AFC
Quarterback BEN ROETHLISBERGER of the Pittsburgh Steelers , safety LOUIS DELMAS of the Miami Dolphins and running back-kick returner KNILE DAVIS of the Kansas City Chiefs are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in the eighth week of the 2014 season (October 23, 26-27), the NFL announced today.
OFFENSE: QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER, PITTSBURGH STEELERS
- Roethlisberger completed 40 of 49 passes (81.6 percent) and set franchise passing records for yards (522) and touchdowns (six) with no interceptions for a 150.6 passer rating in the Steelers’ 51-34 win against Indianapolis.
- He is the first player in NFL history to pass for at least 500 yards with a completion percentage of at least 80 percent.
- Roethlisberger, whose 522 passing yards tied for the fourth-most ever in a single game, is the only player in NFL history with two career 500-yard passing games. He also accomplished the feat against Green Bay on December 20, 2009 (503 yards).
- Roethlisberger improved his record to 100-50 (.667) as a starter in the regular season, joining TOM BRADY (116) and Pro Football Hall of Famers JOE MONTANA (108) and TERRY BRADSHAW (102) as the only quarterbacks in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) to win at least 100 games in their first 150 career starts.
- In his 11th season from Miami (Ohio), this is Roethlisberger’s 10th Player of the Week Award, the most of any Steelers player since the accolade was instituted in 1984. He most recently won the award in Week 11 of 2013.
- Roethlisberger is the first Steeler to win a Player of the Week Award this season and first since safety TROY POLAMALU was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week in 2013 (Week 12).
DEFENSE: S LOUIS DELMAS, MIAMI DOLPHINS
- Delmas had an 81-yard interception-return touchdown, recovered a fumble and posted two tackles in the Dolphins’ 27-13 win at Jacksonville.
- He is the first NFL player to recover an opponent’s fumble and return an interception for a touchdown in the same game since Dallas safety ROY WILLIAMS on December 29, 2002.
- Delmas’ 81-yard touchdown, the eighth-longest in Dolphins history, came on the first play of the second quarter and provided Miami with a 7-0 lead.
- With the Jaguars driving into Miami territory later in the second quarter, Delmas recovered a fumble on the 23-yard line that was caused by linebacker JELANI JENKINS. The Dolphins converted a field-goal attempt on the ensuing drive for a 10-3 lead.
- In his sixth season from Western Michigan, this is Delmas’ first career Player of the Week Award.
- He is the second Dolphin to win a Defensive Player of the Week Award this season, joining defensive end CAMERON WAKE(Kickoff Weekend).
SPECIAL TEAMS: RB-KR KNILE DAVIS, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
- Davis had a 99-yard kickoff-return touchdown in the Chiefs’ 34-7 win against St. Louis.
- With the Chiefs leading by three points at halftime, Davis’ return touchdown came on the opening kickoff of the second half and provided Kansas City with a 17-7 lead.
- Davis, who had a franchise record 108-yard kickoff-return touchdown last season as a rookie, is the fifth player in history with a kickoff-return touchdown of at least 99 yards in each of his first two NFL seasons.
- He also rushed for 49 yards and capped the scoring with a three-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
- In his second season from Arkansas, this is Davis’ first career Player of the Week Award.
- Davis joins running back JAMAAL CHARLES, who was named Offensive Player of Week 4, as the second Chiefs player to win an award this season.
NFC
CARDINALS WR LARRY FITZGERALD, VIKINGS LB ANTHONY BARR &
REDSKINS K KAI FORBATH NAMED NFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 8
Wide receiver LARRY FITZGERALD of the Arizona Cardinals, rookie linebacker ANTHONY BARR of the Minnesota Vikings and kicker KAI FORBATH of the Washington Redskins are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the eighth week of the 2014 season (October 23, 26-27), the NFL announced today.
OFFENSE: WR LARRY FITZGERALD, ARIZONA CARDINALS
- Fitzgerald caught seven passes for 160 yards and one touchdown in the Cardinals’ 24-20 win over Philadelphia.
- His 80-yard touchdown was the longest reception of his career and his fifth 70+ yard catch.
- The performance marked the ninth 150-yard game of his career, including the playoffs.
- Fitzgerald’s 160 receiving yards are his fourth-most in a game (including the postseason) and his most in a game since January 10, 2009, when he had 166 yards in a Divisional Playoff victory at Carolina.
- In seven career games against the Eagles (including the playoffs), Fitzgerald has 11 touchdowns, including at least one in every game. He has 47 catches for 802 yards (114.6 per game) in those seven meetings.
- Fitzgerald has 41 career 100-yard games (including the postseason), the most in franchise history.
- In his 11th season from Pittsburgh, this is Fitzgerald’s third career Player of the Week Award. He was previously honored in Week 10, 2011 and Week 3, 2012. All three of his Player of the Week Awards have come for his performances against the Eagles.
- In the past five seasons, Fitzgerald and Detroit’s CALVIN JOHNSON are tied for the most Offensive Player of the Week Awards by a wide receiver with three.
DEFENSE: LB ANTHONY BARR, MINNESOTA VIKINGS
- Barr had eight tackles, a sack and scored the game-winning touchdown in the Vikings’ 19-13 overtime win at Tampa Bay. On the first play from scrimmage in overtime, Barr forced a fumble which he recovered and returned 27 yards for the game-winning score.
- It marked the fifth overtime game in NFL history – four in the regular season, one in the postseason – that was decided by a fumble-return touchdown.
- Barr is the only player in NFL history to force a fumble, recover the ball and return it for a touchdown in overtime.
- This season, Barr has three defensive fumble recoveries, tied with J.J. WATT for the most in the NFL. Barr’s three sacks are the most by a rookie and his 54 tackles are the most by a rookie in the NFC.
- In his rookie year from UCLA, this is Barr’s first career Player of the Week Award.
- Barr is the sixth rookie linebacker in the past 10 seasons to be named NFC Defensive Player of the Week joining DE MARCUS WARE (Week 16, 2005), CLAY MATTHEWS (Week 13, 2009), BRIAN ORAKPO (Week 14, 2009), SEAN LEE (Week 13, 2010) and LUKE KUECHLY (Week 14, 2012).
SPECIAL TEAMS: K KAI FORBATH, WASHINGTON REDSKINS
- Forbath converted both field-goal attempts, including the game-winner (40 yards) in overtime, and added two PATs in the Redskins’ 20-17 win at Dallas.
- He scored the first points of the game on a 44-yard field goal in the first quarter and ended the scoring with his 40-yard game-winner in overtime.
- It marked the second consecutive week that Forbath kicked a game-winning field goal at the end of regulation or in overtime. In Week 7, he converted a 22-yard field goal as time expired to give Washington a 19-17 win against Tennessee.
- In his career, Forbath has now kicked two game-winning field goals in overtime. He also converted a 34-yard field goal in Washington’s 31-28 win over Baltimore on December 9, 2012.
- In his third season from UCLA, this is Forbath’s first career Player of the Week Award.
- Forbath joins SHAUN SUISHAM (Week 9, 2007) and GRAHAM GANO (Week 16, 2010) as the only kickers in franchise history to be named Player of the Week.
