We're handing out game balls for the final week of the 2011 regular season and here is who's getting them:
OFFENSE: Ray Rice, Ravens. He led all running backs this week with 191 yards rushing, but he did most of his damage on two runs. Rice scored on touchdown runs of 70 and 51 yards, becoming only the second Ravens player to score two rushing touchdowns of 50 yards or longer, according to Elias Sports Bureau. The only other Ravens player to do so was Jamal Lewis in 2003.
DEFENSE: Troy Polamalu, Steelers. Despite not practicing for two days because of a knee injury, Polamalu seemed to be running at full speed against the Browns. He intercepted his second pass of the season, which led to the game's only touchdown. Polamalu also perfectly timed a snap, broke through the offensive line and dragged Seneca Wallace to the ground. He wasn't awarded the sack because it was ruled that Wallace was going to hand off the ball, but he does get a game ball from the AFC North blog.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Phil Dawson, Browns. To be honest, no one really stood out on special teams this week. Dawson, the Browns' best offense all season, converted all three of his field goals including two from beyond 40 yards. The only disappointment is that Dawson finished one shy of the NFL's single-season record of eight field goals from beyond 50 yards.
Here's the final tally for game balls this season: Bengals 14, Steelers 14, Ravens 13 and Browns 7.
OFFENSE: Ray Rice, Ravens. He led all running backs this week with 191 yards rushing, but he did most of his damage on two runs. Rice scored on touchdown runs of 70 and 51 yards, becoming only the second Ravens player to score two rushing touchdowns of 50 yards or longer, according to Elias Sports Bureau. The only other Ravens player to do so was Jamal Lewis in 2003.
DEFENSE: Troy Polamalu, Steelers. Despite not practicing for two days because of a knee injury, Polamalu seemed to be running at full speed against the Browns. He intercepted his second pass of the season, which led to the game's only touchdown. Polamalu also perfectly timed a snap, broke through the offensive line and dragged Seneca Wallace to the ground. He wasn't awarded the sack because it was ruled that Wallace was going to hand off the ball, but he does get a game ball from the AFC North blog.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Phil Dawson, Browns. To be honest, no one really stood out on special teams this week. Dawson, the Browns' best offense all season, converted all three of his field goals including two from beyond 40 yards. The only disappointment is that Dawson finished one shy of the NFL's single-season record of eight field goals from beyond 50 yards.
Here's the final tally for game balls this season: Bengals 14, Steelers 14, Ravens 13 and Browns 7.
- ESPN AFC North Blogger
- A University of Maryland graduate
- Lives in the Baltimore area with his wife
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Jamison Hensley
Hensley joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun for 11 years. A graduate of the University of Maryland, he lives in the Baltimore area with his wife.
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