The Sunday Evening Post: Week 14

As we reach the end of the decade, it’s interesting to look back and see what the hallmarks of this period were. This NFL week had a surprising number of snapshots of the decade’s trends.The San Diego Chargers have ruled December of late, running off the NFL’s longest win streak in the month, and got to show that once more with a win over who else but the Dallas Cowboys, masters of the late-season swoon. Likewise, the Colts’ title deed to the Broncos got renewed today: A 28-16 win with plenty of Peyton Manning-powered offense and just enough defense is in keeping with their dominance over Denver this decade. The Colts are 6-2 against the Broncos since 2002, and each of those losses was avenged by a playoff blowout shortly after.

The Colts and Broncos reaffirmed some standards by setting records, too.

Indy’s 22nd straight regular season win eclipses New England’s string of wins from earlier this decade, and their 114th win this decade tops the 49ers of the ‘90s for the most wins in that category. It’s almost a prosaic, expected dominance for the Colts, but they have proven, time and again, that their excellence is as durable as their venerable quarterback.

Brandon Marshall, who snagged 21 receptions in this game, breaking a nine-year old record held by Terrell Owens, is the latest iteration in a series of big, strong, receivers with outsize egos who have keyed passing games this decade. Marshall, Owens, Vincent Jackson, Plaxico Burress, and Andre Johnson: These have been, are, and will be the prototype possession receivers of the new school, snaring fades and drawing double-teams for years. Coincindentally, Marshall, Jackson, and Johnson all had excellent games today, each going over 100 receiving yards.

Of course, there are also the smaller franchise guys in the wideout ranks, exemplified by Wes Welker above all. Welker was superb, as usual, hauling in 10 catches for 105 yards and joining esteemed company by recording his third season of 100 catches or more. If he’s the clockwork receiver, Randy Moss is the hooting cuckoo. He once more faces allegations of quitting on his team, and will be the subject of conversations about superior talent wasted by a sometimes shaky work ethic, just as he was for stretches of his time in Minnesota and Oakland.

At least he kept his talent. LaDainian Tomlinson’s just a shell of the terror he was early in his career. He rushed for just 50 yards on 21 carries today, hasn’t crossed the century mark since early last year, and looks like a plodding complement to the electric Darren Sproles, at best. But his is just the latest glorious career at running back to be hampered by high use and injury: The best days of Edgerrin James, Willis McGahee, Fred Taylor, Shaun Alexander, Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson, Priest Holmes, and more were all as brilliant as they were brief. It makes one consider how long Adrian Peterson and Chris Johnson can sustain their stellar play.

And though running backs are fungible, moldy teams have been en vogue for years. The Lions, Rams, Raiders, and Chiefs have all been bad all decade: All of them lost today. In fact, the big surprise this week was the Browns’ shock of the Steelers, a team of the decade contender.

But that only goes to show that unpredictability is a perennial feature of the league, too, doesn’t it?

Update: How anonymous is the great Derrick Mason? I forgot to include him in this column despite making a note to do so because this happened today:

Someday, we may remember him for his excellence. But if this decade is any indication, Mason is likely to be the underappreciated star of this era.

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