AFC
Running back JAMAAL CHARLES of the Kansas City Chiefs, defensive end J.J. WATT of the Houston Texans and kicker NICK NOVAK of the San Diego Chargers are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in the fourth week of the 2014 season (September 25, 28-29), the NFL announced today.
OFFENSE: RB JAMAAL CHARLES, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
- Charles rushed for 92 yards on 18 carries (5.1 average) and one touchdown and caught three passes for 16 yards and two touchdowns in the Chiefs’ 41-14 win against New England on Monday Night Football.
- He is the second player in Monday Night Football history with at least 90 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown and two or more receiving touchdowns in a game (New York Giants running back RON JOHNSON, October 2, 1972).
- His three touchdowns led all AFC players in Week 4, marking the ninth multi-touchdown game of his career.
- Charles’ 5.6 career rushing average is the highest of any running back in NFL history (minimum 750 attempts).
- In his seventh season from Texas, this is Charles’ fourth career Player of the Week Award. He was previously recognized as Offensive Player of the Week twice (Week 15 of 2013 and Week 3 of 2012) and Special Teams Player of the Week once (Week 11 of 2009).
- His four career Player of the Week Awards are tied for most by any Chiefs running back (PRIEST HOLMES and LARRY JOHNSON).
DEFENSE: DE J.J WATT, HOUSTON TEXANS
- Watt had five tackles and an 80-yard interception-return touchdown in the Texans’ 23-17 win against Buffalo.
- His touchdown came at the 13:28 mark of the third quarter and provided the Texans with a 14-10 lead that they would not relinquish.
- It marked the first interception-return touchdown for Watt in the regular season; he also had a 29-yard INT-TD in a Wild Card win over Cincinnati (January 7, 2012).
- Watt is the only player in NFL history with at least 35 sacks (38.5), an interception-return touchdown and a receiving touchdown in his first four NFL seasons.
- In his fourth season from Wisconsin, this is Watt’s third career Player of the Week Award and first since 2012 (Week 15).
- Watt’s three Player of the Week Awards are the most of any defender in Texans history.
SPECIAL TEAMS: K NICK NOVAK, SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
- Novak converted all four field-goal attempts (33, 34, 23 and 37) and all three PATs in the Chargers’ 33-14 win against Jacksonville.
- His four field goals and 15 points led all AFC kickers in Week 4.
- He now has 40 points this season, tied for the most in the NFL (ADAM VINATIERI).
- Novak has converted 89 of 101 field-goal attempts (88.1 percent) with San Diego, the highest percentage in Chargers history (minimum 100 attempts).
- In his seventh season from Maryland, this is Novak’s third Special Teams Player of the Week award. He also won the award twice last season (Weeks 6 and 16).
- His three career Player of the Week Awards are the second most of any Chargers kicker (JOHN CARNEY, eight).
NFC
Quarterback AARON RODGERS of the Green Bay Packers, safety ANTOINE BETHEA of the San Francisco 49ers and punt returner-running back DARREN SPROLES of the Philadelphia Eagles are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the fourth week of the 2014 season (September 25, 28-29), the NFL announced today.
OFFENSE: QB AARON RODGERS, GREEN BAY PACKERS
- Rodgers completed 22 of 28 passes (78.6 percent) for 302 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions for a 151.2 passer rating in the Packers’ 38-17 win at Chicago.
- The performance marked his second career game with a 150+ passer rating, his 13th with at least four touchdown passes and his 34th with at least 300 passing yards.
- His 151.2 passer rating was the second-highest mark in his career (155.4, October 25, 2009 vs. Cleveland).
- Rodgers, who now has 25,196 career passing yards, reached 25,000 passing yards in 3,065 attempts, the fewest attempts in NFL history to reach the mark (KURT WARNER, 3,076).
- Rodgers threw two touchdown passes to both RANDALL COBB and JORDY NELSON. Cobb (113 yards) and Nelson (108) are the first Packers teammates to each have at least 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the same game since December 21, 1969.
- In his 10th season from California, this is Rodgers’ ninth career Player of the Week Award and first since Week 2, 2013. This is the fifth consecutive season Rodgers has been named Player of the Week.
- Rodgers’ nine Player of the Week Awards are the second-most in franchise history (BRETT FAVRE, 12).
- Since 2010, Rodgers and TOM BRADY are tied for the most Player of the Week Awards with nine.
DEFENSE: S ANTOINE BETHEA, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
- Bethea, making his 100th consecutive start, had an interception, a forced fumble and seven tackles in the 49ers’ 26-21 win over Philadelphia.
- Early in the third quarter, with the 49ers trailing 21-13, Bethea forced a fumble at the Philadelphia 23-yard line which was recovered by teammate PERRISH COX. That led to a touchdown to cut the deficit to 21-20.
- Later in the third quarter, Bethea intercepted a pass to end another Philadelphia drive.
- He is the first 49ers safety with an interception and a forced fumble in a game since 2009 (DASHON GOLDSON).
- Late in the fourth quarter, with the 49ers clinging to a 26-21 lead, Bethea stopped Eagles running back LE SEAN MC COY on the one-yard line. The San Francisco defense would then hold with a goal-line stand.
- Bethea was part of a defensive unit that allowed 0 offensive points and 213 total net yards. The Eagles entered the game averaging 29 offensive points and 419 total net yards per game.
- In his ninth year from Howard, this is Bethea’s first career Player of the Week Award.
- Bethea is the first 49ers safety to be honored since 2003 (TONY PARRISH, Week 16).
SPECIAL TEAMS: PR-RB DARREN SPROLES, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
- Sproles had a career-long 82-yard punt-return touchdown in the Eagles’ loss at San Francisco. He was part of a unit that scored the only two special teams touchdowns in Week 4.
- It marked his fourth career punt-return touchdown and the sixth total kick-return touchdown for Sproles.
- In team history, Sproles’ 82-yard touchdown is the fourth-longest punt-return score.
- Philadelphia also scored on special teams via a blocked punt (BRAD SMITH). Combined with MALCOLM JENKINS’ interception-return touchdown, the Eagles are the only team in NFL history to score a touchdown via a punt return, blocked punt return and interception return in the first half of a game.
- Sproles is the first player to be named Player of Week for both offense and special teams in the first month of a season since the Special Teams Player of the Week Award began in 1993.
- In his 10th season from Kansas State, this is Sproles’ third career Player of the Week Award and second this year (Offense, Week 2). He was the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 10, 2007 for San Diego.
