Wide receiver A.J. GREEN of the Cincinnati Bengals, linebacker PRESTON BROWN of the Buffalo Bills and punter PAT MC AFEE of the Indianapolis Colts are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 3 (September 24, 27-28), the NFL announced today.
OFFENSE: WR A.J. GREEN, CINCINNATI BENGALS
• Green had 10 receptions for a career-high 227 yards and two touchdowns in the Bengals’ 28-24 win at Baltimore.
• Both of his touchdown catches came in the fourth quarter when the Bengals were trailing, an 80-yarder and the game-winning seven-yard touchdown catch with 2:10 remaining in the fourth quarter.
• Green is the second player in NFL history with at least 10 catches (10), 225+ receiving yards (227) and two touchdowns, including the game-winning score in the fourth quarter or overtime in the same game (MILES AUSTIN on October 11, 2009 vs. Kansas City).
• Green, whose 227 receiving yards were the most of any NFL player in a game this season, joined CHAD JOHNSON (two) as the only players in Cincinnati history with multiple 200-yard receiving games.
• In his fifth season from Georgia, this is Green’s first career Offensive Player of the Week Award and the first by a Bengal since JEREMY HILL in 2014 (Week 15).
• He is the first Bengals wide receiver to win a Player of the Week Award since MARVIN JONES in 2013 (Week 8).
DEFENSE: LB PRESTON BROWN, BUFFALO BILLS
• Brown had two interceptions, including a 43-yard interception-return touchdown, and seven tackles in the Bills’ 41-14 win at Miami.
• His two turnovers led to 10 first-half points for the Bills. Brown’s first interception came with 1:48 remaining in the first quarter and led to a 26-yard field goal by DAN CARPENTER for a 17-0 lead.
• His 43-yard touchdown return, the first of his NFL career, came inside the two-minute warning of the second quarter and provided the Bills with a 24-0 halftime lead.
• In the second quarter, Brown also contributed a tackle for a loss on third down that led to a Miami punt.
• His two interceptions were the most in a single game by an NFL linebacker this season.
• In his second season from Louisville, this is Brown’s first career Player of the Week Award and the first by a Bills defender since MARCELL DAREUS in 2014 (Week 5).
• Brown is the first Bills linebacker to be named Defensive Player of the Week since TAKEO SPIKES in 2003 (Week 1).
SPECIAL TEAMS: P PAT MC AFEE, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
• McAfee punted five times for 249 yards (49.8 average) with a long of 54 yards and placed one inside his opponent’s 20-yard line in the Colts’ 35-33 win at Tennessee.
• The Colts’ punting unit limited the Titans to three punt returns for minus-one yard, which contributing to McAfee’s 50.0 net punting average, which ranked second among NFL players in Week 3.
• McAfee, who also serves as the Colts’ kickoff specialist, booted all six of his kickoffs for touchbacks.
• In the third quarter, McAfee also rushed for 18 yards on a fake punt to provide the Colts with a fresh set of downs.
• In his seventh season from West Virginia, this is McAfee’s second career Player of the Week Award (Week 6, 2014).
• McAfee is the first Colts punter to win multiple Special Teams Player of the Week Awards.
2015 AFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Offense Defense Special Teams
Wk 1 QB Marcus Mariota, Tennessee CB Aqib Talib, Denver PR-WR Jarvis Landry, Miami
Wk 2 QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh CB Darrelle Revis, N.Y. Jets PR-WR Travis Benajamin, Cleveland
Wk 3 WR A.J. Green, Cincinnati LB Preston Brown, Buffalo P Pat McAfee, Indianapolis
Other nominees for AFC Offensive Player of Week 3 as submitted by AFC clubs:
• New England quarterback TOM BRADY, who completed 33 of 42 passes (78.6 percent) for 358 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 118.1 passer rating in the Patriots’ 51-17 win against Jacksonville.
• Oakland quarterback DEREK CARR, who completed 20 of 32 passes (62.5 percent) for 314 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 115.9 passer rating in the Raiders 27-20 win at Cleveland.
• Cincinnati quarterback ANDY DALTON, who completed 20 of 32 passes (62.5 percent) for 383 yards with three touchdowns for a 122.3 passer rating.
• Indianapolis running back FRANK GORE, who rushed for 86 yards on 14 attempts (6.1 average) and two touchdowns.
• Denver quarterback PEYTON MANNING, who completed 31 of 42 passes (73.8 percent) for 324 yards with two touchdowns and a 101.7 passer rating in the Broncos’ 24-12 win at Detroit.
• Buffalo quarterback TYROD TAYLOR, who completed 21 of 29 passes (72.4 percent) for 277 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 136.7 passer rating.
Other nominees for AFC Defensive Player of Week 3 as submitted by AFC clubs:
• Pittsburgh safety WILL ALLEN, who had seven tackles and an interception in the Steelers’ 12-6 win at St. Louis.
• Indianapolis cornerback DWIGHT LOWERY, who had two interceptions, including a 69-yard interception-return touchdown, and two tackles.
• Denver linebacker DE MARCUS WARE, who had four tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Other nominee for AFC Special Teams Player of Week 3 as submitted by AFC clubs:
• Denver cornerback AQIB TALIB, who blocked a PAT.
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