AFC
Offensive Player of the Week: QB Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
- In the NFL’s annual primetime kickoff game, Manning completed 27 of 42 passes (64.3 percent) for 462 yards with seven touchdowns versus zero interceptions and a 141.1 passer rating in a 49-27 win over the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens.
- Manning tied an NFL single-game record with seven touchdown passes and joined Pro Football Hall of Famer Y.A. TITTLE(October 28, 1962) as the only quarterbacks with seven passing touchdowns and no interceptions in a game.
- Became the first quarterback in NFL history to pass for at least six touchdowns in three different games and tied DREW BREES’ NFL record with a seventh game throwing at least five touchdowns.
- Extended his own NFL-record for 300-yard passing games (73).
- Led the NFL in passing yards (462), touchdowns (seven) and passer rating (141.1) in Week 1.
- In his 16th season from Tennessee, this is Manning’s 24th Player of the Week award, surpassing TOM BRADY (23) for the most Player of the Week awards since the accolade was instituted in 1984. This is Manning’s third Player of the Week award with the Broncos. He most recently won the award in 2012 (Week 17).
Other Nominations: Browns TE Jordan Cameron, Dolphins WR Brian Hartline, Texans WR Andre Johnson, Colts QB Andrew Luck, Texans QB Matt Schaub, Patriots RB Shane Vereen
Defensive Player of the Week: LB Justin Houston, Kansas City Chiefs
- Houston registered five tackles and three sacks in the Chiefs’ 28-2 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
- He played a pivotal role for a Chiefs defense that limited the Jaguars to 178 total net yards (107 passing, 71 rushing) and forced two interceptions.
- Houston joins Pro Football Hall of Famer DERRICK THOMAS (six on September 6, 1998) and VONNIE HOLLIDAY (three on September 7, 2003) as the only players in franchise history with at least three sacks on Kickoff Weekend.
- Houston’s three sacks tied for an NFL-high and were the best in the AFC in Week 1.
- Since 2012, Houston ranks fourth in the AFC with 13 sacks, trailing only J.J. WATT (20.5), VON MILLER (18.5) and CAMERON WAKE (17.5).
- In his third season from Georgia, this is Houston’s first career Defensive Player of the Week Award.
- Houston is the first Chiefs linebacker to win Defensive Player of the Week since DERRICK JOHNSON in 2011 (Week 8).
Other Nominations: Patriots CB Kyle Arrington, Colts safety Antoine Bethea, Titans LB Zach Brown, Browns DE Desmond Bryant, Texans LB Brian Cushing, Broncos S Duke Ihenacho, Dolphins CB Dimitri Patterson, Dolphins DE Cameron Wake
Special Teams Player of the Week: K Nick Folk, New York Jets
- In the Jets’ 18-17 win over Tampa Bay, Folk connected on all three field goals, including a game-winning 48-yard field goal with two seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
- Folk registered his fourth regular-season game-winning field goal since joining the Jets in 2010.
- Folk’s three field goals tied for second in the NFL in Week 1 and tied for an AFC-best.
- In his seventh season from Arizona, this is Folk’s third career Special Teams Player of the Week Award. He most recently won the award in 2010 (Week 5).
Other Nominations: Broncos punter Britton Colquitt, Texans returner Keshawn Martin
NFC
Offensive Player of the Week: WR Anquan Boldin, San Francisco 49ers
- Boldin had 13 catches for 208 yards and a touchdown in the 49ers’ 34-28 win over Green Bay.
- There have been only three 10+ catch, 200+ yard receiving games on Kickoff Weekend in NFL history and Boldin has two of them. In his NFL debut (9/7/03) with Arizona, he had 10 catches for 217 yards and two touchdowns.
- Boldin, who was making his 49ers debut, is the first player in NFL history to record a 100-yard receiving game in his debut for three different teams (Arizona, Baltimore, San Francisco).
- Boldin, who last year played for the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens, is the first player to score a touchdown in his debut for a team that he faced in the previous season’s Super Bowl.
- His 208 receiving yards are the most by a 49er in a season opener, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE’s previous mark (169 yards, 9/5/94).
- In his 11th season from Florida State, this is Boldin’s second career Player of the Week Award (Week 3, 2010 with Baltimore).
- He joins JERRY RICE (12), JOHN TAYLOR (two) and TERRELL OWENS (one) as the only 49ers wide receivers to be named Offensive Player of the Week.
- Boldin, Rice (1994) and GARRISON HEARST (1998) are the only players in team history to be named Offensive Player of Week on Kickoff Weekend.
Other Nominations: Saints QB Drew Brees, Lions RB Reggie Bush, Rams TE Jared Cook, Bears QB Jay Cutler, 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick, Eagles RB LeSean McCoy, Vikings RB Adrian Peterson, Lions QB Matthew Stafford, Seahawks QB Russell Wilson, Cowboys TE Jason Witten
Defensive Player of the Week: DE Robert Quinn, St. Louis Rams
- Quinn had three sacks and forced two fumbles in the Rams’ 27-24 win over Arizona.
- His three sacks are tied for the most in the NFL and lead the NFC.
- Quinn’s two forced fumbles are tied for first in the league.
- In the fourth quarter, Quinn recorded a sack and forced a fumble which was recovered by CHRIS LONG at the Arizona 22-yard line. That led to a game-tying field goal.
- Quinn’s three sacks tied a single-game career high and his two forced fumbles are his most in a game.
- In his third year from North Carolina, this is Quinn’s second career Player of the Week Award and first on defense. He was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 8 of 2011.
- He is the first player in franchise history to be named both Defensive Player of the Week and Special Teams Player of the Week.
- Quinn is the first Rams player to be named Defensive Player of the Week on Kickoff Weekend.
Other Nominations: Cowboys safety Barry Church, Saints safety Roman Harper, Vikings LB Erin Henderson, Lions LB Andre Levy, Bears CB Charles Tillman, Eagles CB Cary Williams
Special Teams Player of the Week: WR-PR Dwayne Harris, Dallas Cowboys
- Harris recorded three special teams tackles and returned two punts in the Cowboy’s 36-31 victory over the New York Giants. He also played a role in a muffed punt by the Giants that was recovered by the Cowboys and set up a touchdown.
- His three special teams tackles are tied for the most in the NFL. One of his tackles resulted in a two-yard loss on a New York punt return.
- Harris ranks fourth in the NFC with a 9.5-yard punt-return average (19 yards, two returns).
- In his third season from East Carolina, this is Harris’ second career Player of the Week Award (Week 10, 2012).
- Harris and KEVIN WILLIAMS (two) are the only non-kickers in franchise history to be named Special Teams Player of the Week multiple times.
- He is the first Cowboys special teamer to be honored on Kickoff Weekend.
Other Nominations: Bears PK Robbie Gould, Saints PK Garrett Hartley, Vikings PK Blair Walsh, Rams PK Greg Zuerlein