Quarterback CAM NEWTON of the Carolina Panthers, defensive tackle LINVAL JOSEPH of the Minnesota Vikings and kicker JOSH BROWN of the New York Giants are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the ninth week of the 2015 season (November 5, 8-9), the NFL announced today.
OFFENSE: QB CAM NEWTON, CAROLINA PANTHERS
• Newton passed for 297 yards with three touchdowns and rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown in the Panthers’ 37-29 win over Green Bay. Carolina improved to 8-0, the best start in franchise history.
• It marked the 15th time in Newton’s career in which he had at least two touchdown passes and a rushing TD. He joined Pro Football Hall of Famers STEVE YOUNG (17) and FRAN TARKENTON (16) as the only players to have 15 such games.
• Newton has thrown a touchdown pass and rushed for a touchdown in a game 29 times, the second-most in NFL history behind Young (31).
• Newton has five career games with at least three passing touchdowns and a rushing TD, which is one shy of the NFL record of six held by TOBIN ROTE, BILLY WADE, JACK KEMP and Young.
• In his fifth season from Auburn, this is Newton’s fourth career Player of the Week Award.
• Newton’s four Offensive Player of the Week Awards are the most in franchise history.
• He is the only Panthers quarterback to win the award multiple times.
DEFENSE: DT LINVAL JOSEPH, MINNESOTA VIKINGS
• Joseph had a career-high 10 tackles, including a half-sack and three tackles for a loss, in the Vikings’ 21-18 overtime win over St. Louis.
• Eight of Joseph’s 10 tackles occurred within two yards of the line of scrimmage or behind. He finished the game with four tackles that resulted in a loss, including a half-sack.
• On the first play of overtime, Joseph recorded a tackle for a six-yard loss, which eventually led to a St. Louis punt from the Rams’ 14-yard line. On the ensuing drive, the Vikings kicked the game-winning field goal.
• Joseph’s 10 tackles are the most in a game by a Vikings defensive tackle in the past 10 years.
• In his sixth year from East Carolina, this is Joseph’s first career Player of the Week Award.
• Joseph is the fourth defensive tackle in franchise history to be named Defensive Player of the Week, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer JOHN RANDLE (five), KEITH MILLARD (one) and KEVIN WILLIAMS (one).
SPECIAL TEAMS: K JOSH BROWN, NEW YORK GIANTS
• Brown converted all four field-goal attempts, including a long of 53 yards, in the Giants’ 32-18 win at Tampa Bay.
• He scored 14 points in Week 9, the most by a kicker in the league and the most among all NFC players.
• In the fourth quarter, Brown converted field goals of 53 and 44 yards. After Tampa Bay cut New York’s lead to two points (20-18), Brown made a 53-yard field goal with 7:18 remaining to increase the lead to five (23-18). He then put the Giants ahead by eight (26-18) with a 44-yard field goal with 0:23 left in the game.
• This season, Brown has converted all 19 field-goal attempts without a miss. He is tied for the NFL lead in field-goal percentage (100 percent) and made field goals (19).
• He leads the NFC with 81 points scored.
• In his 13th season from Nebraska, this is Brown’s sixth career Player of the Week Award and second with the Giants (Week 16, 2013).
• He is the third kicker in franchise history to win the award multiple times, joining BRAD DALUISO (four) and MATT BRYANT (two).
• Brown has been named Special Teams Player of the Week with three different teams: Seattle (three), New York Giants (two) and St. Louis (one).
2015 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Offense Defense Special Teams
Wk 1 WR Julio Jones, Atlanta DT Aaron Donald, St. Louis PR-WR Tavon Austin, St. Louis
Wk 2 WR Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona LB Sean Lee, Dallas KR-RB David Johnson, Arizona
Wk 3 QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay S Tyrann Mathieu, Arizona PR-RB Darren Sproles, Philadelphia
Wk 4 QB Drew Brees, New Orleans CB Josh Norman, Carolina K Robbie Gould, Chicago
Wk 5 QB Eli Manning, New York Giants DE Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia PR Bobby Rainey, Tampa Bay
Wk 6 WR Calvin Johnson, Detroit DT Kawann Short, Carolina LB Michael Mauti, New Orleans
Wk 7 QB Kirk Cousins, Washington DE Michael Bennett, Seattle KR Dwayne Harris, New York Giants
Wk 8 QB Drew Brees, New Orleans LB Kwon Alexander, Tampa Bay PR Marcus Sherels, Minnesota
Wk 9 QB Cam Newton, Carolina DT Linval Joseph, Minnesota K Josh Brown, New York Giants
Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 9 as submitted by NFC clubs:
• Chicago quarterback JAY CUTLER, who passed for 345 yards and two touchdowns in the Bears’ 22-19 win at San Diego.
• Chicago wide receiver ALSHON JEFFERY, who had 10 catches for 151 yards.
• Philadelphia wide receiver JORDAN MATTHEWS, who had nine catches for 133 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime in the Eagles’ 33-27 win at Dallas.
• Minnesota running back ADRIAN PETERSON, who rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown.
• Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS, who passed for 369 yards and four touchdowns in the Packers’ loss at Carolina.
Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 9 as submitted by NFC clubs:
• San Francisco linebacker NA VORRO BOWMAN, who had seven tackles, a sack and a pass defensed in the 49ers’ 17-16 win over Atlanta.
• New York Giants linebacker JASPER BRINKLEY, who had seven tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
• Carolina linebacker THOMAS DAVIS, who had an interception, a sack and six tackles.
• Philadelphia linebacker BRANDON GRAHAM, who had two sacks, two forced fumbles and seven tackles.
• Philadelphia rookie linebacker JORDAN HICKS, who had a 67-yard interception-return touchdown and six tackles.
• Chicago linebacker LAMARR HOUSTON, who had two sacks.
Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 9 as submitted by NFC clubs:
• Philadelphia punter DONNIE JONES, who placed four of his five punts inside the 20-yard line and had a 47.2-yard net average.
• Philadelphia kicker CALEB STURGIS, who converted both field-goal attempts, including a long of 53 yards.
• Minnesota kicker BLAIR WALSH, who converted both field-goal attempts, including the game-winner in overtime.
