Alshon Jeffery, wide receiver, Chicago Bears: The second round pick out of South Carolina has had a quiet rookie season, catching 19 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns while missing six of 14 games this season. In Sunday's 21-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers, which has placed the Bears on the outside looking in at the NFC Playoffs with two games remaining on the schedule, Jeffery had zero receptions on four targets and was flagged for not one, not two, but three offensive pass interference penalties in the second half, including one that nullified what would have been a one-yard touchdown reception late in the third quarter. Jeffery's inability to gain separation from cornerback Sam Shields in drawing those flags hurt even more on the Bears' final offensive play, when Jeffery was clearly held by Shields as the pass from Jay Cutler fell incomplete. With three pass interference penalties on the day, though, the officials could not give the rookie the benefit of the doubt.
Josh Freeman, quarterback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: After a red-hot October, Freeman has cooled considerably, completing less than 45 percent of his pass attempts in Weeks 13 and 14 and may have hit rock bottom in Sunday's 41-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Freeman was intercepted four times, increasing his season total by 50 percent. The Saints converted those four interceptions in 20 points and added another seven points after Freeman fumbled while being sacked in the fourth quarter.
Shawn Slocum, special teams coordinator, Green Bay Packers: The Packers had an 11-point lead on the Bears and were eight minutes away from clinching the NFC North when Slocum inexplicably called for a "toss back" play where Randall Cobb threw the ball across the field to Jeremy Ross, who muffed the lateral, which was recovered by Bears defensive back Anthony Walters. The Bears would only get a field goal out of what was an unnecessary gift from Green Bay, but why pick that moment to run a play that could have let your biggest rival back into the game?
Read More »from Week 15 LVPs: Alshon Jeffery, Josh Freeman had forgettable performances on Sunday