenanigans.

Most Impressive Rookie of the Week: Jordan Howard, Bears

Howard has been one of the league’s nicest surprises this season. The Indiana product rushed for 117 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries (3.7 yards per carry) in Chicago’s 26-6 win over the 49ers on Sunday. It was Howard’s fifth game topping the 100-yard mark this season.

A fifth-round pick in April, Howard has rushed for 883 yards and five scores while averaging 4.9 yards per carry as a rookie. He also has 242 yards and a score on 22 receptions.

Howard is a hammer, at 6-feet and 222 pounds, he’s a tough runner who punishes would-be tacklers. In a lost season for the Bears, they may have finally found the heir to Matt Forte’s spot in the backfield.

Hottest Seat of the Week: Jeff Fisher, Rams

In what world did this man deserve a contract extension? No, seriously, where? Because I want to live there. It’s a world where you can be objectively terrible at your job and keep getting paid millions of dollars. As it stands, I have to settle for my current salary and being TEXT REDACTED at mine.

The Rams are currently 4-8 and have lost three in a row. The only player on the team worth discussing is dominant defensive lineman Aaron Donald. If not for him, no one would even notice when the team quietly sinks into the sea following the big quake we’re all waiting for..

After announcing extensions for Fisher and general manager Les Snead, the Rams also claimed that didn’t mean Fisher was safe from being fired. That makes absolutely no sense. Jeff, what would you call a statement like that?

That’s what I thought.

Randy Fasani Award: Blake Bortles, Jaguars

Bortles is the gift that keeps on giving for those of us who enjoy slapstick. He’s football’s Benny Hill.

The Jaguars’ quarterback (and I’m using that term extremely loosely) now has more pick-sixes (11) than wins (10) in his NFL career. The poor kid just can’t do anything right.

Here’s his latest crime against the forward pass:

As the Jaguars lost their seventh game in a row, Bortles was horrendous. He completed just 19 of 42 passes for 181 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. His passer rating of 37.9 was giggle-inducing, while his Total QBR of 22.5 was even worse.

Physically, Bortles has everything you could possibly want in a quarterback. He’s 6’5″ and 239 pounds, can move and has a big arm. He looks like Ben Roethlisberger but plays like Ben Stein. Is there any chance he’s the team’s starting quarterback next season?

*The Randy Fasani Award is given weekly to the NFL quarterback who turns in the worst performance. Fasani is the award’s namesake because he had one career start and turned in a 0.0 passer rating. That makes him the worst starting quarterback in NFL history.

Throw of the Week: Carson Palmer, Cardinals

Props to Carson Palmer for proving definitively that 36 year olds — though slow and dangerous behind the wheel — can still serve a purpose. (Thank God)

Defensive Play of the Week: Eric Berry, Chiefs

And you just thought a Pick-Two was something you got at Panera. What, no one gets a Panera reference? Didn’t any of you go to college? Free wifi? Unlimited coffee? Bland soup? Forget it.

Catch of the Week: LeSean McCoy, Bills

YOINK!

Celebration of the Week: Randall Cobb, Packers

Snow + Football = Fun #KillAllDomesWithFire

Weekly Warning to Steer Clear of Kam Chancellor:

" Kam Chancellor’s leg strong AF! Earl Thomas injured. ? #CARvsSEA pic.twitter.com/XE6Iz4TZ1b — (@3lone) December 5, 2016 "

The dude hits so hard he injures his own teammates.

Photo of the Week:

“So, how’s your week going Colin? That good, huh?”