Quarterback ALEX SMITH of the San Francisco 49ers, safety STEVIE BROWN of the New York Giants and cornerback DAVON HOUSE of the Green Bay Packers are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the eighth week of the 2012 season (October 25, 28-29), the NFL announced today.
OFFENSE: QB ALEX SMITH, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Smith completed 94.7 percent of his passes (18 of 19) and threw for 232 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 157.1 passer rating in the 49ers’ 24-3 win at Arizona.
He set an NFL record for the most passes in a game (19) without more than one incompletion or interception, besting the previous mark of 18 held by Pro Football Hall of Famer FRAN TARKENTON and CRAIG MORTON.
Smith’s 94.7 completion percentage is the highest single-game mark in NFL history (minimum 15 attempts). By comparison, STEVE YOUNG’s best single-game mark (minimum 15 attempts) is 93.8 percent (15 of 16) and JOE MONTANA’s is 84.4 percent (27 of 32).
Smith’s 157.1 passer rating is the highest of his career and, including the playoffs, the 49ers are a perfect 15-0 when Smith starts and has a 100+ rating. When Smith starts and completes at least 75 percent of his passes, the 49ers are 7-0.
In his eighth season from Utah, this is Smith’s first career Player of the Week Award.
He is the first 49er to be honored on offense since FRANK GORE in Week 14, 2009.
DEFENSE: S STEVIE BROWN, NEW YORK GIANTS
Brown had two interceptions, recovered a fumble and had six tackles in the Giants’ 29-24 win at Dallas.
He is only the third Giant to record at least three takeaways in a game against the Cowboys, joining WILLIE WILLIAMS (1969) and TERRY KINARD, who did it twice (1983 and 1987).
Brown’s three takeaways accounted for half of the six turnovers forced by the New York defense as the Giants recorded four interceptions and recovered two fumbles. Two of Brown’s takeaways led to scoring drives for the Giants and his third was an interception inside the red zone with 1:03 remaining in the game and the Giants up by five points.
Brown has an interception in four of the past six games (five interceptions). His five interceptions are already the most in a season by a Giants safety since 1999 (PERCY ELLSWORTH, 6).
Brown’s 168 interception-return yards are the most by a Giant since DICK LYNCH in 1963 (251). In his third year from Michigan, this is Brown’s first career Player of the Week Award.
He is the second Giants safety to be honored this season, joining ANTREL ROLLE (Week 6). Previously, no Giants safety had won the award since 1998 (PERCY ELLSWORTH, Week 16).
This is the first time in franchise history two Giants safeties have been named Defensive Player of the Week in the same season.
SPECIAL TEAMS: CB DAVON HOUSE, GREEN BAY PACKERS
House blocked a punt that resulted in a touchdown in the Packers’ 24-15 win over Jacksonville. He is the first Packer to block a punt since September 29, 2003 when linebacker MARCUS WILKINS accomplished the feat. It was the first blocked punt of House’s career at any level.
House’s blocked punt was recovered in the end zone by rookie linebacker DEZMAN MOSES. Moses is the first Packer to return a blocked punt for a touchdown since safety TIGER GREENE on December 2, 1990. The last time the Packers had blocked a punt for a touchdown, House was just a year old.
House made his first career start on Sunday and recorded four tackles.
In his second season from New Mexico State, this is House’s first career Player of the Week Award.He is only the second Packers special teamer (non-kicker/punter/returner) to be honored, joining linebacker K.D. WILLIAMS (Week 3, 2001).
