Thanksgiving Weekend featured an entire holiday season’s worth of big plays. The product was excellent after an uninspiring first couple of months to the season.
We here at PFN want to encourage more of that, which is why we celebrate the best of the best in our NFL Week 13 Awards.
NFL Offensive Player of the Week
Russell Wilson | Pittsburgh Steelers
There were some truly remarkable offensive performances in losing efforts in Week 13.
Jameis Winston, Tua Tagovailoa, Aidan O’Connell, and Joe Burrow all threw for 300+ and multiple touchdowns.
Jerry Jeudy posted an astounding 235 receiving yards and a touchdown on Monday Night Football. Brock Bowers, Jonnu Smith, Elijah Moore, and Parker Washington all cracked a century.
But we recognize winners here at PFN, and that’s why Russell Wilson gets the nod. The Steelers QB completed 29 of 38 passes for 414 yards and three touchdowns in Pittsburgh’s 44-38 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Wilson posted the week’s best CPOE (17), its third-best QB+ (84.4) and adjusted EPA per play (.406), and its fourth-best QBR (80.5).
Honorable mentions: Jeudy, Josh Allen, Bucky Irving
NFL Defensive Player of the Week
Leonard Williams | Seattle Seahawks
It was the week of the defensive touchdowns, with a season-high eight league-wide — including two by the Broncos in the Monday night game.
But the only one we’ll probably remember a year from now? Leonard Williams’ 92-yard pick-six off Aaron Rodgers.
This 92-yard pick-six by Leonard Williams is the LONGEST IN NFL HISTORY by a player who weighs 300 pounds or more (via CBS Sports Research). Thick six history #Seahawks pic.twitter.com/bMVhs1Sopb
— John Breech (@johnbreech) December 1, 2024
Despite weighing close to 300 pounds, Williams wouldn’t allow himself to get caught on the return. His top speed of 17.84 was the fastest by a defensive tackle as a ball carrier since 2019, per Next Gen Stats.
What’s more, Williams wasn’t some one-play wonder Sunday. He led the NFL in tackles for loss (3) and sacks (2) in Week 13 and also blocked a kick. What a homecoming for the former Jet and Giant.
Honorable mentions: DeMarvion Overshown, Tarheeb Still, Nik Bonitto
NFL Special Teams Player of the Week
Braden Mann | Philadelphia Eagles
Yes, Rich Eisen, punters are people, too. But they’re more than that. They can be winners as well.
And punter Braden Mann was a big reason why the Eagles beat the Ravens in Week 13.
He punted six times Sunday. Three of them he pinned inside the 20, two inside the 10, and one inside the 5. And these were no pooch punts. His 48.5 net yards per punt was fifth-best in the league.
The Ravens were navigating long fields all day. Their best field position the whole game was their own 36. The kicking game was the difference in a game decided by one score.
Put simply, Mann was The Man.
Honorable mentions: Chase McLaughlin, Daniel Whelan, Kene Nwangwu
NFL Rookie of the Week
Tarheeb Still | Los Angeles Chargers
Entering Sunday’s action, rookie Tarheeb Still had one career interception and five pass breakups.
But Kirk Cousins helped turn him into a Week 13 star Sunday, throwing four interceptions total, including two to Still.
One of those picks turned into six. Still’s 61-yard interception return for a touchdown put the Chargers ahead for good.
Still also broke up three passes and recorded three tackles for the Chargers, who won despite gaining just 42 yards of offense in the second half.
Honorable mentions: Jayden Daniels, Brock Bowers, Bucky Irving
NFL Play of the Week
Josh Allen to Josh Allen TD
Josh Allen should be in the X-Men reboot. He’s the closest thing to a mutant we’ll see in the NFL.
No one in the league has ever had his combination of size, speed, strength, and accuracy. But what makes him so much fun to watch is what he can do off-script.
The latest example: His touchdown pass — to himself — in a heavy snowstorm Sunday night.
Allen executed an impromptu hook and ladder with Amari Cooper, diving over the pylon for his second career receiving touchdown and first since 2020.
"Amari Cooper to Josh Allen for the TD!" is a new one 😂
📺: #SFvsBUF on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/scnnIT0NOL— NFL (@NFL) December 2, 2024
Allen, on Sunday, became the first quarterback in NFL history to record a passing, rushing, and receiving touchdown in the same game.
Honorable mentions: Leonard Williams’ Big Man TD, Kene Nwangwu’s 99-yard KO return, Payton Wilson’s scoop and score
NFL Coach of the Week
Nick Sirianni | Philadelphia Eagles
Nick Sirianni’s once-large chorus of critics is now basically a dude singing in his shower.
The Eagles are among the NFL’s best teams and a real contender for the NFC’s No. 1 seed after eight straight wins, including a road upset of the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
Sirianni’s Eagles won despite getting outgained by 120 yards and losing the time of possession battle by eight minutes. Special teams were key. The Eagles made their kicks. The Ravens did not.
As a result, Philadelphia is now on the verge of a fourth playoff appearance in Sirianni’s four years as coach and 96.2% to win the NFC East, per the PFN Playoff Predictor.
Honorable mentions: Sean McDermott, Matt LaFleur, Kevin O’Connell
NFL Goat of the Week
Kirk Cousins | Atlanta Falcons
Is Kirk Cousins cooked? His performance in Sunday’s loss to the Chargers loss suggests he might be.
It wasn’t just that Cousins threw the most picks he’s thrown in his 162-game career (four). It’s how damaging they were in a game decided by four points.
He threw a pick-six (to Tarheeb Still), threw an interception in the end zone, and cost the Falcons the game late by throwing his last one on a would-be go-ahead drive.
Cousins finished the game 24 of 39 for 245 yards, zero touchdowns, and the four picks. His QB+ (64.4) was not only the NFL’s worst of Week 13, it was one of the 30 worst performances of the entire season. Cousins’ 13 interceptions on the year lead the NFL.
Honorable mentions: Justin Tucker, Malik Washington, Matt Eberflus
NFL Unsung Hero of the Week
Dan Moore | Pittsburgh Steelers
Officially, Trey Hendricks did indeed play for the Bengals against the Steelers in Week 13.
You just wouldn’t have known it by watching the game.
Hendrickson finished the game with zero sacks, one quarterback hit, and just four pressures in 48 snaps.
He was totally erased by the Steelers’ offensive line, with left tackle Dan Moore doing much of the heavy lifting.
Moore allowed just two pressures (and zero hits) in 69 snaps in Week 13.
Honorable mentions: Kevin Zeitler, Brock Hoffman, Tyler Biadasz