AFC
Wide receiver DEMARYIUS THOMAS of the Denver Broncos, defensive tackle MARCELL DAREUS of the Buffalo Bills and linebacker TANK CARDER of the Cleveland Browns are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in the fifth week of the 2014 season (October 2, 5-6), the NFL announced today.
OFFENSE: WR DEMARYIUS THOMAS, DENVER BRONCOS
- Thomas had eight catches for a career-high 226 yards (28.3 average) and two touchdowns in the Broncos’ 41-20 win against Arizona.
- He is the first player in NFL history with at least 225 receiving yards and two touchdown catches against a previously undefeated team with a record of 3-0 or better.
- Thomas’ 226 receiving yards are the most of any NFL player in a game this season and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end SHANNON SHARPE (214 yards on October 20, 2002 vs. Kansas City) for the Broncos’ single-game record.
- In the second quarter, Thomas caught a 31-yard touchdown pass to give the Broncos a 14-6 lead. With Denver holding a 14-13 lead later in the quarter, he caught a career-long 86-yard touchdown to provide a 21-13 margin before halftime.
- Since the start of the 2012 season, Thomas leads all AFC players with 27 touchdown catches.
- In his fifth season from Georgia Tech, this is Thomas’ second career Player of the Week Award (Week 10, 2013).
- Thomas is the second Broncos player to be named AFC Offensive Player of the Week this season, joining tight end JULIUS THOMAS (Kickoff Weekend).
DEFENSE: DT MARCELL DAREUS, BUFFALO BILLS
- Dareus had a career-high three sacks, a forced fumble and five tackles in the Bills’ 17-14 win at Detroit.
- He led a defensive front that limited the Lions to 69 rushing yards and 263 total net yards, Detroit’s lowest totals this season.
- Each of Dareus’ three sacks came during series in which the Lions were forced to later punt, including a sack-fumble in the fourth quarter that resulted in a 10-yard loss.
- His three sacks are the most of any AFC player in a game this season.
- Dareus has five sacks in 2014, the most among NFL defensive tackles.
- In his fourth season from Alabama, this is Dareus’ first career Player of the Week Award.
- Dareus is the third Bills player to win a Player of the Week Award in 2014, joining kicker DAN CARPENTER (Kickoff Weekend) and kick returner-running back C.J. SPILLER (Week 2), who were both recognized on Special Teams.
SPECIAL TEAMS: LB TANK CARDER, CLEVELAND BROWNS
- Carder blocked a punt out of bounds in the end zone for a safety and added a special teams tackle in the Browns’ 29-28 win at Tennessee.
- With Cleveland trailing 28-13 in the fourth quarter, Carder blocked BRETT KERN’s punt at the goal line, which resulted in a safety after the ball bounced out of the back of the end zone. It marked the Browns’ first blocked punt since November 30, 2003 (at Seattle) and first safety since November 22, 2009 (at Detroit).
- His safety helped the Browns’ overcome a 25-point deficit, the largest any road team has overcome en route to a victory in NFL history.
- In the third quarter, Carder helped pin Tennessee deep in its own territory by tackling kick returner LEON WASHINGTON at the 11-yard line on the Titans’ first possession of the second half.
- In his third season from Texas Christian, this is Carder’s first career Player of the Week Award.
- He is the first Browns defender to win a Player of the Week award since linebacker D’QWELL JACKSON in 2012 (Week 12, Defense).
Quarterback RUSSELL WILSON of the Seattle Seahawks, linebacker JULIUS PEPPERS of the Green Bay Packers and kicker PHIL DAWSON of the San Francisco 49ers are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the fifth week of the 2014 season (October 2, 5-6), the NFL announced today.
NFC
OFFENSE: QB RUSSELL WILSON, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
- Wilson completed 18 of 24 passes (75 percent) for 201 yards with two touchdowns for a 127.3 passer rating and rushed for 122 yards (11.1 average) with one TD in the Seahawks’ 27-17 win at Washington on Monday night.
- He is the first player ever with at least 200 passing yards and 100 rushing yards on Monday Night Football.
- His 122 rushing yards are a career-high and the most by a quarterback on Monday Night Football.
- Wilson and RANDALL CUNNINGHAM (November 4, 1990) are the only quarterbacks in NFL history to record a 120+ passer rating and 120+ rushing yards in the same game.
- Wilson, who passed for 210 yards and rushed for 102 last year against Indianapolis (October 6, 2013), is one of three quarterbacks in NFL history (TOBIN ROTE, MICHAEL VICK) to record multiple games with at least 200 passing yards and 100 rushing yards.
- Since entering the NFL in 2012, Wilson is the only player with a 100+ passer rating (102.1) and at least 1,000 rushing yards (1,237).
- In his third season from Wisconsin, this is Wilson’s third career Player of the Week Award. He previously won in Week 13, 2012 and Week 13, 2013.
- Wilson is one of three quarterbacks in the past 25 years to be named Player of the Week in each of his first three NFL seasons (PEYTON MANNING and ANDREW LUCK).
DEFENSE: LB JULIUS PEPPERS, GREEN BAY PACKERS
- Peppers had a 49-yard interception-return touchdown, a half-sack and three tackles in the Packers’ 42-10 win over Minnesota on Thursday night.
- Peppers is the only player in NFL history with at least 100 sacks (120) and 10 interceptions (10).
- He has three career games with at least a half-sack and an interception-return touchdown, the most such games in the NFL since the sack became an official statistic in 1982.
- Peppers was part of a defensive unit that registered six sacks, two interceptions and a 45.8 opponent passer rating against the Vikings. Green Bay allowed just 299 total net yards, including 188 passing.
- In his 13th year from North Carolina, this is Peppers’ sixth career Player of the Week Award and first with the Packers. He previously won three times with Carolina and twice with Chicago. He was last honored in Week 16, 2012 with the Bears.
- Peppers and Pro Football Hall of Famer CHRIS DOLEMAN (Minnesota, Atlanta, San Francisco) are the only two to be named NFC Defensive Player of the Week with three different teams.
SPECIAL TEAMS: K PHIL DAWSON, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
- Dawson converted all five field-goal attempts and scored 16 points in the 49ers’ 22-17 win over Kansas City.
- He made two 50-yard field goals against the Chiefs, including a long of 55 yards. Dawson also scored the game’s final nine points, including the go-ahead field goal with 8:42 remaining in the fourth quarter.
- Dawson is the first 49ers kicker to make at least five field goals in a game without a miss (field goal or PAT) since 1996 (JEFF WILKINS, September 29).
- This marked the fifth time in Dawson’s career that he has made at least five field goals without a miss.
- Dawson’s 16 points are the most by an NFC kicker in a game this season.
- In his 16th season from Texas, this is Dawson’s fifth career Player of the Week Award and third with the 49ers (Weeks 14 and 17, 2013). He previously won twice with Cleveland (Week 3, 2001 and Week 15, 2005).
- Dawson’s three Player of the Week Awards are the most by a kicker in 49ers history.
