Wide receiver ANTONIO BROWN of the Pittsburgh Steelers, rookie cornerback MARCUS PETERS of the Kansas City Chiefs and defensive end CARLOS DUNLAP of the Cincinnati Bengals are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the 15th week of the 2015 season (December 17, December 19-21), the NFL announced today.OFFENSE: WR ANTONIO BROWN, PITTSBURGH STEELERS· Brown had 16 catches for 189 yards and two touchdowns in the Steelers’ 34-27 win against Denver.· Both of Brown’s touchdown catches came in the second half and helped the Steelers overcome a 27-13 halftime deficit, including the game-winning 23-yard touchdown reception with 3:24 remaining in the fourth quarter.
- Brown, who led all NFL players with 16 catches and 189 receiving yards in Week 15, became the second player in NFL history with three 185-yard receiving games in one season (CHARLEY HENNIGAN, three in 1961).
- He joined WES WELKER (2007-09) as the only players with three consecutive 110-catch seasons and is one of four players to have at least 100 catches and 1,500 receiving yards in back-to-back seasons.
- In his sixth season from Central Michigan, this is Brown’s fourth career Player of the Week Award and first since Week 13, when Brown was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
- Brown is the first Steelers wide receiver to be named Offensive Player of the Week since HINES WARD in 2005 (Week 10).
DEFENSE: CB MARCUS PETERS, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS· Peters had three tackles and two interceptions, including a 90-yard touchdown return, in the Chiefs’ 34-14 win at Baltimore.· His two interceptions were the most of any NFL player in Week 15, and he is currently tied for second in the league with seven INTs in 2015.· Peters’ touchdown was one of two defensive scores by the Chiefs against the Ravens, as Kansas City became the first team in NFL history with a 90+ yard interception return-TD and a 70+ fumble-return TD (safety TYVON BRANCH, 73 yards) in the same game.· The Chiefs improved to 9-5 and are the only NFL team to win eight consecutive games immediately following a five-game losing streak in the same season.· In his first season from Washington, this is Peters’ first career Defensive Player of the Week Award and first by a Chiefs rookie since linebacker TRACY SIMIEN in 1991 (Week 14).
- Peters is the second Chiefs defensive back to win a Defensive Player of the Week Award in the past three weeks, joining Tyvon Branch (Week 13).
SPECIAL TEAMS: DE CARLOS DUNLAP, CINCINNATI BENGALS
- Dunlap blocked a field-goal attempt in the Bengals’ 24-14 win against San Francisco as Cincinnati improved to 11-3 and clinched a playoff berth for the fifth consecutive season.
- With 8:12 remaining and Cincinnati leading 24-7 in the fourth quarter, Dunlap blocked a 41-yard field-goal attempt to help the Bengals hold off the 49ers.
- Dunlap also started at defensive end and contributed three tackles, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
- In his sixth season from Florida, this is Dunlap’s second career Player of the Week Award and first since Week 13 of 2012, when he was awarded AFC Defensive Player of the Week.
- Dunlap is the first Bengals defensive lineman since GENO ATKINS in 2012 (Week 16, Defense) to win a Player of the Week Award.
2015 AFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
- Newton passed for 340 yards with five touchdowns (116.9 passer rating) and rushed for 100 yards in the Panthers’ 38-35 win at the New York Giants. Carolina is the fourth team in the Super Bowl era to start 14-0.
- He is the only player in NFL history with at least 300 passing yards, five passing touchdowns and 100 rushing yards in a single game.
- The performance marked Newton’s third game this season with five touchdown passes. He is one of only five players in NFL history to have at least three games with five-or-more touchdown passes in a single season.
- Newton has 3,402 passing yards and 580 rushing yards this year and is the only player in NFL history to have five seasons with at least 3,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards.
- In his fifth season from Auburn, this is Newton’s seventh career Player of the Week Award and fourth this season (Weeks 9, 11 and 13).
- Newton’s four Player of the Week Awards are tied for the second-most in a season in NFL history. Only New England’s TOMBRADY (five in 2007) has won more in a single season.
- Newton is the first player to win four Player of the Week Awards in a seven-week span within a season since San Diego running back LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON in 2006.
DEFENSE: LB DEONE BUCANNON, ARIZONA CARDINALS
- Bucannon had a 39-yard interception-return touchdown and a game-high 11 tackles in the Cardinals’ 40-17 win at Philadelphia. Arizona recorded its franchise-record 12th victory and clinched the NFC West.
- Bucannon’s interception-return touchdown was his first career touchdown and the first defensive touchdown he has scored at any level. His last touchdown was scored as a wide receiver during his senior season at Vanden (Fairfield, CA) High School.
- With 0:50 remaining in the first half and the Cardinals leading 17-10, Bucannon helped stop Eagles running back RYAN MATHEWS for no gain on fourth-and-one at the Arizona eight-yard line.
- Five of his tackles came within four yards of the line of scrimmage or behind.
- In his second year from Washington State, this is Bucannon’s first career Player of the Week Award.
- Bucannon joins PATRICK PETERSON (Week 10, 2014) and TYRANN MATHIEU (Week 3, 2015) as the only Cardinals to win Defensive Player of the Week over the past two seasons.
SPECIAL TEAMS: KR BENNY CUNNINGHAM, ST. LOUIS RAMS· Cunningham returned four kickoffs for 188 yards (47-yard average), including a 102-yard return, in the Rams’ 31-23 win over Tampa Bay.· His 102-yard kickoff-return was the longest by a Rams player since 2000 (TONY HORNE, 103 yards) and the fourth-longest in the NFL this season.· Cunningham’s 47-yard return average was the second-highest mark in the league this year (minimum three KR).· He also had a 44-yard return on the game’s opening kickoff which set up a St. Louis touchdown.· Cunningham contributes on four special teams units – kickoff return, kickoff cover, punt return and punt cover – and helped limit the Buccaneers to zero punt-return yards and 38 return yards on two kickoffs (19-yard average).· In his third season from Middle Tennessee, this is Cunningham’s first career Player of the Week Award.
- Cunningham and Tony Horne (Week 12, 1999) are the only kick returners in franchise history to be named Special Teams Player of the Week.
2015 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
- Seattle wide receiver DOUG BALDWIN, who had two touchdown catches in the Seahawks’ 30-13 win over Cleveland.
- Minnesota quarterback TEDDY BRIDGEWATER, who completed 17 of 20 passes (85 percent) for 231 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions for a 154.4 passer rating in the Vikings’ 38-17 win over Chicago. He also rushed for a touchdown.
- Washington quarterback KIRK COUSINS, who completed 22 of 28 passes (78.6 percent) for 319 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions for a 153.7 passer rating in the Redskins’ 35-25 win over Buffalo. He also rushed for a touchdown.
- Arizona rookie running back DAVID JOHNSON, who rushed for 187 yards and three touchdowns and added four catches for 42 yards (229 scrimmage yards).
- Atlanta wide receiver JULIO JONES, who had nine catches for 118 yards and a touchdown in the Falcons’ 23-17 win at Jacksonville.
- Detroit quarterback MATTHEW STAFFORD, who completed 22 of 25 passes (88 percent) for 254 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 148.6 passer rating in the Lions’ 35-27 win at New Orleans.
- Seattle quarterback RUSSELL WILSON, who completed 21 of 30 passes (70 percent) for 249 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 128.3 passer rating.
Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 15 as submitted by NFC clubs:
- St. Louis cornerback TRUMAINE JOHNSON, who had nine tackles and an interception.
- Green Bay linebacker JULIUS PEPPERS, who had 2.5 sacks and four tackles in the Packers’ 30-20 win at Oakland.
- Green Bay rookie cornerback DAMARIOUS RANDALL, who had a 43-yard interception-return touchdown and seven tackles.
- Minnesota defensive end BRIAN ROBISON, who had a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and two tackles.
- Carolina cornerback CHARLES TILLMAN, who had an interception, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and five tackles.
Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 15 as submitted by NFC clubs:
- Detroit rookie kick returner AMEER ABDULLAH, who returned four kickoffs for 123 yards (30.8 average).
- Seattle kicker STEVEN HAUSCHKA, who scored 12 points, converting all three field-goal attempts and three PATs.
· Minnesota kicker BLAIR WALSH, who made a 53-yard field goal and converted all five PATs.
