Week 10 has come and gone. The Lions couldn’t pick up a win for the tenth straight week. We saw the return of Thursday Night Football with a primetime slugfest between the arms of Cutler and Quinn and the verbal diarrhea exhibited by Cutler, Brandon Marshall, and Cleveland’s Kellen Winslow.

Then, in another exciting rendition of NFL action on Sunday, Green Bay vs. Minnesota went down to the wire, two second-tier backs found paydirt thrice, and a one Tyler Thigpen played like he actually belonged in the NFL. Jake Delhomme did not however.

Big Bertha at your service with the pros and cons of the NFL’s Week 10. (If I’m too harsh, will Roger Goodell fine me for an unsportsmanlike comment?)   

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Jay Cutler, QB, Denver Broncos
People were ready to write Cutler and company off for the ‘08 season. After starting off 4-1 most thought they had the ability to steal the show in the AFC this year. Heading into Thursday, they’d dropped three straight and were looking bleak, but then Cutler exploded for 447 yards and three scores. Just the kind of statement game he needed to secure his spot in starting fantasy lineups and take home MVP honors for Week 10.

Runners-Up

Thomas Jones, RB, New York Jets
Even if they were playing the Rams, 149 yards and three touchdowns is a good day at the office for anyone. Jones has been a solid fantasy option all season and would have brought home some hardware if Cutler hadn’t had the game of his life.

Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Anytime a season-long bust shows up with three scores he’ll come close to taking home some hardware. Add 70 yards and it’s safe to say that those who are still playing MJD were pretty satisfied with the 25 point performance out of their second running back.

Tony Gonzalez, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
10 receptions for 113 yards and two touchdowns. Maybe that’s why he’s the best tight end ever. Just maybe.

MOST SURPRISING PERFORMANCE

Tyler Thigpen, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
Thigpen is the guy that threw to Gonzalez all day. He tossed for 289 and three touchdowns. He didn’t catch one this week, but you combine those numbers with the fact that he didn’t turn the ball over and was only sacked once and you’re left with a pretty decent day. He’s still available in most leagues; probably because he plays for the Chiefs.

Runners-Up

Willis McGahee, RB, Baltimore Ravens
Willis finally showed up. Finally. Most owners had probably given up on him. One of the biggest busts of ‘08, he’s had a thousand different injuries and hasn’t produced all year. He ran for 112 yards and two scores as the Ravens blew out the Texans on Sunday. Too bad he’s floating around on waivers in a bunch of leagues.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, New England Patriots
Besides having the coolest name that isn’t Chris Fuamatu-ma’afala, BenJarvus is New England’s only hope left in the backfield. The Patriots been decimated by injuries and have been looking for one of their other options to step up and establish a running game. With a 105-yard performance with a touchdown Bill Belicheck and Pats fans everywhere have something to be excited about.    

Dustin Keller, TE, New York Jets
After a month of almost no fantasy production, the Jets tight end decided to start catching balls again. He went for 101 yards and a score. Probably won’t show up next week, though.

MOST DISAPPOINTING PERFORMANCE

Jake Delomme, QB, Carolina Panthers
When you’re playing the Raiders you expect to do a couple of things. First of all you expect to win. Secondly you expect to win the turnover battle. Thirdly you expect to move the ball. You don’t, however, expect to go 7-for-27 passing for 72 yards with four completions to the wrong team. If a quarterback is ever out-passed by Rex Grossman, Drew Stanton (on only eight attempts), Seneca Wallace, Gus Frerotte, Andrew Walter AND Tyler Thigpen in one day you should probably be forbidden from dropping back to pass for at least a month. The NFL should fine Jake Delhomme because his performance, or lack there of, was honestly offensive.

Runners-Up

Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee Titans
14 carries for eight yards. Not gonna do it, pal.

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
The Packers offense was stiffled this week by a tough Minnesota defense. Aaron Rodgers’ numbers followed. He threw for 142 yards and no scores. He’s come through in a huge way this year for those that took a risk on him on draft day. Week 10 was an exception though.

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Roethlisberger is not a good football player right now. That would be the end of the discussion but I’m not quite sure that would encompass the full effect of his inability to properly quarterback in the NFL. He holds the ball centuries longer than he should. He throws the ball to the other team a lot. He’s fumbled the ball eight times in less than 10 games (missed action due to injury). He’s just bad.

CUTTABLE PLAYER

See above.

WAIVER WIRE SPECIAL

Byron Leftwich, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Leftwich is jaded because he was shipped out of Jacksonville. Add a team of wide receivers including possession specialist Hines Ward, deep threats Santonio Holmes and Nate Washington, check down tight end Heath Miller, and either Willie Parker or “Speaker of the House” Mewelde Moore out of the backfield to that big chip on his shoulder and you’ve got some potential down the stretch. Drop Ben the turnover machine and pick up Byron. Plus, the drive where his linemen carried him up-field at Marshall was probably the coolest thing ever. So he’s got style points going for him, too.

DREAM LINEUP
QB - Jay Cutler, DEN
RB - Thomas Jones, NYJ
RB - Maurice Jones-Drew, JAC
WR - Reggie Wayne, IND
WR - Eddie Royal, DEN
TE - Tony Gonzalez, KC
K - Jay Feely, NYG
D/ST - Green Bay Packers

NIGHTMARE SQUAD
QB - Jake Delhomme, CAR
RB - Brian Westbrook, PHI
RB - Steve Slaton, HOU
WR - Steve Smith, CAR
WR - Braylon Edwards, CLE
TE - Owen Daniels, HOU
K - Jason Hanson, DET
D/ST -Chicago Bears

HIGHLIGHT REEL (Best Play)

Week 10 was full of great plays. Great games mean great players make great plays. It also means there’s lots of highlight reel hardware to dish out.

The “GET OFF ME” Award

Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings

His 29-yard touchdown run that lifted the Vikings over their Rivals from Green Bay earned him some shiny material in my books. Breaking tackles and reaching the ball over the line as he’s being pulled down from behind? The Pack can’t hold him.

The “REDEMPTION” Award

Will Blackmon, PR, Green Bay Packers
With his offense doing nothing, Blackmon took a punt 67 yards to the house and helped keep his team in the game. Blackmon did so after he received a talking-to by the head honcho Mike McCarthy for his handling of return duties earlier in the game. Way to get out of the dog-house.

The “WOW” Award

Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens
He threw a 43-yard score to Yamon Figurs. It was Figurs second career reception and it was a great pass. Seriously, it was pretty.

WEEK 10 BONUS AWARDS

THE “SECOND COMING?” AWARD

Drew Stanton, QB, Detroit Lions
In some of his first real NFL action Stanton stepped up and went 6-for-8 for 91 yards and a touchdown. Not to jump the gun or anything, but could he be the solution to the Lions’ woes?

The “YES THEY’RE FOR REAL” Award

Matt Cassell and the Brady-less New England Patriots
They’re at 6-3! And there’s only one clear-cut, top-tier team in the AFC. There is no reason that BenJarvus (Man I love his name) and company shouldn’t be able to secure a playoff spot and cause a ruckus in January. We never can count Bill out can we?

The “STAY DEhELhOMME?” Award

Jake Delhomme, QB, Carolina Panthers

I’m handing this one out because I didn’t significantly cover how truly dreadful Delhomme was on Sunday. Seven completions, Jake?! When you barely manage to complete 25 percent of your passes, things have gone awry. But I guess if you count completions to Oakland he was 11-for-27 which would somewhere between “absolutely horrid and unaccecptable” and a “mediocre attempt at playing reasonably successful football”. He needs to get his act together or Drew Stanton and the mighty Lions of Detroit could pull off an upset for their first win of ‘08 as I predicted a few weeks ago.