For the first time since 2006, Julius Peppers looked like the all-pro defensive end he truly is.  Peppers was having a good season up to last Sunday, collecting a respectable 4 sacks and three forced fumbles.  But Peppers still seemed to be missing that dominating performance.  Sunday left no doubt that Julius Peppers was back.  Peppers racked up three sacks, seven tackles, one forced fumble, and even a pass defended in Sunday’s game against the Oakland Raiders, winning him the NFC defensive player of the week award.

Like Jake Delhomme and his elbow, Julius Peppers has managed to silence any critics that last year was just a down year for him.  Whether it be a transition to left end or just getting over a sickness from last season Peppers is back to being Peppers. Now with all of that behind him, Peppers can continue to move forward and help lead a very stingy Panthers defense that ranks 8th in the league.  Peppers is the second Carolina player to win an award, and the third to be nominated, in the last two weeks.  Jon Beason was the NFC defensive player of the month for October, and DeAngelo Williams was nominated for the Fed Ex ground player of the week award for his performance against the Cardinals.

Tags: carolina panthers, Jake Delhomme, peppers