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A big week with big numbers around the National Football League for a week nine is all but in the books minus tonights Ravens-Steelers showdown. With that we take a look at winners and losers around the league for Sunday’s action.

Winner

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Adrian Peterson – You can simply hand him the Rookie of the Year honor right now after Sunday’s single-game rushing record performance against the Chargers. All Peterson did was carry the ball 30 times for 296 yards and three scores in the Vikings surprising 35-17 home win over San Diego. Peterson now has 1036 yards rushing with 8 TD’s. Not bad for a guy passed up by a few teams in the first round.

Losers

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Chargers Run Defense – Hello? Anyone home?! The Chargers did nothing right in this department on Sunday, and while you have to give props to Peterson for his record-breaking day, you also have ot scratch your head as to what this unit was doing. The Vikings have little to offer in the passing game, and even with 8-9 in the box the Chargers were beaten man to man by the Vikings O-line and Peterson all day. This effort was alarming for a team that thought it was back as a force in the AFC.

Winners

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New Orleans Saints Offense – The Saints offense has scored 125 points in their last four games, and suddenly in the weak NFC they look like a team that is going to make some noise as the sleeper team in the conference. The four-game winning streak starts with quarterback Drew Brees, who after an awful start has turned his season around. Sunday he picked apart the Jags and had another monster day with over 400 yards passing. The Saints are going to have to be dealt with after all in 2007.

Losers

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The Denver Broncos – Two weeks ago it looked like Denver was back after winning a thrilling 31-28 decision over the Steelers in Denver. Two weeks later, it looks like their season may be over. First they can’t stop the Pack on Monday night at home, and Sunday they looked like no match for a Lions team that overwhelmed them 44-7. If Jay Cutler is lost for any length of time, the Broncos season may be over. The running game is nowhere near where it was in years past.

Winner

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Clinton Portis – With Adrain Peterson getting all the headlines today, what will be pushed under the rug is the outstanding outing for Redskins back Clinton Portis. All the vet did was rush for 196 yards on 36 carries and he really did carry the load as the Redskins rallied for a 23-20 OT win over the Jets. Portis was having a forgettable season before Sunday’s monster game, and if the 5-3 Redskins are going to push for a playoff spot in the NFC, they need more games from him like Sunday.

Losers

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The Seahawks running game – Seattle had it all for the taking Sunday in OT in Cleveland. They were on the Browns 44-yard line with a 4th and inches. A first down and likely they would have been able to get in Josh Brown field goal range for a game-winning kick. Instead, just like has happened often in 2007, the team was unable to come through and backup Maurice Morris was stuffed for no gain. Why with needing just a few inches they didn’t just let Matt Hasselbeck sneak the ball is anyone’s guess. It’s yet another reason the Hawks are likely to be one and done if they even make the playoffs this season in the weak NFC West.