AFC

OFFENSE: QB Derek Anderson, Cleveland Browns
In the eighth highest scoring game in NFL history, Anderson set career highs in passing yards (328) and touchdowns (5), while completing 20 of 33 passes (60.6 percent) for a 121.0 passer rating in a 51-45 home victory over the Bengals. Anderson joined KURT WARNER as the only quarterbacks in the Super Bowl Era (since 1966) to have five touchdown passes in a game in their first four career starts. In his third year from Oregon State, this is Anderson’s first Player of the Week Award.

DEFENSE: S Bob Sanders, Indianapolis Colts
Sanders registered 11 tackles and a career-high 2.5 sacks in a 22-20 road win over division rival Tennessee. Sanders’ half-sack came in the first quarter in Colts territory on third-down to force a Titans punt. The fourth-year veteran was a key factor in the fourth quarter with two sacks as the Colts halted the Titans’ game-winning drive. In his fourth year from Iowa, this is Sanders’ first Player of the Week Award.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Jason Elam, Denver Broncos
Elam kicked his second game-winning field goal in consecutive weeks, connecting on a 23-yarder in a 23-20 overtime win over the Raiders. Before proceeding into overtime, Elam tied the game in the fourth quarter with a 20-yard field goal with 2:18 remaining. Elam totaled 11 of the Broncos’ 23 points with three field goals and two PATs. In his 15th season from Hawaii, this is Elam’s fifth Player of the Week Award.

Other nominees for AFC Offensive Player of Week 2 were:

• New England quarterback TOM BRADY, who completed 25 of 31 passes (80.6 percent) for 279 yards with three touchdowns and a 134.2 passer rating in a 38-14 victory over San Diego.
• Jacksonville quarterback DAVID GARRARD, who completed 17 of 25 passes (68.0 percent) for 272 yards with one touchdown and a 117.4 passer rating in a 13-7 victory over the Falcons.
• Kansas City tight end TONY GONZALEZ, who had four catches for 43 yards (10.8 avg.) in the Chiefs’ 20-10 loss at Chicago.
• Denver running back TRAVIS HENRY, who rushed for 128 yards (4.9 avg.) on 26 carries.
• Cincinnati wide receiver CHAD JOHNSON, who had 11 receptions for 209 yards (19.0 avg.) and two touchdowns against Cleveland.
• Cleveland running back JAMAL LEWIS, who rushed for 216 yards on 27 carries (8.0 avg.) with one touchdown.
• Cincinnati quarterback CARSON PALMER, who completed 33 of 50 passes (66.0 percent) for 401 yards, with six touchdowns and a 113.4 passer rating against Cleveland.
• Pittsburgh running back WILLIE PARKER, who gained 126 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries (5.5 avg.) in a 26-3 win over Buffalo.

Other nominees for AFC Defensive Player of Week 2 were:

• New England linebacker, ROSEVELT COLVIN, who had five tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception in the Patriots’ 38-14 win over San Diego.
• Denver defensive end ELVIS DUMERVIL, who recorded two sacks to lead a Broncos defense that limited Oakland to 53 net passing yards.
• Pittsburgh linebacker JAMES FARRIOR, who led the Steelers with 10 tackles.
• Kansas City linebacker DERRICK JOHNSON, who totaled seven tackles and two sacks.
• Jacksonville linebacker MIKE PETERSON, who led the team with 10 tackles and a career-high two sacks.

Other nominees for AFC Special Teams Player of Week 2 were:

• Pittsburgh kicker JEFF REED, who converted all four of his field goal attempts and totaled 14 points.
• Houston punter MATT TURK, who punted five times for 196 yards (39.2 avg.) with three punts inside the 20-yard line in a 34-21 victory over the Panthers.

NFC

OFFENSE: QB Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers
Favre completed 29 of 38 passes (76.3 percent) for 286 yards with three touchdowns versus one interception in the Packers’ 35-13 road win over the New York Giants. Favre notched the 149th victory of his career and moved passed Pro Football Hall of Famer JOHN ELWAY (148) for the most career wins by a starting quarterback in NFL history. The eight-time All-Star registered his 59th game with at least three touchdown passes and increased his career total to 417 touchdown passes, just three shy of Hall of Famer DAN MARINO’s all-time mark of 420.In his 17th season from Southern Mississippi, this is Favre’s 11th career Player of the Week Award. Favre last won the award in Week 3 of 2006.

DEFENSE: LB Barrett Ruud, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Making just the seventh start of his young career, Ruud helped the Buccaneers shut down the Saints’ offense by recording a career-high 16 tackles, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in Tampa Bay’s 31-14 win. In the first quarter, Ruud forced a fumble and recovered the ball, setting up a Tampa Bay touchdown and giving the Buccaneers a 7-0 lead they would not relinquish. For the game, the Tampa Bay defense allowed 14 points and held the Saints to 99 rushing yards.In his third year from Nebraska, this is Ruud’s first Player of the Week Award.

SPECIAL TEAMS: PR-KR Devin Hester, Chicago Bears
Hester brought the fans at Soldier Field out of their seats once again as the dynamic return specialist scored his seventh career return touchdown on a 73-yard punt return in the Bears’ 20-10 win over Kansas City. Hester’s seven return touchdowns are the second-most in franchise history, one behind Pro Football Hall of Famer GALE SAYERS’ eight. The second-year return man finished the game with five punt returns for 143 yards (28.6-yard average), the second-highest total in team history behind Hester’s 152-yard game last year (10/16/06). In his second season from Miami, this is Hester’s fourth career Player of the Week Award. Hester won the award three times during his rookie year (Weeks 10, 13 and 14).

Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 2 were:

• Tampa Bay wide receiver JOEY GALLOWAY, who had four receptions for 135 yards (33.8 average) and two touchdowns, including a 69-yard score.
• Tampa Bay quarterback JEFF GARCIA, who completed 10 of 16 passes (62.5 percent) for 243 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 145.8 passer rating.
• San Francisco running back FRANK GORE, who scored two touchdowns and rushed for 81 yards in the 49ers’ 17-16 win at St. Louis.
• Arizona running back EDGERRIN JAMES, who had 24 carries for 128 yards and one touchdown in the Cardinals’ 23-20 victory over Seattle.
• Detroit quarterback JON KITNA, who completed 22 of 33 passes (66.7 percent) for 245 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the Lions’ 20-17 overtime win over Minnesota.
• Detroit wide receiver ROY WILLIAMS, who had seven receptions for a team-high 111 yards and one touchdown.

Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 2 were:

• Detroit rookie safety GERALD ALEXANDER, who posted five tackles, an interception and two passes defensed as the Lions had four interceptions against the Vikings.
• Chicago linebacker LANCE BRIGGS, who had 12 tackles, 1.0 sack, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and added one pass defensed.
• Minnesota defensive end RAY EDWARDS, who had 1.5 sacks, returned a fumble for a touchdown and added a pass defensed.
• Washington linebacker ROCKY MC INTOSH, who had nine tackles and 1.0 sack in the Redskins’ 20-12 win at Philadelphia.
• St. Louis rookie defensive tackle CLIFTON RYAN, who was on the field for 18 plays and had eight tackles, 2.0 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
• San Francisco defensive end BRYANT YOUNG, who had 2.0 sacks and forced a fumble.

Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 2 were:

• Tampa Bay punter JOSH BIDWELL, who punted five times and had a 38.0-yard net average.
• Detroit kicker JASON HANSON, who converted the game-winning 37-yard field goal in overtime, his second field goal of the contest.
• Minnesota punter CHRIS KLUWE, who punted four times and set the team single-game record with a 57.5-yard average.
• San Francisco punter ANDY LEE, who placed four punts inside the 20-yard line and averaged 45.7 yards per punt, including a long of 71 yards.
• Arizona kicker NEIL RACKERS, who connected on three field goals, including a 52-yarder to tie the game with 4:44 remaining and the game-winner from 42 yards out with one second left. Rackers also had four touchbacks on kickoffs.