Loser: Robert Griffin III

Sunday's NFL Winners and Losers

Griffin isn't a loser because he played poorly (although he did) in a 21-13 loss at home to Carolina. He's a loser because his offensive line was again unable to protect him, leaving him vulnerable to another handful of huge hits and four sacks on Sunday. In fact, RG3 needed an X-ray on his ribs after the contest, and the injury wasn't even from the torpedo hit or late hit he took in the second half. (AP Photo/Richard Lipski)

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The Best and Wor... Jordan Raanan, XFINITY Sports

This year's rookie class is making an impact. Never more so than this Sunday.

Two of the week's best performers were rookies. In fact, their performances were off the charts. Here are Week 9's winners and losers: (AP Photos)

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Winner: Andrew L... Is there really any doubt who the top rookie QB is this season? Luck threw for a rookie record 433 yards on Sunday in a 23-20 victory over the visiting Dolphins and their usually stingy defense. Indy, with minimal talent, is now 5-3 thanks to the No. 1 overall pick. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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Loser: Eli Manni... Manning just couldn't get it going against the Steelers' top-ranked pass defense. The Giants quarterback finished with just 125 yards passing and no touchdowns in a 24-20 loss. Manning now has thrown just two touchdown passes in his last four games. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

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Winner: Doug Mar... The Bucs rookie running back broke touchdown runs of 45, 67 and 70 yards in a 42-32 win in Oakland. He finished with four touchdown scampers and 251 yards on the ground, all in front of a hometown crowd that included family and friends. No doubt that's a winning day. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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Winner: Bears' D... Chicago's defense forced five turnovers in a 51-20 rout of the Titans. But the five turnovers wasn't the most impressive part of the afternoon. Neither was Charles Tillman's four forced fumbles. It was Brian Urlacher's 46-yard interception return being the Bears' SEVENTH defensive return for a touchdown this season! That is truly outstanding. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)

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Loser: Arizona C... Remember when the Cardinals were 4-0? Well, after a 31-17 loss in Green Bay, they are now 4-5. That's not good. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

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Winner: Mikel Le... The Lions starting running back did something no Detroit running had ever done. Not even Barry Sanders. Leshoure rushed for three touchdowns in the first half of the Lions' 31-14 demolition of the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

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Loser: Robert Gr... Griffin isn't a loser because he played poorly (although he did) in a 21-13 loss at home to Carolina. He's a loser because his offensive line was again unable to protect him, leaving him vulnerable to another handful of huge hits and four sacks on Sunday. In fact, RG3 needed an X-ray on his ribs after the contest, and the injury wasn't even from the torpedo hit or late hit he took in the second half. (AP Photo/Richard Lipski)

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Winner: Texans' ... It took a couple games but the Texans have done what I wasn't sure they'd be able to accomplish. Houston has overcome the loss of star middle linebacker Brian Cushing and has allowed just 22 points combined in its last two wins. It shut down Buffalo on Sunday as the Bills managed just three field goals in a 21-9 loss. Yes, the Texans' defense is still scary. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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Loser: Minnesota... It wasn't long ago the Vikings were 4-1 and tied for first place in the NFC North. Now Minnesota is 3-5 and in a free-fall after losing in Seattle, 30-20. It has dropped three of four and faces the most difficult schedule in the league the remainder of the season. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

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Winner: Phil Daw... The Browns lost 23-15 at home to the Ravens. Nothing new there. And Dawson didn't miss any of his five field-goal attempts. Nothing new there, either. The Browns' best player has now made 23 straight kicks. Too bad he doesn't play for a team where his accuracy and leg actually mean something after September. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

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Loser: Cincinnat... Cincinnati is my biggest disappointment this season. I expected big things from the Bengals, thought they had a solid, all-around, up-and-coming team. It hasn't turned out that way. The Bengals (3-5) dropped their fourth straight Sunday, and blew a late lead at home to Denver this time. It's not looking good for Cincy. As head coach Marvin Lewis said, the Bengals have "a hard road to go" if they want to salvage their season. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)

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Winner: Bruce Ca... The entire nation had a chance to see a future star at linebacker for the Cowboys. Even in a losing effort, Carter had 10 tackles—two for a loss—and a pass defended. Clearly, his athleticism is off the charts. On one play late in the fourth quarter, he chased Atlanta's Julio Jones and tackled him some 30 yards down field. I'm not sure there is another linebacker in the NFL that can do that. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

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