Week 8 NFL Top Performers
Posted: Sunday October 25, 1998 11:48 PM
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Terrell Davis (right) became the third running back ever to rush for more than 1,000 yards in seven games AP |
No Barry Sanders. No Steve Young. No Brett Favre. Getting into
the weekly top performers has never been tougher, unless of course you're
Terrell Davis, and then
it's close to a given this year.
After a week like this, it's all the more apparent we should starting
giving some kind of special teams honor each week -- be it Jason Elam's record-tying
63-yard field goal, game-winners from Chicago's Jeff Jaeger or Miami's Olindo Mare, or just a
punt returned for a touchdown like Seattle's Joey Galloway or Green
Bay's Roell Preston did
this week.
For now, we're sticking to the original three honors. With the second half
of the year looming ahead, having the NFL's top offensive stars share the
spotlight with a special teams sensation each week is a distinct
possibility. Offensive Outburst Award
It seems every other week one of these awards goes to Terrell Davis. This
week's numbers -- 136 rushing yards, 76 receiving yards, three rushing
touchdown -- have been typical Terrell. The Broncos tailback became only
the third player in NFL history to reach 1,000 rushing yards in the seventh
game of the season, joining Jim Brown and O.J. Simpson.
Davis continues his onslaught on Eric Dickerson's single-season record of
2,105 rushing yards, but look out for another mark -- Davis' 12 rushing
touchdowns are twice as many as any other NFL player, and put him on pace
to challenge Emmitt
Smith's record of 25. Top Ground Gainer
The Raiders came out wanting to run first this week, and Napoleon Kaufman gave them
exactly what they needed, rushing for 143 yards in Oakland's 27-10 victory
over Cincinnati.
With quarterback Jeff
George sidelined and Donald Hollas stepping in,
Kaufman was called upon to carry the load and finished with a career-high
31 carries, including 15 for 94 yards in the first quarter.
Kaufman's 143 yards marks a season-high, making good use of the Raiders'
bye week last week and making up for a disappointing 17 yards on 12 carries
in his last game. With Kaufman leading the way, Oakland has won three of
its last four and at 5-2 is in the thick of the AFC wild-card race.
Losing Effort Award
This week's dubious honor comes at the hands of the Denver Broncos --
Jacksonville quarterback Mark Brunell passed for
353 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-24 loss at Mile High Stadium.
With a dinged-up rushing attack that managed just 11 carries for 50 yards,
Brunell attempted 46 passes, threw no interceptions and came threw with
three scores against a Broncos defense that had allowed six passing
touchdowns in as many games before Sunday.
Brunell's scoring strikes -- to tailback Fred Taylor and tight ends
Damon Jones and Pete Mitchell -- gave him
five games with more than one touchdown pass this season. His yardage has
been down this season -- before Sunday he only had one game with more than
215 passing yards. Top Rushing Performances Napoleon Kaufman,
Raiders, 31 carries, 143 yards
Eddie George, Oilers, 21
carries, 137 yards
Terrell Davis, Broncos, 31 carries, 136 yards
Robert Smith, Vikings, 19
carries, 134 yards
Barry Sanders, Lions, 24 carries, 127 yards
Curtis Martin, Jets, 25
carries, 101 yards
Natrone Means, Chargers,
27 carries, 92 yards
Curtis Enis, Bears, 21
carries, 85 yards
Fred
Lane, Panthers, 18 carries, 74 yards
Travis Jervey, Packers, 29
carries, 72 yards
Top Passing Performances Mark Brunell,
Jaguars, 28-46, 0 INT, 3 TD, 353 yards
John Elway, Broncos, 21-35,
0 INT, 1 TD, 295 yards
Steve Beuerlein, Panthers,
22-39, 2 INT, 1 TD, 286 yards
Doug Flutie, Bills, 18-22,
1 INT, 2 TD, 282 yards
Ryan Leaf, Chargers,
25-52, 0 INT, 1 TD, 281 yards
Dan Marino, Dolphins, 23-42,
3 INT, 0 TD, 279 yards
Brett Favre, Packers, 22-41, 2 INT, 2 TD, 260
yards
Drew Bledsoe,
Patriots, 13-33, 1 INT, O TD, 240 yards
John Friesz, Seahawks,
14-21, 0 INT, 1 TD, 234 yards
Charlie Batch, Lions,
20-37, 1 INT, 1 TD, 231 yards
Top Receiving Performances Eric Moulds, Bills, 5
receptions for 145 yards
Joey Galloway, Seahawks, 4 receptions for 130
yards
Jimmy Smith,
Jaguars, 8 receptions for 121 yards
Terrell Owens, 49ers, 5
receptions for 120 yards
Shawn Jefferson, Patriots,
4 receptions for 116 yards
Keenan Mccardell, Jaguars, 9 receptions for
113 yards
Antonio
Freeman, Packers, 9 receptions for 103 yards
Mark Carrier, Panthers, 5
receptions for 100 yards
Ed Mccaffrey, Broncos, 3 receptions for 92
yards
Johnnie
Morton, Lions, 7 receptions for 89 yards
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