JETS QB RYAN FITZPATRICK, COLTS LB ROBERT MATHIS &RAIDERS P MARQUETTE KING NAMED AFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 16-Quarterback RYAN FITZPATRICK of the New York Jets, linebacker ROBERT MATHIS of the Indianapolis Colts and punterMARQUETTE KING of the Oakland Raiders are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the 16th week of the 2015 season (December 24, December 26-28), the NFL announced today.OFFENSE: QB RYAN FITZPATRICK, NEW YORK JETS· Fitzpatrick completed 26 of 41 passes (63.4 percent) for 296 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 109.4 passer rating in the Jets’ 26-20 overtime win against New England.· He completed all three of his passes for 74 yards in overtime, including the game-winning six-yard touchdown to wide receiver ERIC DECKER.· Fitzpatrick also connected with wide receiver BRANDON MARSHALL on touchdown passes in the second quarter (two yards) and third quarter (33 yards).
- He now has a career-high 29 touchdown passes this season, which is tied with VINNY TESTAVERDE (29 in 1998) for the single-season franchise record.
- In his 11th season from Harvard, this is Fitzpatrick’s fourth career Player of the Week Award and first since Week 14. He is the third Jets quarterback to win multiple Player of the Week Awards in the same season, joining CHAD PENNINGTON (three in 2002) and KEN O’BRIEN (three in 1986).
- This week marks the third time in four weeks in which a Jet has been recognized as the AFC Offensive Player of the Week (BRANDON MARSHALL, Week 13).
DEFENSE: LB ROBERT MATHIS, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS-· Mathis had four tackles and two sacks in the Colts’ 18-12 win at Miami.· With the Dolphins facing a fourth-and-goal at the five-yard line with 27 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Mathis recorded his second sack of the game to end Miami’s final possession and seal the victory.· Mathis also registered a sack in the second quarter that led to a Miami punt and had a tackle for a loss in the third quarter.· The performance marked his 29th career multi-sack performance, which is the most in franchise history. He leads the Colts with seven sacks in 2015 and is the club’s all-time sack leader (118).· In his 13th season from Alabama A&M, this is Mathis’ fourth career Player of the Week Award and first since 2011 (Week 16). His four career Defensive Player of the Week Awards are the second-most in club history (DWIGHT FREENEY, five).
- He is the third Colt to win a defensive Player of the Week Award in 2015, joining MIKE ADAMS (Week 5) and DARIUS BUTLER (Week 9).
SPECIAL TEAMS: P MARQUETTE KING, OAKLAND
- King punted eight times for 400 yards (50.0 average) and placed a career-high six inside his opponent’s 20-yard line in the Raiders’ 23-20 overtime win against San Diego on Thursday Night Football.
- He also averaged 49.8 net yards per punt including a long of 65 yards against the Chargers, both of which led the NFL in Week 16.
- King’s six punts inside the 20-yard line are the most by a Raiders punter in a single game since the statistic became official in 1976.
- In his fourth season from Fort Valley State, this is King’s first career Player of the Week Award.
- King is the first Raiders punter to be named Special Teams Player of the Week since SHANE LECHLER in 2004 (Week 2).
2015 AFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
- Jones had nine catches for 178 yards and a 70-yard touchdown in the Falcons’ 20-13 win over the previously unbeaten Carolina Panthers.
- He leads the NFL with 127 receptions and 1,722 receiving yards and is only the second player in NFL history with at least 125 catches and 1,700 yards in a single season (MARVIN HARRISON, 2002).
- Jones is one of four players in NFL history with at least 100 receptions and 1,500 receiving yards in consecutive seasons (Harrison, ANDRE JOHNSON and ANTONIO BROWN).
- The performance marked Jones’ fourth game with at least 160 receiving yards this season, one shy of the NFL single-season record (ROY GREEN, 1984).
- Since entering the NFL in 2011, Jones has six catches of at least 70 yards, including five touchdowns. Both of those are tied for the second-most in the NFL during that span.
- In his fifth season from Alabama, this is Jones’ second career Player of the Week Award and second this season (Week 1).
- He is the first wide receiver to be named Offensive Player of the Week multiple times in a season since New England’s RANDY MOSS in 2007 (Weeks 9 and 11).
DEFENSE: LB DWIGHT FREENEY, ARIZONA CARDINALS-
- Freeney had three sacks and forced a fumble that was returned for a touchdown in the Cardinals’ 38-8 win over Green Bay. Arizona recorded its franchise-record 13th victory and clinched a first-round bye.
- The Cardinals had nine sacks and two fumble-return touchdowns, becoming the first NFL to accomplish the feat since at least 1963 (the first year team sacks were recorded).
- In the third quarter, Freeney had an 11-yard sack and forced a fumble which was recovered by cornerback JERRAUD POWERS, who returned it seven yards for a touchdown.
- Freeney has six career games with at least three sacks, tied for the third-most among active players.
- In his 14th year from Syracuse, this is Freeney’s sixth career Player of the Week Award and first with the Cardinals. He previously won five times with Indianapolis, the last coming in Week 8, 2010.
- Freeney (Week 16) and DEONE BUCANNON (Week 15) are the second Cardinals teammates to win Defensive Player of the Week in consecutive weeks. KARLOS DANSBY (Week 10) and ANTREL ROLLE (Week 11) accomplished the feat in 2007.
SPECIAL TEAMS: K BLAIR WALSH, MINNESOTA VIKINGS-· Walsh scored 19 points – the most in the NFL in Week 16 – and converted all five field-goal attempts in the Vikings’ 49-17 win over the New York Giants. Minnesota clinched a playoff berth with the victory.· Walsh’s 19 points are the most by a Vikings kicker in a game since GARY ANDERSON scored 20 points in 1998 (December 13).· The performance marked the third time in Walsh’s career he made five field goals in a game.· Walsh joins Anderson, RICH KARLIS and FUAD REVEIZ for the most games in franchise history with at least five field goals.· In his fourth season from Georgia, this is Walsh’s fifth career Player of the Week Award.
- Walsh’s five career Special Teams Player of the Week Awards are the most in franchise history.
2015 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
- St. Louis center TIM BARNES, who had two fumble recoveries and did not allow a sack in the Rams’ 23-17 win at Seattle.
- New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES, who completed 25 of 36 passes (69.4 percent) for 412 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 135.4 passer rating in the Saints’ 38-27 win over Jacksonville.
- Washington quarterback KIRK COUSINS, who completed 31 of 46 passes (67.4 percent) for 365 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions for a 120.3 passer rating in the Redskins’ 38-24 win at Philadelphia.
- Arizona wide receiver MICHAEL FLOYD, who had six catches for 111 yards.
- New Orleans running back TIM HIGHTOWER, who rushed for 122 yards and two touchdowns.
- Minnesota running back ADRIAN PETERSON, who rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown.
- Detroit quarterback MATTHEW STAFFORD, who completed 29 of 37 passes (78.4 percent) for 301 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 118.6 passer rating in the Lions’ 32-17 win over San Francisco.
Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 16 as submitted by NFC clubs:
- Atlanta rookie defensive end VIC BEASLEY, JR., who had a sack, one forced fumble and four tackles.
- New Orleans cornerback DELVIN BREAUX, who had an interception, four passes defensed and four tackles.
- St. Louis defensive end WILLIAM HAYES, who had three sacks and nine tackles.
- Chicago rookie safety HAROLD JONES-QUARTEY, who had an interception, a forced fumble, four tackles and two passes defensed in the Bears’ 26-21 win at Tampa Bay.
- Minnesota safety HARRISON SMITH, who had a 35-yard interception-return touchdown and five tackles.
- Washington rookie linebacker PRESTON SMITH, who had three sacks, a forced fumble and four tackles.
- Detroit defensive end DEVIN TAYLOR, who had a sack and three tackles.
- New Orleans safety KENNY VACCARO, who had two sacks and three tackles.
Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 16 as submitted by NFC clubs:
- Chicago kicker ROBBIE GOULD, who scored 14 points and converted all four field-goal attempts and both PATs.
- Detroit kicker MATT PRATER, who scored 14 points and converted all four field-goal attempts and both PATs.
