NFL Week 5 awards: Fletcher Cox terrorizes the Saints
By Brad Rowland
Offensive Player of the Week
Josh McCown, QB Cleveland Browns
We’ve tried to stay away from quarterbacks in this space, simply because signal-callers normally get the nod for the league MVP award on a weekly basis. However, McCown’s numbers were something to behold on Sunday. The veteran quarterback led the NFL with 457 (!) passing yards on 36-of-51 passing, and he connected on two touchdown passes without issuing a single interception. It wasn’t always pretty for McCown and the Browns during their 33-30 win over the Baltimore Ravens, but he has done a tremendous job in leading this offense.
Runner-up: Doug Martin, RB Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Defensive Player of the Week
Fletcher Cox, DE Philadelphia Eagles
NFL diehards already knew the work of Fletcher Cox prior to this week, but the former Mississippi State star made it his mission to alert the rest of the league with this performance. Cox terrorized Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints offense throughout the day, compiling three sacks (most in the NFL) with six overall tackles and two forced fumbles on the day. Make no mistake, Cox was living in the backfield throughout the day to the degree that even three sacks don’t provide accurate context to his impact. He is a bonafide star that people are finally beginning to notice.
Runner-up: NaVorro Bowman, LB San Francisco 49ers
Next: Week 5 MVP