It's tough to win on the road; it's even more impressive if it's done after missing just one game with a knee injury.
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Greatest on the road ...
Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins
RG3 has the Redskins on the brink of their first division title in 13 years. That development is amazing considering that A) their own coach counted the team out in early November, B) many pundits followed along, and C) RG3 had suffered a knee injury that looked to derail the team's postseason aspirations.
Instead, RG3 was back in the Redskins' starting lineup after missing just one game, and led his team to a crucial 27-20 win over the Philadelphia Eagles at decidedly unfriendly Lincoln Financial Field. Griffin threw for two touchdowns against an Eagles team determined to play spoiler. The win puts the Redskins in the desired situation of a home game against the Dallas Cowboys in the season finale to decide the NFC East winner.
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Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
The Saints entered Sunday clinging to faint playoff hopes, and left it eliminated from the postseason chase. Still, despite their fate being already decided before the final whistle, the Saints pressed on for a 34-31 overtime win over the Dallas Cowboys -- a team desperately striving to reach the playoff field -- at Cowboys Stadium.
Brees threw for 446 yards and three touchdowns and led the drive for Garrett Hartley's winning field goal in the extra period. The Saints' win halted a three-game winning streak for the Cowboys, who lost control of their playoff fate and set up a showdown with the aforementioned Redskins for the NFC East crown.
Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings
With the Houston Texans focused on preventing Adrian Peterson from running wild, Ponder did just enough to help the Vikings pull off an unlikely 23-6 upset victory over the Texans at Reliant Stadium. In the win, Ponder threw for a touchdown and ran for an additional 48 yards.
The win is significant in that it re-shapes how football fans will view the playoff picture entering Week 17. The Texans are in risk of losing the AFC's No. 1 playoff seed. The Vikings, meanwhile, enter a Week 17 showdown with the division-rival Green Bay Packers with a solid shot at earning a playoff berth.
Follow Jim Reineking on Twitter @jimreineking.
