Quarterback AARON RODGERS of the Green Bay Packers, linebacker PATRICK WILLIS of the San Francisco 49ers and rookie kicker GREG ZUERLEIN of the St. Louis Rams are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the fourth week of the 2012 season (September 27 & 30, October 1), the NFL announced today.
OFFENSE: QB AARON RODGERS, GREEN BAY PACKERS
- Rodgers completed 31 of 41 passes (75.6 percent) for 319 yards with four touchdowns and one interception for a 119.9 passer rating in the Packers’ 28-27 win over New Orleans.
- He guided an offense that amassed a season-high 421 yards and 30 first downs, the most in a game by Green Bay since November 12, 1989.
- Trailing by six in the fourth quarter, Rodgers led the comeback and capped it off with an 11-yard touchdown pass to JORDY NELSON.
- In his career, the Packers are 23-0 when Rodgers has a passer rating of at least 115. Green Bay is 8-0 when Rodgers has at least four touchdown passes.
- In his eighth season from California, this is Rodgers’ sixth career Player of the Week Award. He was honored twice in 2010 (Weeks 13 and 16) and three times last year (Weeks 1, 4 and 9).
- Since Week 13, 2010, Rodgers’ six Player of the Week Awards are the most in the NFL during that span.
- Rodgers and BRETT FAVRE (12) are the only quarterbacks in team history to win the award at least six times.
DEFENSE: LB PATRICK WILLIS, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
- Willis had a team-high 10 tackles, an interception and two passes defended in the 49ers’ 34-0 victory at the New York Jets.
- The five-time Pro Bowler led a defense that limited New York to 145 total yards and 2.9 yards per play as the 49ers posted their first road shutout in more than a decade (January 6, 2002).
- He recorded his first interception of the season as San Francisco forced four turnovers (three fumbles, one interception).
- Six of Willis’ 10 tackles came within three yards of the line of scrimmage.
- Willis, a defensive captain, led a unit that held the Jets to 45 rushing yards and just 2.6 yards per carry. The 49ers limited the Jets to 100 net passing yards and a 42.6 passer rating.
- In his sixth year from Mississippi, this is Willis’ second career Player of the Week Award (Week 5, 2011).
- He is the first 49ers linebacker to be named Defensive Player of the Week multiple times.
- The last 49ers player to win Defensive Player of the Week Awards in consecutive seasons was safety TONY PARRISH (2002-03).
SPECIAL TEAMS: K GREG ZUERLEIN, ST. LOUIS RAMS
- Zuerlein scored 13 points in the Rams’ 19-13 win over Seattle, converting all four field-goal attempts (58, 48, 60 and 24 yards) and one PAT.
- He is the first player in NFL history with a 60-yard and 50-yard field goal in the same game and the only player in league annals to make two field goals over 55 yards in a single game.
- Zuerlein’s 60-yard field goal is the longest in franchise history and his 58-yarder ranks second.
- This season, he is a perfect 12 for 12 on field-goal attempts and his 12 field goals are tied for the most in the NFL.
- In his rookie season from Missouri Western, this is Zuerlein’s first career Player of the Week Award.
- Zuerlein is the third kicker in franchise history to be honored, joining JEFF WILKINS (Week 15, 2002 and Week 1, 2006) and JOSH BROWN (Week 8, 2009).
- This is the second consecutive season in which a Rams rookie has been named Special Teams Player of the Week (ROBERT QUINN, Week 8, 2011).
