These guys might not exactly be carrying a lunch pail and to the stadium each week, but they did bring an industrious, blue-collar, working-man approach to Week 16. Take a look at all the nominees, then vote in the poll at the bottom of the right column for your choice for the Hardest-Working Man.
Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals bagged a playoff berth -- the first in consecutive seasons since 1981-82 -- in a tight, 13-10 win over the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Atkins, the Bengals' underrated defensive tackle, added to his career-high sack total with 2.5 sacks against the Steelers, lifting his season tally to 13 sacks. The win was vital in that it eliminated the Steelers from playoff contention and helped the Bengals snap a five-game losing streak to Pittsburgh.
Reggie Bush, Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins might be out of the playoff chase, but the team is showing its fans plenty of promise for success soon to come. By defeating the hapless Buffalo Bills 24-10, the Dolphins have won three of their last five games (with their only two losses coming to the playoff-bound San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots). Scoring each of the Dolphins' touchdowns on Sunday was Bush, who caught two touchdown passes and ran for another score. Bush's season rushing yardage total is now 960 as he vyes for his second career 1,000-yard rushing season.
Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers
The Packers routed the Tennessee Titans, 55-7, and secured at least the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoffs. In that lopsided win, Cobb set a single-season franchise record for net yardage with 2,342 yards via receiving, rushing and returns. Cobb helped the Packers get off to a strong start, hauling in an Aaron Rodgers pass for a 20-yard touchdown play to the put the Packers up 14-0. Green Bay continued to accelerate against Tennessee, recording the fifth largest margin of victory in team history (the latest being 53 points in a 56-3 win over the Atlanta Falcons during the 1966 season).
Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions
Despite a woeful season in Detroit, Megatron is posting numbers of historical proportions. In a 31-18 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Johnson had 225 yards receiving. That total helped the receiver break Jerry Rice's single-season record of 1,848 yards (Megatron now has 1,892 yards) set in 1995. What's more is that Johnson broke Michael Irvin's record of consecutive games with 100-plus receiving yards with eight, and is tied for the record for most 100-yard receiving games with Irvin at 11 games.
Kendall Reyes, San Diego Chargers
Reyes helped ruin the NFL starting debut of New York Jets quarterback Greg McElroy. Reyes recorded 3.5 of a total 11 sacks that the Chargers had on McElroy in a 27-17 win. That sack total tied a franchise record, and was the most sacks in a single game since the New York Giants had 12 sacks against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4 of 2007.
Follow Jim Reineking on Twitter @jimreineking.
