AFC
Quarterback BEN ROETHLISBERGER of the Pittsburgh Steelers, cornerback BRENT GRIMES of the Miami Dolphins and wide receiver-punt returner JULIAN EDELMAN of the New England Patriots are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in the ninth week of the 2014 season (October 30, November 2-3), the NFL announced today.
OFFENSE: QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER, PITTSBURGH STEELERS
- Roethlisberger completed 25 of 37 passes (67.6 percent) for 340 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions for a 136.3 passer rating in the Steelers’ 43-23 win against Baltimore on Sunday Night Football.
- He is the first player in NFL history with six touchdown passes in back-to-back games and joins Pro Football Hall of Famer Y.A. TITTLE (1962) as the only players with multiple six-TD games in one season.
- Roethlisberger’s six touchdowns, which tied the franchise record he set one week earlier, and 136.3 passer rating were the highest among NFL players in Week 9.
- Five different teammates were on the receiving end of Roethlisberger’s six touchdown passes.
- He has posted a passer rating of at least 100 in seven games this season, the most in the NFL.
- In his 11th season from Miami (Ohio), this is Roethlisberger’s 11th Player of the Week Award, the most of any Steelers player since the accolade was instituted in 1984, and his second in as many weeks.
- Roethlisberger is the first player to win back-to-back AFC Offensive Player of the Week Awards in the same season since TOM BRADY in 2010 (Weeks 12-13).
DEFENSE: CB BRENT GRIMES, MIAMI DOLPHINS
- Grimes posted two interceptions, which tied his career-high, with three tackles, including one for a loss, in the Dolphins’ 37-0 win against San Diego.
- He was part of a unit that helped limit the Chargers, who averaged 353.3 yards per game entering the game, to their lowest offensive output of the season (178 total net yards).
- Grimes’ two interceptions, which led all AFC players in Week 9, came on consecutive series in the third quarter. He returned his first interception 26 yards to help set up a 23-yard field goal by CALEB STURGIS.
- The Dolphins 37-point win was their largest shutout victory since October 11, 1987 (42-0 vs. Kansas City) and first shutout since 2006 (21-0 on December 10 vs. New England).
- In his eighth season from Shippensburg, this is Grimes’ second career Player of the Week Award and first since joining the Dolphins. He was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week with Atlanta in 2010 (Week 15).
- The Dolphins are the first team with back-to-back AFC Defensive Player of the Week Award winners since Kansas City in 2011 (Weeks 7 and 8).
SPECIAL TEAMS: WR-PR JULIAN EDELMAN, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
- Edelman had an 84-yard punt-return touchdown in the Patriots’ 43-21 win against Denver.
- Edelman’s return touchdown came with 8:11 remaining in the first half and provided the Patriots with a 20-7 lead.
- He now has four career punt-return touchdowns, the most in franchise history.
- Edelman also started at wide receiver, posting nine catches for 89 yards with one touchdown. His five-yard scoring catch was the Patriots’ first touchdown of the game.
- He is one of three players in franchise history with a touchdown catch and punt-return touchdown in the same game, along withIRVING FRYAR and STANLEY MORGAN. Edelman also accomplished the feat on November 18, 2012.
- In his sixth season from Kent State, this is Edelman’s second career Player of the Week Award (Week 11, 2011).
- He is the second Patriot to be named Special Teams Player of the Week in three weeks (defensive tackle CHRIS JONES in Week 7).
NFC
Wide receiver JEREMY MACLIN of the Philadelphia Eagles, linebacker JUNIOR GALETTE of the New Orleans Saints and special teamer JUSTIN BETHEL of the Arizona Cardinals are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the ninth week of the 2014 season (October 30, November 2-3), the NFL announced today.
OFFENSE: WR JEREMY MACLIN, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
- Maclin had six catches for 158 yards and two touchdowns in the Eagles’ 31-21 win at Houston.
- He had a 59-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter to open the scoring and sealed the victory with an eight-yard touchdown reception with 3:50 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Eagles a 10-point lead.
- Maclin, who had 12 catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns in Week 8, is the first Eagles player with at least 150 receiving yards and two touchdown catches in back-to-back games in a single season. He is the first player in the NFL to accomplish the feat sinceMILES AUSTIN in 2009.
- He has scored a touchdown in six of Philadelphia’s eight games this season and Maclin has a touchdown catch in eight of the past 10 games in which he has played.
- This season, Maclin is tied for second among NFL wide receivers with eight receiving touchdowns. He ranks second in the NFC with 790 receiving yards.
- In his sixth season from Missouri, this is Maclin’s first career Player of the Week Award.
- Maclin is the fourth wide receiver in team history to be named Offensive Player of the Week, joining DE SEAN JACKSON (three times), IRVING FRYAR (Week 8, 1996) and CALVIN WILLIAMS (Week 3, 1993).
DEFENSE: LB JUNIOR GALETTE, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
- Galette had four tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble in the Saints’ 28-17 win at Carolina.
- In the second quarter of a scoreless game, Galette recorded the first of his two sacks. On the play, he forced a fumble that was recovered by teammate CURTIS LOFTON at the Carolina four-yard line. Two plays later, running back MARK INGRAM scored to put the Saints up 7-0.
- Galette recorded his second sack of the game in the fourth quarter. It was one of four sacks by the Saints.
- New Orleans’ defense limited the Panthers to 231 total net yards, including 122 net yards passing.
- Galette has six sacks in the past seven games, including four sacks in the past four.
- In his fifth year from Stillman, this is Galette’s first career Player of the Week Award.
- Galette is the first Saints linebacker to be honored since SCOTT FUJITA in Week 3, 2006.
SPECIAL TEAMS: ST JUSTIN BETHEL, ARIZONA CARDINALS
- Bethel blocked a field goal attempt and had a special teams tackle in the Cardinals’ 28-17 win at Dallas. At 7-1, Arizona has sole possession of the best record in the NFL this late into a season for the first time since 1966.
- With the Cardinals holding a 14-10 lead, Bethel blocked DAN BAILEY’s 35-yard field-goal attempt on the final play of the first half to keep the lead at four heading into halftime. Bailey has converted 90.5 percent of his field-goal attempts (105 of 116) in his career, the highest mark in NFL history.
- Bethel, who was named to the Pro Bowl as a special teamer last season, has blocked three field-goal attempts in his career. In college, he established a Big South record by blocking nine kicks for Presbyterian. He also blocked three kicks (field goal, punt, PAT) during the 2012 preseason for the Cardinals.
- Arizona has blocked 18 field goals – including two this season – since 2008, the most in the NFL.
- In his third season from Presbyterian, this is Bethel’s first career Player of the Week Award.
- Bethel is the third Cardinal to be named Special Teams Player of the Week this season, joining TED GINN, JR. (Week 2) andCHANDLER CATANZARO (Week 6). It is the second time in franchise history that three different Cardinals were honored on Special Teams. In 2009, CALAIS CAMPBELL (Week 2), LA ROD STEPHENS-HOWLING (Week 12) and BEN GRAHAM (Week 15) were all named Special Teams Player of the Week.
