BEST & WORST
BEST PASS RUSH
The Minnesota Vikings’ Brian Robison rang up three sacks and forced a fumble in a 21-14 win against the Arizona Cardinals, who allowed starting quarterback John Skelton to go down seven times. The porous Cardinals have allowed 35 sacks in seven games.
BEST CLAMPING DOWN
The Indianapolis Colts finally plugged their holes. After the New York Jets ground up the Colts for 252 yards in Week 6, the Cleveland Browns managed 55 Sunday.
BEST EMERGENCY PLAN
No backup quarterback in the NFL has a résumé like that of Matt Hasselbeck, who has been to three Pro Bowls and started in one Super Bowl. He’s likely to hand the reins back to Jake Locker next week, but he led the Tennessee Titans to consecutive wins and has them back in the thick of the AFC wild-card race after the team’s 1-3 start.
WORST HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE
The Green Bay Packers felt plenty of love despite playing at the St. Louis Rams’ Edward Jones Dome on Sunday. “The chants are incredible,” Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “It was louder than the cheers for the Rams.” Maybe the Rams will enjoy better support in their next “home” game, though that will take place Sunday at London’s Wembley Stadium vs. the visiting New England Patriots.
WORST POP OFF ‘PUP’
The New Orleans Saints’ Jonathan Vilma and Baltimore Ravens’ Terrell Suggs made their 2012 debuts after spending the first six weeks on the physically unable to perform list, but neither made much of an impact. Suggs got one sack among his four tackles, while Vilma didn’t show up in the box score even if he did provide inspiration. Still, the duo’s defenses combined to surrender 933 yards.
WORST DEFENSIVE COLLAPSE
The Ravens continued to get steamrolled on the ground, surrendering 181 rushing yards to the Houston Texans. They have allowed 622 rushing yards over their past three games, easily the worst stretch in franchise history.
WORST WASTE OF A HUGE GAME
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout Vincent Jackson caught seven passes for 216 yards and a TD. But it was the two scores that got away he’ll likely remember from his team’s 35-28 defeat. Jackson caught a 95-yard pass but was reeled in at the Saints’ 1-yard line by Malcolm Jenkins. The Bucs came away with no points after failing four times to punch it in. On the final drive, Jackson nearly caught the game-tying score with five seconds to go but couldn’t keep both feet in bounds in the back of the end zone.