Rookie quarterback MARCUS MARIOTA of the Tennessee Titans, cornerback DARIUS BUTLER of the Indianapolis Colts and punter RYAN QUIGLEY of the New York Jets are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 9 (November 5, November 8-9), the NFL announced today.
OFFENSE: QB MARCUS MARIOTA, TENNESSEE TITANS
• Mariota passed for 371 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions for a 135.7 passer rating, including the game-winning touchdown pass in overtime of the Titans’ 34-28 win at New Orleans.
• In the fourth quarter and overtime, Mariota completed 15 of 17 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns. He led a nine-play, 80-yard drive in overtime that culminated with a five-yard touchdown pass to tight end ANTHONY FASANO to seal the win.
• He is the second player in NFL history to pass for at least 350 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions, including the game-winning TD pass in overtime (Minnesota’s DAUNTE CULPEPPER, October 10, 2004 vs. Houston).
• Mariota, who also passed for four touchdowns with no interceptions on Kickoff Weekend, is the first rookie in NFL history to have two games with four touchdown passes and no interceptions.
• In his first season from Oregon, this is Mariota’s second career Player of the Week Award and first since Kickoff Weekend.
• He is the second rookie quarterback to be named Player of the Week twice since the award started in 1984 (ROBERT GRIFFIN III).
DEFENSE: CB DARIUS BUTLER, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
• Butler had a crucial fourth-quarter interception and two tackles in the Colts’ 27-24 victory against previously undefeated Denver.
• With the Colts holding a three-point lead in the final quarter, Butler dove to intercept a pass from PEYTON MANNING at midfield with six minutes remaining in the game. Indianapolis then did not relinquish possession, as the Colts maintained a half-game lead on Houston for first place in the AFC South.
• The interception marked Butler’s first since December 15, 2013, when he intercepted two passes against the Texans.
• In his seventh season from Connecticut, this is Butler’s second career Player of the Week Award and first since 2012 (Week 10).
• Butler is the second Colts defensive back to be named Defensive Player of the Week this season, joining safety MIKE ADAMS (Week 5).
SPECIAL TEAMS: P RYAN QUIGLEY, NEW YORK JETS
• Quigley punted nine times, placing five inside his opponent’s 15-yard line, and converted all four PAT attempts in the Jets’ 28-23 win against Jacksonville.
• He is the first NFL player to punt at least nine times and convert four PATs in the same game since Dallas’ DANNY VILLANUEVA on December 4, 1966 against the St. Louis Cardinals.
• Quigley, who handled place-kicking duties in relief of an injured NICK FOLK, scored the first points of his NFL career and also booted one of his five kickoffs for a touchback.
• His five punts inside the 20 yard-line led the AFC and tied for the most in the NFL in Week 9.
• In his third season from Boston College, this is Quigley’s first career Player of the Week Award.
• He is the first Jets punter to be named Player of the Week since TOM TUPA in 2001 (Week 7).
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
Wk 4 QB Philip Rivers, San Diego S T.J. Ward, Denver K Justin Tucker, Baltimore
Wk 5 QB Josh McCown, Cleveland S Mike Adams, Indianapolis K Mike Nugent, Cincinnati
Wk 6 WR DeAndre Hopkins, Houston DE Cameron Wake, Miami K Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh
Wk 7 QB Ryan Tannehill, Miami LB Telvin Smith, Jacksonville K Stephen Gostkowski, New England
Wk 8 QB Tom Brady, New England DE Derek Wolfe, Denver K Justin Tucker, Baltimore
Wk 9 QB Marcus Mariota, Tennessee CB Darius Butler, Indianapolis P Ryan Quigley, N.Y. Jets
Other nominees for AFC Offensive Player of Week 9 as submitted by AFC clubs:
• New England running back LE GARRETTE BLOUNT, who rushed for 129 yards and one touchdown in the Patriots’ 27-10 win against Washington.
• Pittsburgh wide receiver ANTONIO BROWN, who had 17 catches for 284 yards and 22 rushing yards in the Steelers’ 38-35 win against Oakland.
• Cincinnati quarterback ANDY DALTON, who completed 21 of 27 passes (77.8 percent) for 234 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 139.8 passer rating in the Bengals’ 31-10 win against Cleveland.
• Cincinnati tight end TYLER EIFERT, who had five catches for 53 yards and three touchdowns.
• New England wide receiver BRANDON LA FELL, who had five catches for 102 yards.
• Indianapolis quarterback ANDREW LUCK, who passed for 252 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 98.4 rating.
• Buffalo wide receiver SAMMY WATKINS, who had eight catches for 168 yards and one touchdown in the Bills’ 33-17 win against Miami.
• Pittsburgh running back DE ANGELO WILLIAMS, who had 225 scrimmage yards (170 rushing, 55 receiving) and two rushing touchdowns.
Other nominees for AFC Defensive Player of Week 9 as submitted by AFC clubs:
• Buffalo linebacker JERRY HUGHES, who had three tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
• Denver defensive end MALIK JACKSON, who had five tackles, including one for a loss, and three passes defensed in the Broncos’ 27-24 loss at Indianapolis.
• New York Jets linebacker LORENZO MAULDIN, who notched four tackles and two sacks.
• Tennessee linebacker BRIAN ORAKPO, who posted four tackles, two sacks and one pass defensed.
• New York Jets cornerback MARCUS WILLIAMS, who had two interceptions, three tackles and a half-sack.
Other nominee for AFC Special Teams Player of Week 9 as submitted by AFC clubs:
• Indianapolis kicker ADAM VINATIERI, who converted both field-goal attempts and all three PATs
