It was a quiet week for the Ducks alumni with bye weeks beginning. The Oregon-led San Francisco defense gets some rest and the lights shine bright on new-comers — Marcus Mariota saves his job... At least for one more week.

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Offense

Top Offensive Performers

• Marcus Mariota - Tennessee Titans

Every fan that doubted Marcus Mariota before this week’s game...

Just when you think the towel’s going to be thrown-in on Mariota, he comes back and has possibly his best performance of the season. The fifth-year quarterback bounced back from a horrendous Week 3 performance versus the “Sacksonville” Jaguars; going 18/27 for 227 yards and three touchdowns against Atlanta. Mariota went from being sacked nine times Week 3 to zero sacks, or interceptions against the Falcons and posting a 129.7 rating. The turn-around from Week 3 to Week 4 has to have Mariota fans feeling relieved after multiple rough starts to begin 2019.

• Royce Freeman - Denver Broncos

The Broncos’ struggles on offense have been glaring to say the least. A glimmer of light however, in the blackhole that is the Denver Broncos offense has been backup running back Royce Freeman. While Freeman wasn’t extremely explosive in the run-game, going for 16 yards on six carries, he was significantly more impactful in the pass-game. Freeman was the third highest targeted (6) player in Denver’s offense, turning the six targets into four receptions for 34 yards. He’s seeing an elevated share in snaps over starter Phillip Lindsay during passing situations, out-targeting Lindsay, six to one, according to ESPN.com.

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Defense

Top Defensive Performers

• Justin Hollins - Denver Broncos

Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

Rookie outside linebacker Justin Hollins is bringing more attention to the Broncos, than probably deserved. Hollins made his snaps count when he got them, totaling six tackles, four solo, on just 34 defensive snaps. He finished fifth on the team in total tackles, playing in only 40 percent of the team’s defensive snaps. Hollins also played on 18 special team’s snaps in the loss to Jacksonville.

• Terrance Mitchell - Cleveland Browns

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland lived up to all the noise they’ve been making after a rough start to 2019. Traveling on the road to Baltimore for a divisional matchup, the Browns turned the tides on the 2-1 Ravens. Terrance Mitchell and the Brown’s defense tested Lamar Jackson all day. Mitchell’s four tackles, three solo, put him sixth on the team in tackles as Cleveland bounces back on the road, handling the Ravens, 40-25. The Browns are 2-2 through four games.

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Special Teams

Top Special-teamer

• De’Anthony Thomas - Kansas City Chiefs

Return Specialist De’Anthony Thomas returned three kick returns for 72 yards, averaging 24.0 YPA on the road against the Lions. Thomas took back two punt return attempts for only three yards, but it didn’t hinder the Kansas City Chiefs from defeating Detroit in a tight contest, 34-30.

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Honorable Mention

• Pharaoh Brown - Cleveland Browns

It was a quiet week for the Duck alumni, but Pharaoh Brown made his second start of the season making him the honorable mention of the week. Brown caught his lone target of the game for 18 yards as the Browns win a big divisional game on the road.