NFL Week 15 awards: David Johnson erupts in Philadelphia

Offensive Player of the Week

RB David Johnson, RB Arizona Cardinals

Ah, we can finally talk about just how incredible David Johnson was on Sunday evening.

Johnson took home Rookie of the Week honors in addition to this particular award, and he deserved both following the breakout performance. The rookie from Northern Iowa produced 187 yards on 29 carries (6.4 yards per attempt) in a dominant win over the Eagles, and Johnson also contributed four catches for 42 yards to soar past the 200-yard mark of total offense.

It was a dynamic showing from Johnson, who used his 225-pound frame to beat up on Philadelphia’s front seven throughout the day while combining that with his big-time speed to run away from defenders. Johnson rated as the top running back in the NFL during Week 15 according to Pro Football Focus, and was the best player on the field in a game where Arizona showcased a ton of talent.

To be honest, it is amazing that it took this long for a player with his talent to burst onto the scene, but Johnson announced his arrival in a big way in front of a national television audience.

Runner-up: Antonio Brown, WR Pittsburgh Steelers

Defensive Player of the Week

Melvin Ingram, OLB San Diego Chargers

I can proclaim with some level of certainty that Melvin Ingram played the best game of his NFL career on Sunday and, well, no one watched it.

Ingram contributed two sacks and a total of four quarterback hits in a 30-14 win over the Miami Dolphins, and the fourth-year player from South Carolina also forced a fumble to help his cause in winning this honor. Ingram absolutely lived in the backfield during this game, disrupting everything that the Dolphins wanted to do offensively, and it was nice to see a glimpse of the immense promise he presented as a first-round pick in 2012.

Runner-up: Luke Kuechly, LB Carolina Panthers

Next: Week 15 MVP