Tight end JULIUS THOMAS of the Denver Broncos, defensive end CAMERON WAKE of the Miami Dolphins and kicker DAN CARPENTER of the Buffalo Bills are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played on NFL Kickoff Weekend 2014 (September 4, 7-8), the NFL announced today.
OFFENSE: TE JULIUS THOMAS, DENVER BRONCOS
- Thomas had seven catches for 104 yards (14.9 average) and a career-high three touchdowns in Denver’s season-opening 31-24 win against Indianapolis on Sunday Night Football.
- His three touchdowns, which all came in the second quarter, led all NFL players on Kickoff Weekend and tied Pro Football Hall of Famer SHANNON SHARPE for the Broncos’ single-game record for touchdown receptions by a tight end.
- Thomas is the first tight end with three touchdown catches in one quarter since 1997 (Colts TE KEN DILGER, 12/14/97 against Miami). He is also the first tight end with three touchdown catches on Kickoff Weekend since 1996 (Packers TE KEITH JACKSON, 9/1/96 at Tampa Bay).
- Thomas’ 104 receiving yards led all tight ends in Week 1.
- In his fourth season from Portland State, this is Thomas’ first career Player of the Week Award. He joins Shannon Sharpe (three times) as the only tight ends in club history to win the award.
- This marks the second Kickoff Weekend in a row in which a Bronco has been recognized as AFC Offensive Player of the Week (PEYTON MANNING in 2013).
DEFENSE: DE CAMERON WAKE, MIAMI DOLPHINS
- Wake had three tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles in Miami’s 33-20 win against New England.
- He played a pivotal role for a defense that shut out the Patriots in the second half as Miami overcame a 20-10 halftime deficit, ending New England’s streak of 10 consecutive wins on Kickoff Weekend.
- Both of Wake’s career-high two forced fumbles were recovered by the Dolphins and led to 10 second-half points.
- His two sacks on Kickoff Weekend tied for the most in the NFL. Wake now has 6.5 sacks in five career Kickoff Weekend games.
- Since entering the NFL in 2009, Wake ranks third among AFC players with 53.5 sacks.
- In his sixth season from Penn State, this is Wake’s second career Defensive Player of the Week Award (Week 9, 2013).
- Wake is the first Dolphins to be named AFC Defensive Player of the Week on Kickoff Weekend since linebacker ZACH THOMAS (2001).
SPECIAL TEAMS: K DAN CARPENTER, BUFFALO BILLS
- Carpenter converted all three field-goal attempts, including the 27-yard game winner, and both PATs in the Bills’ 23-20 overtime victory at Chicago.
- He kicked a 33-yard field goal with 4:02 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Bills a 20-17 lead and sealed the win with a 27-yard field goal on Buffalo’s first overtime possession.
- Carpenter also converted a 50-yard field-goal attempt in the second quarter, the longest of any AFC player on Kickoff Weekend.
- In his seventh season from Montana, this is Carpenter’s fifth career Special Teams Player of the Week Award and first since 2010 (Week 8 with Miami).
Quarterback MATT RYAN of the Atlanta Falcons, linebacker DE ANDRE LEVY of the Detroit Lions and kicker MATT BRYANT of the Falcons are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played on Kickoff Weekend 2014 (September 4, 7-8), the NFL announced today.
OFFENSE: QB MATT RYAN, ATLANTA FALCONS
- Ryan completed 31 of 43 passes (72.1 percent) for a franchise-record 448 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 128.8 passer rating in the Falcons’ 37-34 overtime win over New Orleans.
- His 448 yards are the second-most on Kickoff Weekend by a quarterback without throwing an interception (462, PEYTON MANNING, September 5, 2013 vs. Baltimore).
- Ryan led his 24th career game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime, the most in the NFL since he entered the league in 2008.
- His three touchdown passes give him 156 in his career, passing STEVE BARTKOWSKI (154) for the most in franchise history.
- The Falcons are now 35-2 (.946) when Ryan starts and has a 100+ passer rating.
- In his seventh season from Boston College, this is Ryan’s fifth career Player of the Week Award. He has now been named Offensive Player of the Week in four consecutive seasons.
- Ryan’s five Offensive Player of the Week Awards are the most in franchise history.
DEFENSE: LB DE ANDRE LEVY, DETROIT LIONS
- Levy had 10 tackles, including two for a loss, and an interception in the Lions’ 35-14 win over the New York Giants. Four of Levy’s tackles were at or behind the line of scrimmage.
- In the third quarter, with the Lions leading 14-7, Levy intercepted a pass and returned it 13 yards to the New York 18-yard line. That interception set up a field goal which put Detroit up by 10.
- Levy was part of a defensive unit that allowed just 197 total net yards, the fewest given up by the Lions in an opener since 1982.
- He has 12 career interceptions and is the sixth linebacker in franchise history to register at least 12 interceptions.
- In his sixth year from Wisconsin, this is Levy’s first career Player of the Week Award.
- He is the third linebacker in team history to be named Defensive Player of the Week, joining CHRIS SPIELMAN (Week 2, 1990 and Week 8, 1994) and STEPHEN BOYD (Week 1, 1997).
- Levy is the first Lion to be honored on defense since Week 8, 2011 (CLIFF AVRIL).
SPECIAL TEAMS: K MATT BRYANT, ATLANTA FALCONS
- Bryant scored an NFC-best 13 points, converting all three field-goal attempts and four PATs in Atlanta’s win. He is only the second player in NFL history to force overtime as time expired with a 50+ yard (51 yards) field goal and win the game with a 50+ yard (52 yards) field goal (GREG ZUERLEIN, December 2, 2012 vs. San Francisco).
- In his career, Bryant has made 20 of 21 potential game-tying or go-ahead field-goal attempts in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime.
- In his 13th season from Baylor, this is Bryant’s seventh career Player of the Week Award and third with the Falcons (Weeks 4 and 12, 2010).
- He joins MORTEN ANDERSEN (seven) as the only Falcons kickers to be honored multiple times.
- Bryant, who previously won twice with both the New York Giants (Weeks 3 and 11, 2002) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 7, 2006 and Week 4, 2008), is the only player to win multiple Special Teams Player of the Week Awards with three different teams.
- Matt Ryan and Matt Bryant are the first QB/K teammates to be named NFC Offensive and Special Teams Players of Week in the same week since Week 6, 1998 when Atlanta’s CHRIS CHANDLER (QB/Offense) and Morten Andersen accomplished the feat.
