These guys might not exactly be carrying a lunch pail to the stadium on Sundays, but they did bring a blue-collar, working-man approach to the weekend's games. Take a look at all the nominees, then vote on your choice for the Hardest Working Man for Week 2.
Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys
With Dez Bryant inactive for the Cowboys on Sunday, much of the burden fell on Austin to get open in the passing game for the Cowboys' quarterbacks. And Austin delivered, finishing with 143 yards despite a nagging hamstring injury. Those 143 yards also represented the sixth-highest total of Austin's career. Austin was a safety valve for both starter Tony Romo, and then backup Jon Kitna when Romo was forced from the game with fractured ribs (and later learned to also include a punctured lung). Of Austin's nine receptions, a career-high three went for touchdowns, including one in which Austin leaped over a defender and dove into the end zone to pull the Cowboys to within 24-21 with 6:55 left to play. The Cowboys eventually won the game, 27-24, in overtime.
Peyton Hillis, Cleveland Browns
After a demoralizing loss at home to the Bengals in Week 1, the Browns went into Indianapolis with a simplified game plan that relied more on Hillis to help deliver victory. Hillis wore down the Colts, carrying the ball 27 times for 94 yards, repeatedly converting on short-yardage situations and ultimately putting the ball into the end zone for the game-sealing score with 3:55 left to play. That touchdown was Hillis' second of the game, and Cleveland -- which prevailed 27-19 on Sunday -- is now 4-0 in games in which the "Madden" cover boy has two or more rushing touchdowns. The victory was also historic for Cleveland, since it represented the first time the Browns had defeated the Colts since 1994.
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
Despite his team being on the wrong end of a 24-20 decision, Peterson carried the ball 25 times for 120 yards and two touchdowns. In the process, Peterson earned his 54th career rushing touchdown, surpassing Chuck Foreman and Bill Brown -- each with 52 apiece -- for the most in franchise history. Peterson also continued his frantic pace in the month of September, averaging 110.6 yards rushing per game (1,770 yards in 16 games), trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown (110.8 YPC) in the category.
Vince Wilfork, New England Patriots
Tom Brady had another big passing game, but the quarterback had to share some of the spotlight with the massive 325-pound defensive tackle. Wilfork got his first career interception to halt a promising Chargers drive late in the first half, then rumbled 28 yards on the return. In addition to showing some previously hidden pass-catching skills, Wilfork helped prevent a Chargers comeback in the second half as the Patriots held on for a 35-21 win. Able to chuckle at his unique play, Wilfork joked after the game, "I'm a well-conditioned athlete. I didn't need any oxygen."
Charles Woodson, Green Bay Packers
When rookie quarterback Cam Newton led the Panthers to scores on each of the team's first three possessions, the Packers' defense needed to halt that avalanche of momentum. Woodson provided three big plays that turned the tide into the defending Super Bowl champions' favor. Woodson had two interceptions, and then recovered a Steve Smith fumble forced by Packers safety Morgan Burnett. Woodson -- the 1997 Heisman Trophy winner -- has now intercepted four Heisman winners: Newton, Vinny Testaverde, Carson Palmer (twice), and Matt Leinart (twice). Despite allowing Newton to throw for 432 yards, the Packers walked away 30-23 victors.
