This week's Game Balls are brought to you courtesy of Sprint.
This week's edition of "Game Balls" is going to be very difficult. However, it might be even more difficult to pinpoint just one person deserving of our weekly "sack."
Let's get to it.
1-Yard Game Ball: Brandon Fields. Outside of one 24 yard punt return, the Dolphins did a good job of limiting Devin Hester's impact on the game. A large part of the reason why is because Brandon Fields was getting some serious hang time on his punts. Hester had to call for three fair catches on seven total chances. Devin's three other returns gained only three combined yards. And three of Brandon's seven punts were downed inside the 20. A solid game for the Dolphins' punter - who also made the tackle on Hester's long return.
2-Yard Game Ball: Kendall Langford and Tony McDaniel. The Dolphins actually did a pretty good job containing Chicago's backs. Matt Forte and Chester Taylor combined for 107 yards on the ground on 36 carries - an abysmal 2.97 yard-per-carry average. A big reason for that was the play of both Langford and McDaniel. The two combined for eight solo tackles - three for a loss.
3-Yard Game Ball: Brian Hartline. Despite a couple drops and a fumble lost, Hartline is quietly putting together a solid season. Brian led the Dolphins in receptions and receiving yards (5 for 70) on Thursday night - his third consecutive game with at least 70 yards receiving. And right now, he's the only vertical threat the Dolphins have. Three of his five catches went for over 15 yards, including two 20+ yard receptions.
4-Yard Game Ball: Karlos Dansby. Miami's inside linebacker was again very active, filling up his stat sheet with some impressive numbers. He led the team with ten solo tackles and also picked up a sack, pass deflection (narrowly missing an interception) and two tackles for a loss. Just another day at the office of one player who has proven to be worth the big contract that this regime handed him.
5-Yard Game Ball: Cameron Wake. Was there any question who would get this? Wake is now cementing his status as a top pass-rusher and AFC Pro Bowl outside linebacker. Up next for Wake could be making a first-team All Pro push. Wake picked up another sack on Thursday, forcing a fumble in the process. But it's Cameron's ability to play the run that has really impressed me. Wake has shown an ability to set the edge when the ball comes at him and to pursue from the backside when the run is at the other side. Wake picked up three more tackles for loss last week. More performances like this will help his All-Pro case.
Sack: The easy way out would be to give this week's "sack" to the entire team. I'm not going to do that. Offensive coordinator Dan Henning could get it. But I'll leave that to everyone else.
My the sack this week goes to every offensive lineman not named Jake Long - who is off the hook considering he played with basically one arm. But the rest of the line was a total disaster. I know some were playing out of position and others were playing with some nagging injuries. But you can't get your quarterback get sacked six times. And you have got to do a better job at the line of scrimmage when Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams get the ball. Their inability to generate any push up front really forced Henning to rely on Tyler Thigpen far too much.