It's time again to review the top 5 defensive plays of the week. It was a lot more fun watching a defense get after a quarterback while nursing a healthy lead for once - even if they still aren't racking up sacks or turnovers.
Top Defensive Play #5 wasn't so much a great stop for the San Diego defense as much as it was a very entertaining play and display of athleticism. I'm speaking of course of the Quentin Jammer vs Maurice Jones-Drew collision that left both men standing and jawing. Jones-Drew could totally have run for a first down if he wasn't so interested in yelling at Jammer.
Defensive Play #4 is becoming a bit ho-hum simply because it's starting to happen so often - an opportunistic Antoine Cason assisted Eric Weddle interception. San Diego has a long way to go towards getting takeaways as opposed to losing the turnover battle, but for this season, Weddle is a lone bright spot in the San Diego turnover margin. This pick was a huge pivot point in the three touchdown swing that broke the game open between the end of the first half and the start of the third quarter. (Here's the Whimper non-tackle for anyone looking for a laugh)
Defensive Play #3 was the 3rd down stop that got the defense off the field on Jacksonville's first possession. There was certainly a lot of football left to be played at this point, but it definitely made a statement.
Defensive Play #2 features the brightest rising star on this much-maligned defense. Donald Butler diagnosed and single handedly imploded a screen play. This stop started the sequence of the messed up long snap by the Jaguars, and the long Ryan Mathews touchdown. Do we even need to mention what happened for the sliver of game time he was out with an injury?
Defensive Play #1 was a gang sack that pretty much shut the door in momentum terms on any chance of a Jaguars comeback. Tommie Harris got the stat sack, but Antonio Garay and true fan #1 (aka Shaun Phillips) were right there in the pile too.