FIVE & FIVE: THE BIGGEST SURPRISES/DISAPPOINTMENTS FROM SUNDAY
We wrap up the ninth Sunday of the NFL season by looking at a handful of players who exceeded expectations and a handful who failed to deliver.
Surprises
Andrew Luck, Colts: It's not as though Luck hasn't been killing it in general, but I was still surprised to see the rookie sensation rack up 433 yards while throwing no interceptions against one of the league's best defenses.
Joique Bell, Lions: Have the Lions found a running back? OK, it was against a bad Jaguars team, but Bell still had a breakout performance with 73 yards and a 5.6 average in a win over Jacksonville.
Adrian Peterson, Vikings: Against that Seahawks defense? Are you kidding me? Peterson, who had 193 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns Sunday, might be the comeback player of the decade.
Isaac Redman, Steelers: The Steelers' rejuvenated running game didn't miss a beat with Redman filling in for the injured Jonathan Dwyer. Redman easily set a new career high with 147 yards on 26 carries.
Marcel Reese, Raiders: Reese has actually been flying under the radar all season, but he really had a big day as a receiver against the Buccaneers, leading the Raiders with eight catches, 95 yards and a touchdown.
Disappointments
Eli Manning, Giants: Something's still wrong with Eli, who has completely lost Hakeem Nicks and completed just 10 passes against the Steelers. He hasn't been in a rut like this since 2009, and on Sunday he even fell short with the ball in his hands and a small deficit late in the fourth quarter.
Hakeem Nicks, Giants: Nicks had only a single 10-yard catch on four targets against the Steelers. Victor Cruz needs more support than that.
Percy Harvin, Vikings: He's been such a force this year, but Harvin disappeared when the Vikings needed him most in Seattle, mustering only 30 yards on six touches in a tough loss within the conference.
Stevie Johnson, Bills: This is sort of a fantasy disappointment. Johnson was expected to have a big day when the Bills expected to be trailing Houston throughout that game, but he had his second-worst game of the season with just 29 yards on three catches.
Daryl Washington, Cardinals: The Cardinals needed their best pass rusher to have a big day in order to break out of their slump and upset the Packers, but Washington -- who had eight sacks in eight games entering Week 9 -- wasn't able to do much of anything.
