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NFL Week 12 awards: Russell Wilson keys Seahawks explosion

By Brad Rowland

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) runs the ball during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) runs the ball during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports /
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Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) runs for a touchdown against Atlanta Falcons strong safety William Moore (25) in the fourth quarter of their game at the Georgia Dome. The Vikings won 20-10. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) runs for a touchdown against Atlanta Falcons strong safety William Moore (25) in the fourth quarter of their game at the Georgia Dome. The Vikings won 20-10. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

Offensive Player of the Week

Adrian Peterson, RB Minnesota Vikings

Coming into Week 12, the Atlanta Falcons boasted one of the best run defenses in the NFL. On Sunday afternoon, Adrian Peterson eviscerated them.

Peterson rushed for 158 yards and two touchdowns while toting the ball 29 times, and he put away the Falcons with a fourth quarter touchdown on the way to a 20-10 win. Atlanta’s defense keyed on Peterson throughout the day, often bottling him up for what appeared to be a loss in the backfield, but Peterson extracted maximum value out of each and every carry while creating something from nothing on multiple occasions.

At the age of 30, Adrian Peterson isn’t supposed to be the best running back in the NFL, but he looked the part on Sunday in Atlanta with a phenomenal performance.

Runner-up: Calvin Johnson, WR Detroit Lions

Defensive Player of the Week

J.J. Watt, DL Houston Texans

Yes, I am fully aware that giving Watt the DPOW award is the “easy” choice, but it is also the right one. The reigning defensive player of the year had another monster day in helping Houston to a win over New Orleans, and his numbers are jarring.

Watt finished second in the NFL on the defensive side of the ball with a +7.6 grade by Pro Football Focus (trailing only Green Bay DT Mike Daniels), and he produced two sacks for his trouble. Watt’s impact goes well beyond sacks, though, as he terrorized Drew Brees throughout the day with six more QB hits and three hurries. It isn’t as if Watt is a one-dimensional force, either, as he continues to be a strongly above-average run defender, and his current play is making it easy for voters to anoint him with yet another DPOY award in 2015.

Runner-up: Ezekiel Ansah, DE Detroit Lions

Next: Week 12 MVP

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