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By Matt Mosley
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Falling
1. Giants' running game: Brandon Jacobs' struggles this season are well-documented. He doesn't look like the same player. Danny Ware's getting more time because of an injury to Ahmad Bradshaw, but he had a big fumble in the loss to the Broncos. Believe it or not, the Giants are 10th in the league in rushing. But the fact that they've only had six runs of 20 yards or more says a lot. There's no explosiveness in this running game -- and this offensive line doesn't appear to be blowing open holes like it has in the past.
2. Eli Manning, Giants quarterback: I'm not going to give him the injury excuse. If he says his right foot is fine and he's able to play on it, then we're going to continue holding him to a high standard. Sometimes a franchise quarterback needs to put his team on his back. Against the Broncos, Manning engineered a lifeless offense. Osi Umenyiora got so sick of watching the offense that he started shouting at players on the sideline. Manning needs to have his best game of the season against the Cowboys on Sunday. This is about as close to a must-win as a team can have at this juncture in the season.
3. Jim Zorn, Commanders head coach: I realize that it's fashionable right now to praise Zorn for the way his team continues to fight. But I don't like the way he went conservative when the Eagles had first-and-goal at the Eagles' 10-yard line in the fourth quarter Sunday. Zorn can hear what the Skins' play-calling duo of Sherm Smith (runs) and Sherm Lewis (pass) are coming up with, so I assume he can set the tone for what the team is trying to accomplish. The Skins appeared to play for a field goal when a touchdown would've put them up 28-16. I wish someone would explain to me why a 3-8 team has played conservatively on offense in two division games they should've won. Zorn's still listed as head coach of this team, so that's who I'm going to criticize for Sunday's loss.
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Hunter Martin/Getty ImagesLeSean McCoy has taken advantage of additional practice and game reps.
Rising
1. LeSean McCoy, Eagles running back: After being frozen out of the game plan Nov. 15 in San Diego, McCoy has rushed for 175 yards and a touchdown over the past two games. He also had a huge second-effort play on the Eagles' game-tying two-point conversion against the Commanders on Sunday. With Brian Westbrook still out with a concussion, McCoy has taken advantage of the extra reps in practice. He's becoming more and more comfortable. Other than the fumble in Chicago, he's played really well the past two games. And he's the reason Andy Reid seems to have a lot more confidence in the running game right now.
2. Miles Austin, Cowboys wide receiver: With one catch early in the game against the Raiders, Austin helped establish the tone for a lopsided win. The Raiders thought their physical corners could succeed against Austin in man coverage -- and he made them pay. The Packers and Commanders wisely stayed back and kept everything in front of them. Tight end Jason Witten's still the key to this passing game, but Austin's the big-play threat. With seven catches for 145 yards, he shredded the Raiders' secondary and continued his memorable season.
3. Asante Samuel, Eagles cornerback: Samuel often gets criticized for shying away from contact, but it doesn't matter when he's picking off two passes per game. He's one of the best corners in the league at baiting quarterbacks into poor decisions. His two interceptions in the first half kept the Eagles in a game in which they were being outplayed. Samuel now has seven interceptions on the season and he has a really good chance to get into double digits.
» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South
Falling
1. Giants' running game: Brandon Jacobs' struggles this season are well-documented. He doesn't look like the same player. Danny Ware's getting more time because of an injury to Ahmad Bradshaw, but he had a big fumble in the loss to the Broncos. Believe it or not, the Giants are 10th in the league in rushing. But the fact that they've only had six runs of 20 yards or more says a lot. There's no explosiveness in this running game -- and this offensive line doesn't appear to be blowing open holes like it has in the past.
2. Eli Manning, Giants quarterback: I'm not going to give him the injury excuse. If he says his right foot is fine and he's able to play on it, then we're going to continue holding him to a high standard. Sometimes a franchise quarterback needs to put his team on his back. Against the Broncos, Manning engineered a lifeless offense. Osi Umenyiora got so sick of watching the offense that he started shouting at players on the sideline. Manning needs to have his best game of the season against the Cowboys on Sunday. This is about as close to a must-win as a team can have at this juncture in the season.
3. Jim Zorn, Commanders head coach: I realize that it's fashionable right now to praise Zorn for the way his team continues to fight. But I don't like the way he went conservative when the Eagles had first-and-goal at the Eagles' 10-yard line in the fourth quarter Sunday. Zorn can hear what the Skins' play-calling duo of Sherm Smith (runs) and Sherm Lewis (pass) are coming up with, so I assume he can set the tone for what the team is trying to accomplish. The Skins appeared to play for a field goal when a touchdown would've put them up 28-16. I wish someone would explain to me why a 3-8 team has played conservatively on offense in two division games they should've won. Zorn's still listed as head coach of this team, so that's who I'm going to criticize for Sunday's loss.
[+] Enlarge
Hunter Martin/Getty ImagesLeSean McCoy has taken advantage of additional practice and game reps.Rising
1. LeSean McCoy, Eagles running back: After being frozen out of the game plan Nov. 15 in San Diego, McCoy has rushed for 175 yards and a touchdown over the past two games. He also had a huge second-effort play on the Eagles' game-tying two-point conversion against the Commanders on Sunday. With Brian Westbrook still out with a concussion, McCoy has taken advantage of the extra reps in practice. He's becoming more and more comfortable. Other than the fumble in Chicago, he's played really well the past two games. And he's the reason Andy Reid seems to have a lot more confidence in the running game right now.
2. Miles Austin, Cowboys wide receiver: With one catch early in the game against the Raiders, Austin helped establish the tone for a lopsided win. The Raiders thought their physical corners could succeed against Austin in man coverage -- and he made them pay. The Packers and Commanders wisely stayed back and kept everything in front of them. Tight end Jason Witten's still the key to this passing game, but Austin's the big-play threat. With seven catches for 145 yards, he shredded the Raiders' secondary and continued his memorable season.
3. Asante Samuel, Eagles cornerback: Samuel often gets criticized for shying away from contact, but it doesn't matter when he's picking off two passes per game. He's one of the best corners in the league at baiting quarterbacks into poor decisions. His two interceptions in the first half kept the Eagles in a game in which they were being outplayed. Samuel now has seven interceptions on the season and he has a really good chance to get into double digits.
