There may not have been seven passing touchdowns, but Week 2 in the NFL had some scintillating performances. The Manning Bowl didn't give fans the best performances by either brother; instead, Sunday's game in Lambeau blew the doors off the Washington Redskins. Here are your top players from Week 2.
NFL players of the week: Aaron Rodgers headlines this week’s top players
The Green Bay Packers’ quarterback dealt with pressure and put forth the best performance of the week.
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Passer of the week: Aaron Rodgers, 34-of-42, 480 yards, four touchdowns
In back-to-back weeks we've seen two of the best quarterback performances in recent memory. Rodgers was so good and so dominant in the first half that it helped create a quarterback controversy in Washington. Winning cures all ills and if the Redskins were in an earshot of victory, there's no Kirk Cousins talk on Monday.
The 480 yards and four touchdowns were impressive, but Rodgers' 81-percent completion was on another level. Last week Peyton Manning shred the Baltimore defense, but wasn't pressured very often -- Rodgers consistently worked out of a small pocket, finding the gaps and demolishing the Redskins.
Rusher of the week: Knowshon Moreno, 93 yards, two touchdowns
Moreno didn’t have the most rushing yards of the week, but he was the most efficient. His 7.2 yards per carry was unmatched among running backs who had more than 10 carries. More importantly, he helped Peyton Manning in a week when the All Pro quarterback was unable to throw for a touchdown until the third quarter.
It's been a slow burn for Moreno since entering the league in 2009, but if the oft-injured running back has found his legs, it could mean big things for the Broncos moving forward.
Receivers of the week: DeSean Jackson, nine receptions, 193 yards, one touchdown AND Eddie Royal, seven receptions, 90 yards, three touchdowns
Whether it’s scores of yards or lots of scores, the NFL had you covered this week -- and both were in the same game.
DeSean Jackson was almost half his team's entire passing attack this week when he averaged more than 20 yards per reception in the Philadelphia Eagles' near-loss to the San Diego Chargers. Jackson was unstoppable against an admittedly weak Chargers' secondary, but he'll be a player to watch as the season progresses. Jackson already has 297 receiving yards on the year and is on pace for over 2,000 this season.
San Diego Chargers' receiver Eddie Royal has already tied his career touchdown record and it's Week 2. He's become Philip Rivers' favorite target with the rest of the receiving corps deals with injuries. Royal isn't gaining yards in bunches, but his smart play in small spaces pairs well with Rivers' quarterback style.
Defensive player of the week: Mario Williams, 4.5 sacks
E.J. Manuel is getting the glory in the the Buffalo Bills' one-point victory, but Mario Williams was the catalyst for derailing the Carolina Panthers' offense.
Williams had 4.5 sacks and generated 11 total pressures on Sunday, which kept Cam Newton scrambling and unable to complete deep passes. These pressures ensured Newton would finish 1-for-8 on passes over 20 yards, taking a lot of pressure off the flawed Bills’ secondary.
The Bills’ pass rusher finished with 10.5 sacks in 2012 and has almost reached half that number thanks to the Carolina Panthers’ offensive line.
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