NFL Week 7 Clutch Power Rankings
By Mike Dyce
Week 7 of the NFL Season is almost wrapped up. There were some upsets and some close games, and with every win comes a hero. This is our power ranking of the week’s most clutch players. We’re doing it on a week by week basis, not cumulative to the season. So here are the clutch power rankings after week 7.
1. Mario Williams, DE, Buffalo Bills
Down by a point with under four minutes left in the game, the Bills were pinned deep and playing in the shadow of their goal posts. At 4th and 8 from the 9 yard line they punted, giving the Miami Dolphins great field position near midfield. Defensive end Mario Williams came up with a huge sack on Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill, which the Bills recovered. That sack and fumble set up the game tying field goal with just over 30 seconds left to play. The defense held as Dolphins tried to make something happen in those last seconds to give the Bills the win.
2. Tamba Hali, LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Like Mario Williams, Tamba Hali helped his team win. It was a close game and the Chiefs were leading by only a point with just under two minutes in the game. The Texans had the ball on their own 10 yard line, but still had 1:46 to get into field goal range. On second and 10, Hali sacked Case Keenum and forced him to fumble. That was recovered by Derrick Johnson and the Chiefs ran out the clock to hang on to the win.
3. Cincinnati Bengals special teams unit
The whole special teams unit gets the nod this week. The unit is headlined, and anchored, by Mike Nugent’s game-winning field goal as time expired. They were able to fluster the Lions’ rookie punter causing him to shank a boot in the final minute of the game giving them great field position. The Bengals punter played well and they blocked a field goal as well.
4. Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts
He had the task of taking on former quarterback Peyton Manning in the Sunday night prime-time match up. Luck didn’t disappoint either and held up his end of the bargain. He completed 21 of 38 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns, no turnovers. He also ran four times for 29 yards and scored another rushing touchdown.
5. Roy Helu, RB, Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins running back Alfred Morris did more of the heavy lifting in this game, rushing 19 times for 95 yards. Roy Helu was the one finding the end zone though. Helu carried the ball 11 times for 41 yards and three touchdowns. One of those touchdowns was a three yard scamper to win the game with less than a minute left.
6. Shaun Suisham, K, Pittsburgh Steelers
Last week I ranked Suisham because he was 4/4 for field goals en route to their first win of the season, single-handedly out scoring the New York Jets. This week he kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired.
7. Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers
Cam Newton led his team to victory on Sunday. He played near flawless football completing 15 of 17 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 26 yards as well.
8. Geno Smith, QB, New York Jets
Geno Smith led the Jets to a win over the New England Patriots. In the third quarter, Geno Smith gave the Jets the lead for the first time since the first quarter with an 8 yard touchdown run. He also threw for 233 yards and a touchdown.
9. Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears
Unfortunately for Matt Forte his team lost, but it wasn’t for him not carrying his weight. Forte had 109 all-purpose yards, 91 on the ground and 18 yards receiving on 18 touches. He also found the end zone three times.
10. Nick Folk, K, New York Jets
Nick Folk kicked two field goals in the win over the Patriots on Sunday, they were the final six-points the Jets scored. The last field goal, which ended up being a controversial one, gave the Jets the win over the Patriots with about 5 minutes left in the game. He missed the attempt, but a rare penalty gave him a second chance, which he converted.