OFFENSE: QB TOM BRADY, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
In New England’s 48-27 win over Dallas, Brady completed 31 of 46 passes (67.4 percent) for 388 yards and set a career high with five touchdown passes. Brady’s five TD passes tied a franchise record and he became the first Patriots quarterback since STEVE GROGAN (9/9/79) to accomplish the feat. The eighth year signal caller also set an NFL record by becoming the first quarterback in league history to record threes or more touchdowns in each of a season’s first six games (STEVE YOUNG, five games in 1998). Brady leads the league in completion percentage (72.5), passing yards (1,771), touchdowns (21) and passer rating (128.9). In his eighth year from Michigan, this is Brady’s ninth Player of the Week Award. Brady was also named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month in September.
DEFENSE: DE PAUL SPICER, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Spicer was a key factor in the Jaguars’ 37-17 victory over Houston for Jacksonville’s fourth consecutive win. Starting for an injured REGGIE HAYWARD at defensive end, the eight-year veteran totaled seven tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble and four quarterback pressures. In the fourth quarter with the score 23-9 and the Texans driving at the Jaguars’ 21-yard line, Spicer posted his third sack of the season, which forced a fumble that was recovered by teammate DARYL SMITH and returned 77 yards for a touchdown. Spicer leads the Jaguars with three sacks and 11 quarterback pressures. In his eighth year from Saginaw Valley State, this is Spicer’s first Player of the Week Award.
SPECIAL TEAMS: K MATT STOVER, BALTIMORE RAVENS
Stover, the NFL’s leading scorer through Week 6 with 62 points, accounted for 16 of the Ravens’ 22 points as they defeated the Rams 22-3 for their fourth victory of the season. Stover tied his career-high, connecting on all five field goal attempts (43, 42, 23, 31 and 36) and one PAT. With 1,777 career points, the 18-year veteran ranks fifth on the league’s all-time scoring list. Stover has made 18 of 21 field goals (85.7 percent) and all eight PATs this season. In his 18th season from Louisiana Tech, this is Stover’s seventh Player of the Week Award. Stover last won the award in Week 11 in 2005.
Other nominees for AFC Offensive Player of Week 6 were:
- Cleveland quarterback DEREK ANDERSON, who completed 18 of 25 passes (72.0 percent) for 245 yards with three touchdowns and a 142.5 passer rating in a 41-31 win over Miami.
- Kansas City tight end TONY GONZALEZ, who had nine catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-20 win over the Bengals.
- Jacksonville running back MAURICE JONES-DREW, who had 12 carries for 125 yards with two touchdowns and four receptions for 59 yards.
- Baltimore running back WILLIS MC GAHEE, who rushed for 61 yards on 25 attempts and one touchdown.
- San Diego running back LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON, who had 198 rushing yards on 24 carries with four touchdowns in a 28-14 win over Oakland.
Other nominees for AFC Defensive Player of Week 6 were:
- Kansas City defensive end JARED ALLEN, who totaled three tackles, 2.5 sacks, three quarterback pressures and one forced fumble.
- Baltimore linebacker RAY LEWIS, who had 14 tackles and three passes defensed.
- San Diego linebacker SHAWNE MERRIMAN, who totaled six tackles, 2.5 sacks, four quarterback hurries and one pass defensed.
Other nominee for AFC Special Teams Player of Week 6 was:
- Kansas City punter DUSTIN COLQUITT, who punted seven times for 326 yards and a 44.6 net average, including four inside the 20-yard line and a long of 56.
OFFENSE: RB ADRIAN PETERSON, MINNESOTA VIKINGS
With a blend of power and speed, the rookie running back rushed for a franchise-record 224 yards (CHUCK FOREMAN, 200 yards, 10/24/76) on 20 carries (11.2 average) and scored three touchdowns in the Vikings’ 34-31 win at Chicago. The first-round draft choice out of Oklahoma (No. 7) added 128 kickoff return yards and nine receiving yards to finish with a team-record 361 combined yards, the third-most in NFL history. Peterson had a 67-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, a 73-yard rush TD in the third and ran 35 yards in the final quarter for his third TD. After the Bears tied the score late in the game at 31, the rookie set up Minnesota’s game-winning field goal by returning the ensuing kickoff 53 yards. Peterson’s 224 rushing yards are the fifth-most all-time by a rookie and he leads the NFL in rushing with 607 yards. In his rookie season from Oklahoma, this is Peterson’s first career Offensive Player of the Week Award. Peterson was also named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month in September.
DEFENSE: CB CHARLES WOODSON, GREEN BAY PACKERS
In Green Bay’s 17-14 win over Washington, Woodson had four tackles, an interception and two fumble recoveries, including a 57-yard touchdown return with 12:55 remaining in the fourth quarter for the gamewinning points. In the second quarter, with Washington driving into Green Bay territory, Woodson thwarted a drive with an interception to preserve a 7-7 tie. With the Packers trailing 14-10 in the third quarter, Woodson recovered a fumble and returned it 57 yards to put Green Bay ahead for good at 17-14. He also added another fumble recovery in the fourth quarter. In his 10th year from Michigan, this is Woodson’s first career Defensive Player of the Week Award. Woodson is the first Packers cornerback to be honored since Week 5 of 2005 (AL HARRIS).
SPECIAL TEAMS: WR-PR-KR DEVIN HESTER, CHICAGO BEARS
The dynamic Hester had 108 punt-return yards, 86 kick-return yards, 81 receiving yards and two touchdowns – 89-yard punt return and 81-yard reception – in the Bears’ 34-31 loss to Minnesota. Hester became only the third player in NFL history to have an 80+ yard punt-return touchdown and an 80+ yard TD reception in the same game – joining Pro Football Hall of Famer GALE SAYERS (12/12/65) and AZZAHIR HAKIM (9/4/00). Hester opened the scoring with a spectacular 89-yard punt-return touchdown in the first quarter, the ninth return touchdown of his career and the most in franchise history. In the fourth quarter, with the Bears trailing 31-24, Hester recorded the first touchdown reception of his career, hauling in an 81-yard pass from quarterback BRIAN GRIESE to tie the game. Hester has 10 touchdowns in his career and averages 85.0 yards per score. In his second season from Miami, this is Hester’s fifth career Player of the Week Award. This year, Hester was honored in Week 2 and was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September.
Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 6 were:
- New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES, who completed 25 of 36 passes (69.4 percent) for 246 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 106.9 passer rating in the Saints’ 28-17 win at Seattle.
- Washington tight end CHRIS COOLEY, who had a career-high nine receptions and 105 yards with one touchdown in the Redskins’ 17-14 loss at Green Bay.
- Philadelphia wide receiver KEVIN CURTIS, who had five catches for 121 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown, in the Eagles’ 16-9 win over the New York Jets.
- Tampa Bay wide receiver JOEY GALLOWAY, who had four catches for 97 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown, in the Buccaneers’ 13-10 victory over Tennessee.
- Carolina wide receiver STEVE SMITH, who had 10 catches for 136 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown, in the Panthers’ 25-10 win at Arizona.
- New York Giants wide receiver AMANI TOOMER, who had seven catches for 89 yards with one touchdown in the Giants’ 31-10 victory over Atlanta. Toomer became the club’s all-time leading receiver (587 catches) and tied for the most receiving touchdowns (48) in team annals.
- Philadelphia running back BRIAN WESTBROOK, who had 156 scrimmage yards, including 120 rushing.
Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 6 were:
- Philadelphia cornerback SHELDON BROWN, who had five tackles, two passes defensed and an interception.
- Tampa Bay cornerback PHILLIP BUCHANON, who had seven tackles and an interception.
- New Orleans safety ROMAN HARPER, who had six tackles, a career-high two sacks and a pass defensed.
- Tampa Bay defensive tackle JOVAN HAYE, who had a career-high 12 tackles and one sack.
- Green Bay defensive end AARON KAMPMAN, who had nine tackles and two sacks.
- Carolina defensive end JULIUS PEPPERS, who had seven tackles, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
- Washington safety SEAN TAYLOR, who had four tackles, four passes defensed, two interceptions and one forced fumble.
Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 6 were:
- Tampa Bay kicker MATT BRYANT, who was successful on both field-goal attempts, including the gamewinning 43-yarder with 11 seconds remaining.
- Carolina kicker JOHN KASAY, who converted four of five field-goal attempts, including a long of 45 yards.
- Tampa Bay safety KALVIN PEARSON, who had a team-high four special teams tackles.