AFC Players of the Week
Tight end Antonio Gates of the San Diego Chargers, defensive end Chandler Jones of the New England Patriots and running back-kick returner C.J. Spiller of the Buffalo Bills are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 2 (September 11, 14-15), the NFL announced today.
OFFENSE: TE ANTONIO GATES, SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
- Gates had seven catches for 96 yards (13.7 average) and three touchdowns in San Diego’s 30-21 win against Seattle.
- His three touchdowns equaled his career-high and were the most among AFC players in Week 2.
- Gates now has 90 career touchdown receptions and surpassed Larry Fitzgerald (87) and Pro Football Hall of Famers Andre Reed (87) and Don Maynard (88) for No. 11 all-time. He ranks second all-time amongst tight ends (Tony Gonzalez, 111).
- Gates now has 16 career games with multiple touchdown catches, the most among active players.
- In his 12th season from Kent State, this is Gates’ first career Player of the Week Award. He joins Rod Bernstine (Week 7, 1992) as the only tight ends in club history to win the award.
- This marks the first time that tight ends have won Offensive Player of Week Awards in back-to-back weeks since the accolade was instituted in 1984 (Julius Thomas, Week 1).
DEFENSE: DE CHANDLER JONES, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
- Jones had eight tackles and two sacks and blocked a field goal that he returned for a touchdown in New England’s 30-7 win at Minnesota.
- In the waning moments of the first half, Minnesota lined up for a 48-yard field-goal attempt. Jones blocked the kick and returned it 58 yards for a touchdown to give the Patriots a 24-7 lead heading into halftime.
- The play marked the fifth blocked field goal returned for a touchdown in franchise history and first since 2010 (Kyle Arrington on October 4, 2010 vs. Miami).
- Jones, who help limited the Vikings to 217 total net yards, now has five two-sack games in his career.
- In his third season from Syracuse, this is Jones’ first career Defensive Player of the Week Award.
- Jones is the first Patriot to be named AFC Defensive Player of the Week since defensive end Andre Carter (Week 10, 2011).
SPECIAL TEAMS: RB-KR C.J. SPILLER, BUFFALO BILLS
- Spiller returned two kickoffs for 122 yards (61 average), including a career-long 102-yard touchdown, in Buffalo’s 29-10 win against Miami.
- With the Bills holding a 9-3 lead in the third quarter, Spiller’s touchdown was the first of the game and provided Buffalo with a 16-3 lead.
- Spiller also rushed for 69 yards on 12 carries (5.8 average), including a 47-yard run. He is the first player with a 100-yard kickoff-return touchdown and 45+ yard run in the same game since 1973 (Bob Gresham, September 23, 1973).
- He is the first NFL player to score a kickoff-return touchdown in 2014 and first Bills player to do so since Brad Smith (October 21, 2012 vs. Tennessee).
- Spiller (two) is now one of four players in franchise history with multiple kickoff-return touchdowns in their careers.
- In his fifth season from Clemson, this is Spiller’s second career Special Teams Player of the Week Award. He also won the award in Week 3 of his rookie season (2010).
- He is the second consecutive Bills player to be named Special Teams Player of the Week this season (Dan Carpenter), marking the first time since 1994 that two Buffalo players have won it in back-to-back weeks (Chris Mohr and Steve Christie in Weeks 2 and 3).
NFC Players of the Week
Running back Darren Sproles of the Philadelphia Eagles, rookie cornerback Kyle Fuller of the Chicago Bears and punt returner Ted Ginn Jr. of the Arizona Cardinals are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the second week of the 2014 season (September 11, 14-15), the NFL announced today.
OFFENSE: RB DARREN SPROLES, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
- Sproles had seven catches for a career-high 152 yards and added 26 rushing yards with a touchdown (19 yards) in the Eagles’ 30-27 come-from-behind win at Indianapolis on Monday night.
- He had two 50+ yard receptions (57 and 51 yards) and scored on a 19-yard touchdown run. Sproles is the first running back with two 50+ yard catches and a touchdown run in the same game since 1992 (Eric Metcalf).
- With Philadelphia trailing by seven and facing a second-and-goal from the Indianapolis 19-yard line with 2:52 remaining in the third quarter, Sproles scored on a 19-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 20.
- With 4:25 left in the game, Sproles took a short pass and ran 51 yards to the Colts’ six-yard line. On the next play, the Eagles tied the game at 27.
- On the final drive of the game, Sproles caught a short pass and ran 17 yards to the Indianapolis 19-yard line to set up the game-winning field goal.
- In his 10th season from Kansas State, this is Sproles’ second career Player of the Week Award and first for offense. He was the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 10, 2007 for the San Diego Chargers.
- Sproles is the seventh running back in franchise history to be named NFC Offensive Player of the Week and the first since LeSean McCoy (Week 16, 2013).
DEFENSE: CB KYLE FULLER, CHICAGO BEARS
- Fuller, the No. 14 overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft, had two interceptions and six tackles in the Bears’ 28-20 victory at San Francisco. Chicago overcame a 17-point deficit and scored the final 21 points of the game.
- He recorded his two interceptions in the fourth quarter and both led to Chicago touchdowns. He is the first rookie since 2007 (Aaron Ross) with two interceptions to set up touchdowns in the fourth quarter of the same game.
- After the Bears pulled within 20-14 early in the fourth quarter, Fuller intercepted a pass on the next play from scrimmage and returned the ball to the San Francisco six-yard line. One play later, the Bears took their first lead of the game at 21-20.
- On the 49ers’ next possession, Fuller recorded his second interception and returned the ball to San Francisco’s 42-yard line. Four plays later, Chicago scored another touchdown to extend its lead to 28-20.
- In his rookie year from Virginia Tech, this is Fuller’s first career Player of the Week Award.
- He is the first rookie cornerback in club history to be named NFC Defensive Player of the Week. Fuller joins safety Mark Carrier (Week 9, 1990) as the only Bears defensive backs to win the award as a rookie.
- Fuller is the first Bears cornerback since Charles Tillman (Week 7, 2012) to be honored.
SPECIAL TEAMS: PR TED GINN, JR., ARIZONA CARDINALS
- Ginn had a 71-yard punt-return touchdown in the Cardinals’ 25-14 come-from-behind win at the New York Giants.
- With Arizona trailing 14-13 with 10:28 remaining in the fourth quarter, Ginn fielded a punt at the Cardinals’ 29-yard line and returned it 71 yards for a touchdown. The score gave Arizona a lead it would not relinquish.
- In his career, Ginn has four punt-return touchdowns and three kickoff-return touchdowns. His seven total kick-return touchdowns rank fourth among active NFL players.
- In his eighth season from Ohio State, this is Ginn’s third career Player of the Week Award. He previously was honored in Week 8, 2009 (Miami) and Week 1, 2011 (San Francisco).
- He is the first Cardinals return specialist to win the award since Patrick Peterson (Week 12, 2011).
- Ginn, who previously won with the Dolphins and 49ers, is the second return specialist to be named Special Teams Player of the Week with three different teams (Darrien Gordon).
