Buffalo's win in Houston produced two of the six: Josh Allen's four touchdowns and Greg Rousseau's game-ending strip-sack. We differed from the league in four slots, and its pick is listed under each of ours.
By Taurean Matador · Added Saturday, September 26, after the week was played
AFC
AFC offense
Josh Allen
QB · Buffalo Bills
W Bills 36, Texans 31 · at Houston Texans
20 of 29, 334 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT (130.5 rating); 6 rushes, 23 yards, 2 TD
Four touchdowns on the road against a Houston defense that allowed the second-fewest points in the league last season. When the Texans went up 31-30 on a 58-yard field goal, Allen answered with a 34-yard touchdown to Joshua Palmer with 1:36 left. Kenneth Walker had the bigger rushing day, but Allen did it against the better defense, away from home, with the game on the line.
Runner-up: Kenneth Walker III, Chiefs: 23 rushes, 173 yards, 1 TD, plus 3 catches, 18 yards, 1 TD in a 31-10 win over Denver
The NFL went with Kenneth Walker III, Chiefs · Box score
AFC defense
Greg Rousseau
Edge · Buffalo Bills
W Bills 36, Texans 31 · at Houston Texans
4 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 TFL, 5 QB hits, 2 forced fumbles (both strip-sacks, both recovered by Buffalo)
Two strip-sacks of C.J. Stroud, and the second one ended the game. Houston had the ball at the Buffalo 18, down five, with 16 seconds left when Rousseau took it away. T.J. Watt's pick-six was the flashier play, but it came at home against Atlanta. Rousseau's decided a road game against a 12-win team.
Runner-up: T.J. Watt, Steelers: 4 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 TFL and a 35-yard pick-six in a 20-13 win over Atlanta
W Bengals 33, Buccaneers 27 · vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4 of 4 field goals (20, 55, 58 and 32 yards), 3 of 3 extra points, 15 points
Two field goals from 55 yards and beyond in a six-point game. The 58-yarder early in the fourth quarter put Cincinnati up 30-20, and it needed every one of those points.
Runner-up: Tyler Loop, Ravens: 2 of 2 field goals, including a 57-yarder to end the half, and 5 of 5 extra points in a 41-23 win at Indianapolis
21 of 29, 269 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT (124.1 rating); 10 rushes, 65 yards, 2 TD
Four touchdowns and no turnovers on the road. With the game tied 24-24 and 22 seconds left in the first half, he ran one in from 29 yards. D'Andre Swift's three rushing touchdowns came in the same game and the league gave Swift the award, but the offense ran through Williams.
Runner-up: D'Andre Swift, Bears: 18 rushes, 124 yards, 3 TD in the same game
The NFL went with D'Andre Swift, Bears · Box score
Minnesota led 25-22 with five minutes left when Van Ginkel stripped Jordan Love, recovered the ball himself and carried it to the Green Bay 1. The Vikings scored on the next play, and he sacked Love again a minute and a half later. Josiah Trotter had the bigger box score, in a loss; this was the play that decided a division game.
Runner-up: Josiah Trotter, Buccaneers: 11 tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFL and a 38-yard pick-six in a 33-27 loss at Cincinnati
W Cardinals 26, Chargers 14 · at Los Angeles Chargers
Blocked a fourth-quarter punt with Arizona up 16-14; Arizona took over at the Chargers' 3 and scored 44 seconds later
One play turned a two-point road lead into a nine-point one. Fehoko got a hand on JK Scott's punt with 12:28 left, the Chargers recovered behind the line at their own 3, Arizona took over there and Trey McBride caught the touchdown 44 seconds later.
Runner-up: Jalen Carter, Eagles: blocked a Washington extra point in a 24-22 win; Washington later needed a two-point try to tie and missed it
One player per slot, judged the way the power rankings judge teams: what happened on the field, against whom and where. Production counts, and so does the opponent. A big game against a good defense or on the road beats the same numbers at home against a bad one, and a play that decided the game beats one that padded a lead. A great game in a loss can still win if nothing else comes close.
NFL awards follow the league's format, AFC and NFC, and go up on Tuesday morning, a day before the league names its own. College awards are national and go up on Sunday morning. Where there's an official pick (the NFL's, or Walter Camp's for college offense and defense), it's listed under ours, agree or not.