Peak performers in week two
The 2010 NFL season has got off to a fast start with two weeks already in the books. Here is a look at the top performers in week two of the regular season.
Clay Matthews: NFC defensive player of the week
Clay Matthews came up big for the second straight week and recorded back-to-back three-sack games. Matthews finished Sunday’s contest against the Buffalo Bills with three sacks and five tackles and took
home the NFC defensive player of the week honour. He leads the NFL with six sacks after two games. Houston Texans defensive linemen, Mario Williams is second with four. Coming up short on the Rookie of the Year votes last season, Matthews has made an immediate
impact with the Green Bay Packers and is a huge reason why the club is 2-0.
He is having a solid campaign and if he can find a way to continue his dominance, he will be on pace for double digit sacks. "That's what we strive for, especially as pass rushers: to get there and get
him off his game by hitting him early and often,” said Matthews.
Jahvid Best combines for over 200 yards
Jahvid Best racked up 78 yards rushing and caught nine passes for 154 yards for a combined three touchdowns for the Detroit Lions in a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday. The rookie dominated
the first half and saw plenty of action as he was able to manoeuvre his way past would-be tacklers for a breakout performance.
Best’s vision and speed were on display in week two as he was able to haul in catches in traffic and make a defender miss, which propelled him into the open field for big gains. The former University of
Southern California star introduced himself to the league last Sunday and showed that he can generate the offence in both the passing and running game.
Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub reunite against Washington
Last week, receiver Andre Johnson and quarterback Matt Schaub were not heavily involved in the game plan. To say that the running game was working in the opener would be an understatement, so both had
a relatively quiet game statistically speaking. However, the Schaub-Johnson duo came together last Sunday and lit up the scoreboard. Schaub completed 38 of 52 passes for 497 yards – a franchise record - and finished with three touchdowns and one interception.
Johnson caught 12 of those passes for 158 yards and one touchdown.
“My thought coming into this week was that I knew that a lot of people was going to be questioning us, asking if we were for real," said Johnson. "I think we showed a little something."
Matt Ryan soars over Arizona Cardinals
Quarterback Matt Ryan struggled in the pre-season and was under harsh criticism for his poor play and the offence’s inability to find the end zone. Week one was not much better for Ryan entering his third
season. But just when he was about to be written off, Ryan matched a career high with three touchdown passes and led his offence to put up 41 points in week two against the Arizona Cardinals. This was the performance that Atlanta Falcons are banking on to
dethrone the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South division.
The win will boost the Falcons’ confidence as they prepare for their big game against the Saints next week, but Ryan insisted that the team's focus was on the Cardinals.
"We didn't have next week in mind," Ryan said. "I think the biggest thing was to focus on getting a win, and we were able to accomplish that."
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