Winners of the Week, Week 17

Hi, here is my weekly winners of the week post. Some breaking news that former Cardinals, Bengals, Raiders QB Carson Palmer retires. Here is the post:

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Juju Smith-Schuester, WR/KR, Steelers
Statline: 9 rec, 145 yards, 1 TD receiving, 96 yd kick return TD
Juju Smith has been a breakout rookie this year and he capped off a wonderful season with a player of the week showing on my blog! With Antonio Brown sidelined the last few weeks, Smith-Schuester has taken advantage especially with this game. Since a breakout game around halfway through the year, Juju has been a top threat on the Steelers and has been their WR2 ever since. This week against a weak Cleveland team, Smith-Schuester went off in every way possible. He was all over the field catching a whopping 9 balls and he racked up an amazing amount of yards with 145 yards. Just when you think Smith's game was great, it got better! Smith-Schuester ran back a kick return 96 yards for a TD to really end the game. As you can see, Juju was all over the field and this should set some good showings in the coming playoffs, the Steelers are slated at the AFC 2 seed and have a first round BYE. If Smith plays like he did this week, this Steelers passing attack could be more trouble than usual. Smith-Schuester the youngest player in the NFL wins caps off an amazing rookie season with a player of the week berth on my blog!

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Kevin Byard, S, Titans
Statline: 2 INTs
What a end to an amazing season for Titans breakout safety Kevin Byard as he picked off Blake Bortles twice in the most important game of the Titans season to give them an upset win and send them to their first playoffs in years! Kevin Byard has been a breakout star all season and this game showed exactly what he is best at, picking off the QB. Byard had 2 interceptions with the 2nd one icing the game which sent Tennessee to the playoffs. Byard ended the season tied for first in the league in INTs with Darius Slay for 8 INTs. Byard has had such a great season which showed him surprisingly leading the league in interceptions. Byard could be a star safety for years to come and a potential defensive player of the year candidate. Byard sent the Titans to the playoffs with 2 amazing picks and for all of that, he wins my blogs defensive player of the week!

TEAM OF THE WEEK: Buffalo Bills (9-7)
Final Score: Bills 22, Dolphins 16
While there were other great storylines this week, like the Bengals ending the Ravens playoff chances, the Titans barely making the playoffs, and more, the Bills story was my favorite and so I have decided to pick them as my blogs team of the week. The Bills have been an average team the past few years, they are usually 8-8 or 9-7 but this year, the Bills actually had a chance. Despite them having another Bills like season, the AFC playoff picture was much worse than usual giving the Bills a chance to make the playoffs. This week it was a 4 team race for 2 wildcard spots and most expected the 2 teams to win to be the Chargers and Ravens...it was the opposite! The Titans and Bills grabbed the last 2 spots by winning and having great luck from other games. The Bills out of those teams had the least of chances to make the playoffs, no one counted them as playoff shots all year though they stayed in it the entire time. And like last year, another AFC East team snuck into the AFC 6 seed. Now the Bills after having a great game, are going to the playoffs due to some remarkable help that no one saw coming. Now I love the Bills in the playoffs and since my Seahawks are out, I'm rooting for the Bills. They have a QB who is always underestimated in Tyrod Taylor. A top 5 RB in LeSean McCoy, a few great receivers like Kelvin Benjamin, and a defense that can get it done. The Bills somehow snuck into the playoffs and now I think they have a shot, even though they are playing a good Jaguars team. Go Bills go!

No honorable mentions this week, thanks for reading!

Photo cred: Twitter, www.titansonline.com, www.titansonline.com