NFL Week Two Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week

AFC

OFFENSE: QB PHILIP RIVERS, SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

• Rivers completed 36 of 47 passes (76.6 percent) for 419 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions and a 124.3 passer rating in the Chargers’ 33-30 win at Philadelphia.
• With 1:51 remaining in the fourth quarter, Rivers led the Chargers on a nine-play, 51-yard drive, resulting in a game-winning 46-yard field goal by kicker NICK NOVAK.
• Registered his fourth-career game with 400+ passing yards. His 419 yards were an AFC-best and the third-most in the NFL in Week 2.
• His 124.3 passer rating ranked first in the AFC and second in the NFL in Week 2.
• Posted his 14th career game with at least three touchdowns and zero interceptions. The Chargers are 12-2 in such games.
• In his 10th season from North Carolina State, this is Rivers’ fourth Offensive Player of the Week award. He most recently won the award in 2008 (Week 15).

DEFENSE: DE MARIO WILLIAMS, BUFFALO BILLS

• Williams totaled six tackles and a career-best 4.5 sacks in the Bills’ 24-23 win over the Carolina Panthers.
• Williams’ 4.5 sacks surpassed CORNELIUS BENNETT (four in 1987) and Pro Football Hall of Famer BRUCE SMITH (four in 1990 and 1994) for the most sacks by a Bill in a single game since 1982.
• Registered 3.5 of his 4.5 sacks on third down.
• Williams’ 4.5 sacks are the most in an NFL game since November 19, 2012 (ALDON SMITH, 5.5).
• In his eighth season from North Carolina State, this is Williams’ third career Defensive Player of the Week Award. He most recently won the award in 2007 (Week 15) with the Houston Texans.
• He is the first Bills defensive end to win the award since 2006 (AARON SCHOBEL, Week 14).

SPECIAL TEAMS: PR-WR TRINDON HOLLIDAY, DENVER BRONCOS

• Holliday returned four punts for 121 yards (30.3 average), including an 81-yard touchdown in the Broncos’ 41-23 win at the New York Giants.
• Holliday is the first player this season to register a punt return-touchdown.
• Since 2012, Holliday has totaled three kick-return touchdowns (two punt return, one kickoff return), tied for the best in the NFL.
• In his fourth season from Louisiana State, this is Holliday’s second Special Teams Player of the Week Award. He previously won the award in 2012 (Week 9).

Other nominees for AFC Offensive Player of Week 2:

• Baltimore quarterback JOE FLACCO, who completed 22 of 33 passes (66.7 percent) for 211 yards with one touchdown versus zero interceptions and a 94.4 passer rating in the Ravens’ 14-6 win over Cleveland.
• Buffalo wide receiver STEVIE JOHNSON, who had eight receptions for 111 receiving yards (13.9 average) with one touchdown reception.
• Buffalo rookie quarterback EJ MANUEL, who completed 27 of 39 passes (69.2 percent) for 296 yards with one touchdown and an 89.3 passer rating.
• Oakland running back DARREN MC FADDEN, who rushed for 129 yards on 19 carries (6.8 average) in the Raiders’ 19-9 win over Jacksonville.
• Kansas City quarterback ALEX SMITH, who passed for 223 yards with two touchdowns versus zero interceptions and a 95 passer rating. Smith also rushed for 57 yards.
• Miami quarterback RYAN TANNEHILL, who completed 23 of 34 passes (67.6 percent) for 319 yards with one touchdown versus zero interceptions and a 107.4 passer rating in the   Dolphins’ 24-20 win at Indianapolis.
• Miami wide receiver MIKE WALLACE, who had nine receptions for 115 yards (12.8 average) with one touchdown.

Other nominees for AFC Defensive Player of Week 2:

• Houston linebacker BRIAN CUSHING, who had 11 tackles and two sacks in the Texans’ 30-24 overtime win over Tennessee.
• Kansas City nose tackle DONTARI POE, who had four tackles and two sacks in the Chiefs’ 17-16 win over Dallas.
• Baltimore linebacker DARYL SMITH, who totaled 11 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two passes defensed.
• New England cornerback AQIB TALIB, who posted two tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
• Denver linebacker DANNY TREVATHAN, who had 10 tackles and one sack.
• San Diego linebacker REGGIE WALKER, who registered five tackles.
• Miami linebacker PHILIP WHEELER, who posted 12 tackles with one sack and two passes defensed.

Other nominees for AFC Special Teams Player of Week 2:

• Cleveland kicker BILLY CUNDIFF, who made two field goals (21, 51) in the Browns’ 14-6 loss at Baltimore.
• Baltimore punt returner-wide receiver TANDON DOSS, who returned four punts for 43 yards (14.3 average).
• Oakland kicker SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI, who made four-of-five field goals (46, 30, 29, 29).
• Houston punter SHANE LECHLER, who punted seven times for 338 yards (48.3 average), including one punt inside the 20-yard line.
• San Diego kicker NICK NOVAK, who made all four field goals (49, 44, 33, 46).

NFC

OFFENSE: QB AARON RODGERS, GREEN BAY PACKERS

• Rodgers completed 34 of 42 passes (81 percent) for 480 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions for a 146 passer rating in the Packers’ 38-20 win over Washington. His 480 yards tied the single-game club record.
• He joined Pro Football Hall of Famer Y.A. TITTLE (October 28, 1962) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to throw for at least 480 yards and four touchdowns without an interception in a single game.
• The Packers are the first team in NFL history with a 450-yard passer (Rodgers) and 125-yard rusher (JAMES STARKS) in the same game.
• The performance was Rodgers’ third career 400-yard game. No other Packer has more than one.
• Rodgers has thrown at least three touchdown passes in five consecutive games for the second time in his career. Only he, TOM BRADY and PEYTON MANNING have a pair of such streaks.
• In his ninth season from California, this is Rodgers’ eighth career Player of the Week Award. He won the award twice last season (Weeks 4 and 6).
• Since Week 13, 2010, Rodgers’ eight Player of the Week Awards are the most in the NFL during that span.
• Rodgers has the second-most Player of the Week Awards in franchise history, trailing BRETT FAVRE (12).

DEFENSE: CB RICHARD SHERMAN, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

• Sherman had an interception (28 yards) and two tackles in the Seahawks’ 29-3 win over San Francisco.
• He was part of a defensive unit that allowed just 207 total yards, including 107 net passing yards. The Seahawks forced five turnovers, including three interceptions.
• Sherman helped contain 49ers wide receiver Anquan Boldin (13 catches, 208 yards, TD in Week 1), who was held to one catch for seven yards. The one catch did not come against Sherman.
• He has recorded an interception in five consecutive home games. In those five contests, Sherman has six interceptions, two TDs (blocked field goal return and interception return), a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
• In his third year from Stanford, this is Sherman’s second career Player of the Week Award (Week 10, 2012).
• Since Week 10, 2012, he is the only player to be named Defensive Player of the Week twice.
• He joins ROBERT BLACKMON and KEN LUCAS as the only Seattle cornerbacks to be honored twice.

SPECIAL TEAMS: KR-PR DEVIN HESTER, CHICAGO BEARS

• Hester had a franchise-record 249 kickoff-return yards in the Bears’ 31-30 win over Minnesota. He returned five kickoffs (76, 80, 20, 31 and 42 yards) and averaged 49.8 yards per return.
• His 249 kickoff-return yards are the third-most in NFL history in a game for a player who had five kickoff returns or fewer.
• On his five kickoff returns, Hester set the Bears up with an average starting field position of the Chicago 45-yard line. His 76-yard return gave the Bears starting field position at Minnesota’s 32-yard line and his 80-yard return set Chicago up at the Vikings’ 23-yard line.
• Hester’s 13 career Special Teams Player of the Week Awards are the most ever by a return specialist and tied for the most ever among all players with JOHN CARNEY and ADAM VINATIERI.
• His 13 total Player of the Week Awards are the most in franchise history.

Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 2 as submitted by NFC clubs:

• Chicago tight end MARTELLUS BENNETT, who had seven catches for 76 yards and two touchdowns, including a game-winning 16-yard TD with 10 seconds remaining in the game.
• Dallas wide receiver DEZ BRYANT, who had nine catches for 141 yards and a touchdown in the Cowboys’ 17-16 loss at Kansas City.
• New Orleans tight end JIMMY GRAHAM, who had 10 catches for 179 yards and a touchdown in the Saints’ 16-14 win at Tampa Bay.
• Philadelphia wide receiver DE SEAN JACKSON, who had nine catches for 193 yards and a touchdown in the Eagles’ 33-30 loss to San Diego.
• Atlanta wide receiver JULIO JONES, who had 11 catches for 182 yards and a touchdown in the Falcons’ 31-24 win over St. Louis.
• Seattle running back MARSHAWN LYNCH, who rushed for 98 yards with two touchdowns and had three catches for 37 yards and a TD.
• Atlanta quarterback MATT RYAN, who completed 33 of 43 passes (76.7 percent) for 374 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 117.8 passer rating.
• Philadelphia quarterback MICHAEL VICK, who completed 23 of 36 passes (63.9 percent) for 428 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 123.4 passer rating. He also rushed for 23 yards and a touchdown.

Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 2 as submitted by NFC clubs:

• Chicago cornerback TIM JENNINGS, who returned an interception 44 yards for a touchdown and finished with four tackles and two passes defensed.
• Minnesota defensive end BRIAN ROBISON, who returned a fumble 61 yards for a touchdown and had two tackles.
• Atlanta defensive end OSI UMENYIORA, who returned an interception 68 yards for a touchdown and had two passes defensed.

Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 2 as submitted by NFC clubs:

• Dallas kicker DAN BAILEY, who scored 10 points and converted all three field-goal attempts and one PAT.
• Arizona kicker JAY FEELY, who scored 13 points and converted all four field-goal attempts and one PAT in the Cardinals’ 25-21 win over Detroit.
• New Orleans kicker GARRETT HARTLEY, who converted three of his four field-goal attempts, including the game-winner as time expired.
• Minnesota rookie wide receiver-kick returner CORDARRELLE PATTERSON, who returned a kickoff 105 yards for a  touchdown and finished with 149 yards on three returns (49.7 average).