Week 10 NFL Players of the Week: Mahomes is BACK!

 I know this a bit later than usual and one game has already happened in the next week, but we are about to get into our players of the previous week. Better late than never!

OFFENSIVE Player of the Week: Patrick Mahomes, Quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs

Statline: 406 yards, 5 TDs, 0 INTs passing

It was bound to happen at some point. Mahomes and the Chiefs had been slumping and the NFL world could not come to terms with it. One of the best teams over the last 3 years suddenly playing terrible with their best player who is a former MVP and Super Bowl MVP playing the worst football of his career. It was bound to stop at some point. And it did. Patrick Mahomes is BACK! For the first time this season, we can say that he is the Offensive Player of the Week! With a whopping 400 yards with 5 TDs and no picks, Mahomes might have just delivered the top QB performance of the season so far. Not to mention it was in a crucial, SNF game against the division rival Raiders that catapulted the Chiefs back into first place in the West. It just looked like old times again for him and it was really refreshing to see. The highlight of his night was when he climbed the pocket, ran full speed as if he was going to take off for a massive gain and then at the last second, slung a rocket from the sidearm throwing angle to the endzone which was caught by Darrell Williams for a huge TD. That will be in contention for the throw of the year. The NFL is just better when Mahomes and the Chiefs are doing their thing, and he did just that on Sunday night en route to winning his first OPOTW of the season!
// Last Week's Winner: James Conner (RB, Cardinals)

DEFENSIVE Player of the Week: Darius Slay, Cornerback, Philadelphia Eagles

Statline: 83-yard fumble recovery for TD, 5 tackles, 1 TFL, under 20 receiving yards allowed

Darius Slay is not washed. Not by any means. The former All-Pro Lions CB is still making elite plays on a weekly basis in Philly. His performance on Sunday gave him the nod for DPOTW for the first time this season! In a close game, Slay happened to be in the right place at the right time to recover a fumble by the Denver offense but then he had a magical 83-yard return all the way for a TD. He made men miss and weaved around everyone to get in. It was a game-changing play that propelled the birds to a much needed win to keep them alive in the NFC playoff chase. Aside from that massive play, Slay dominated in all other facets of the game as well. He notched a solid 5 tackles with one for loss and was lockdown all day. He allowed under 20 receiving yards combined the whole game, limiting some of the quality talent Denver has outside in Tim Patrick and Jerry Jeudy. A vintage performance from Darius Slay and again, for the first time this season, Slay is the Defensive Player of the Week!
// Last Week's Winner: Josh Allen (DE, Jaguars)

SPECIAL TEAMS Player of the Week: EJ Speed, ST/LB, Indianapolis Colts

Statline: 12-yard blocked punt return TD, 1 ST tackle

With the Colts locked into a close battle with the divisional rival Jaguars, special teams was the way to victory. The Jags were punting it back to the Colts when Indy blocked their punt and Speed made a miraculous effort to return it back for the score. The Colts won 23-17 so this really was the game-winning play for them. It is rare that the game comes down to a special teams player that isn't a kicker. That was the case here with Speed who deserves the nod for this easily. Aside from the go-ahead play, Speed added a special teams tackle as well. EJ Speed is the Special Teamer of the week!
// Last Week's Winner: Tommy Townsend (P, Chiefs)

ROOKIE of the Week: Mac Jones, Quarterback, New England Patriots

Statline: 198 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs passing

For the by far and away best rookie QB so far this season, it's a bit of a shock that this is his first time winning the ROTW award. Mac Jones has been INCREDIBLE as a rookie for the Patriots. The last QB taken in the first round of this year's draft, he has shown why he should have been the first. He has fit perfectly within New England's offensive system and is looking better and more poised by the week. In a crucial match-up vs the Browns for potential AFC playoff positioning, Jones had the best performance yet of his young career. With 198 yards passing to go with 3 TDs and no picks, he virtually could not have played much better. Some of the throws he was making were ones you would expect out of a veteran, not a rookie. Just see the tight window he zipped a TD in to WR Kendrick Bourne early on in the game. He put it right where Bourne could get it and no one else could. Just a week ago, I wouldn't have considered Jones really in the ROY race, he had been consistent, but that was about it. Now I think he has a great shot. The Pats won their 4th straight behind Jones against the Browns and suddenly we could have a real race for the rookie of the year award. If this is Jones as a rookie...man...the Pats may already have their next Tom Brady.
// Last Week's Winner: Micah Parsons (OLB, Cowboys)

TEAM of the Week: New England Patriots (6-4)

Beat Browns (5-5) by a final score of 45-7

The gushing about the Patriots won't stop with Mac Jones winning rookie of the week. After a one year break, the Patriots appear to be well on their way to returning to the playoffs and being ready to make some noise. In a game where predictions were split all over the place, the Patriots made the result decisive. It was never a game. This team ROLLED the Browns and crushed their hopes of getting back on track. Mac Jones was incredible as we said earlier but it wasn't just him. TE Hunter Henry continues to be a masterful free agent add. He is the definition of a redzone threat. Rookie RB Rhamondre Stevenson had the best game of his young career as well with 100+ yards rushing. Matt Judon continues to ball out. JC Jackson is one of the best CBs in football. Everything was clicking for the Patriots as they glided to their 4th straight win. At this point with them playing this well, they are genuine SUPER BOWL contenders. Bill Belichick has found a way to make this team likable and an underdog story that everyone could get behind. Many thought that he was carried by Tom Brady and that we would all see his true self as a coach once he left, but it's not the case. Belichick just might happen to be the best coach of all time while Brady is the best player. The New England Patriots have secured their first Team of the Week nod and in blowout fashion! 
// Last Week's Winner: Tennessee Titans

Honorable Mentions:
-49ers WR Deebo Samuel
-Dolphins CB Xavien Howard
-Eagles WR Devonta Smith
-Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson
-Seahawks S Jamal Adams
-Panthers K Zane Gonzalez
-Patriots S Kyle Dugger