NFL Names AFC and NFC Players of the Month

AFC

Quarterback TOM BRADY of the New England Patriots, linebacker VON MILLER of the Denver Broncos and rookie wide receiver-kick returner JARVIS LANDRY of the Miami Dolphins are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Month for October, the NFL announced today.

OFFENSE: QB TOM BRADY, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

• Brady completed 100 of 144 passes (69.4 percent) for 1,268 yards with 14 touchdowns and no interceptions for an NFL-best 129.1 passer rating in October.
• Brady led the Patriots to a 4-0 record for the month, passing for at least two touchdowns with a passer rating better than 100.0 in each game.
• He passed for 292 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions against Cincinnati in Week 5 on Sunday Night Football, and followed with 361 passing yards and four TDs for a 139.6 passer rating at Buffalo in Week 6. Brady added 261 passing yards and three touchdowns against the Jets in Week 7.
• In Week 8 against Chicago, Brady completed 30 of 35 passes (85.7 percent) for 354 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions for a 148.4 passer rating. He is the only player in NFL history with at least 350 passing yards, a completion percentage above 85.0 percent, five or more touchdowns and no interceptions in a game. He also accomplished the feat against Tennessee on October 18, 2009.

• In his 15th season from Michigan, this is Brady’s seventh career Offensive Player of the Month Award, the second most AFC Offensive Player of the Month awards since the accolade was instituted in 1986 (PEYTON MANNING, eight). Brady most recently won the award in December of 2011.

DEFENSE: LB VON MILLER, DENVER BRONCOS

• Miller led the NFL with seven sacks and posted 14 tackles with one pass defensed in October while helping Denver to a 4-0 record.
• He posted two sacks in three of his four games this month and has recorded a sack in six consecutive games, the longest streak of his career and the longest active streak in the NFL.
• Ten of Miller’s 14 tackles this month were for a loss.
• He ranks second in the NFL with nine sacks this season.
• In his fourth season from Texas A&M, this is Miller’s second career Player of the Month Award and first since 2012 (November).
• Miller’s two Defensive Player of the Month Awards are tied with cornerback CHAMP BAILEY for the most of any Broncos player since the accolade was instituted in 1986.

SPECIAL TEAMS: WR-KR JARVIS LANDRY, MIAMI DOLPHINS

• Landry ranked second in the NFL with a 35.6 kickoff-return average for the month on five returns, including a long of 54 yards, to help the Dolphins to a 2-1 record in October.
• He leads the NFL with a 31.3 kickoff return average this season, which is on pace to set a single-season franchise record.
• The Dolphins scored points on three of the five drives following Landry’s kickoff returns in October (two field goals, one touchdown).
• Landry also started all three games at wide receiver this month, posting 13 catches for 144 yards, including one touchdown against Green Bay in Week 6.
• In his rookie season from Louisiana State, this is Landry’s first career Player of the Month Award. He is the first Dolphins rookie to win a Player of the Month Award since kicker DAN CARPENTER in November of 2008.

NFC

Running back DE MARCO MURRAY of the Dallas Cowboys, defensive end EVERSON GRIFFEN of the Minnesota Vikings and kickerSHAYNE GRAHAM of the New Orleans Saints are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Month for October, the NFL announced today.

OFFENSE: RB DE MARCO MURRAY, DALLAS COWBOYS

• Murray led the NFL with 520 rushing yards in October, the second consecutive month he’s topped the league. This season, he leads the NFL with 1,054 rushing yards and ties for first with seven rushing touchdowns.
• He rushed for at least 100 yards in all four October games, averaging 130 yards per game. Murray has rushed for at least 100 yards in all eight games, the longest streak in NFL history to start a season. Pro Football Hall of Famer JIM BROWN rushed for at least 100 yards in each of his team’s first six games in 1958.
• Murray added 17 catches for 171 yards in October and his 691 scrimmage yards were the most in the NFL during the month. This season, Murray leads the NFL with 1,293 scrimmage yards (1,054 rushing, 239 receiving).
• In his fourth season from Oklahoma, this is Murray’s second career Player of the Month Award and second in a row (September 2014).
• Murray joins Pro Football Hall of Famers BARRY SANDERS (October, November and December 1997) and EMMITT SMITH(November and December, 1992) as the only running backs to win NFC Offensive Player of the Month in consecutive months in a single season.

DEFENSE: DE EVERSON GRIFFEN, MINNESOTA VIKINGS

• Griffen led the NFC with six sacks and had 20 tackles and a forced fumble in October.
• He had at least one sack in all four games during the month, including tying his career-high with three sacks in Week 7 at Buffalo.
• Griffen was a key part of a defensive unit that held opponents to 293.3 net yards per game in October, the best mark in the NFC.
• The Vikings had 17 sacks during the month, the most in the NFC and tied with Buffalo for the most in the NFL.
• In his fifth year from Southern California, this is Griffen’s first career Player of the Month Award.
• Griffen is one of four Vikings defensive ends to win Player of the Month joining Pro Football Hall of Famer CHRIS DOLEMAN(December 1989, September 1992, December 1993), DOUG MARTIN (September 1986) and JARED ALLEN (October 2011).

SPECIAL TEAMS: K SHAYNE GRAHAM, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

• Graham converted all nine field-goal attempts and nine PATs during the month. He had three field goals in all three games played and is the only kicker who made at least three field goals in all of his team’s October games.
• Despite playing in only three games (the Saints had a bye in Week 6), Graham led the NFC with 36 points and tied for the conference lead with nine field goals.
• Graham scored at least 10 points in all three October games, including a season-high 14 points in the Saints’ Week 8 win over Green Bay.

• In his 15th season from Virginia Tech, this is Graham’s first career Player of the Month Award.
• Graham joins JOHN CARNEY (October 2001 and September 2006) and DOUG BRIEN (November 1997) as the only kickers in franchise history to be honored.