Running back STEVEN JACKSON of the St. Louis Rams, safety AARON ROUSE of the Green Bay Packers and rookie safety ZACKARY BOWMAN of the Chicago Bears are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the seventh week of the 2008 season (October 19-20), the NFL announced Wednesday.
OFFENSE: RB STEVEN JACKSON, ST. LOUIS RAMS
The fifth-year running back rushed for 160 yards on 25 carries (6.4 average) and scored three touchdowns in the Rams' 34-14 win over Dallas. Jackson got the Rams off to a fast start rushing for two first quarter touchdowns (eight, one) less than three minutes apart to put the Rams up 21-7, and added a 56-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. The 160-yard output was the second-highest of Jackson's career (179 vs. Jax. on 10/30/05) and his three rushing touchdowns tied his career-high (12/31/06 at Min.). Jackson added two receptions for 16 yards giving him 176 yards from scrimmage.
In his fifth season from Oregon State, this is Jackson's second career Player of the Week Award (Week 16, 2006). Jackson's two Player of the Week Awards places him behind Pro Football Hall of Famer ERIC DICKERSON (three) and MARSHALL FAULK (six) as the running backs with the most offensive awards in franchise history.
DEFENSE: S AARON ROUSE, GREEN BAY PACKERS
In the Packers' 34-14 victory against Indianapolis, Rouse had seven tackles, two passes defensed and an interception which he returned 99 yards for a touchdown. Rouse's touchdown put the Packers up 34-7 and was the second interception of a PEYTON MANNING pass that was returned for a touchdown in the game (NICK COLLINS, 62 yards). The 99-yard interception-touchdown return ties for the longest such play in Packers history (TIM LEWIS vs. L.A. Rams, 11/18/84). The Packers have returned a league-high five interceptions for touchdowns through seven games in 2008. The 1961 San Diego Chargers hold the NFL single-season record for interceptions returned for touchdowns (9).
In his second year from Virginia Tech, this is Rouse's first career Player of the Week Award. The last Packers player to be honored on defense was CHARLES WOODSON (Week 6, 2007). Rouse is only the third safety in franchise history to be named Defensive Player of the Week and the first since LEROY BUTLER (Week 3, 1996).
SPECIAL TEAMS: S ZACKARY BOWMAN, CHICAGO BEARS
Bowman, a rookie safety (fifth round, Nebraska) who was elevated from the practice squad during the week, recovered a fumble in the end zone for his first career touchdown in the Bears' 48-41 victory over the division-rival Vikings. Late in the second quarter, the Bears punted deep into Minnesota territory, but as Vikings returner CHARLES GORDON attempted to block Bowman, the ball deflected off of his arm and rolled into the end zone. Bowman recovered the loose ball to put the Bears ahead 24-17, a lead they would never relinquish. Bowman's touchdown was the Bears' second special teams touchdown of the day following a blocked punt by rookie safety CRAIG STELTZ (fourth round, LSU) that was returned 17 yards for a touchdown by running back GARRETT WOLFE. Bowman later added the game-sealing interception, the first of his career, with 40 seconds remaining and the Bears leading by seven. Bowman is the first Bears player to record a touchdown and interception in his NFL debut since GERALD "BONES" WEATHERLY (9/17/50 vs. L.A. Rams).
In his rookie season from Nebraska, this is Bowman's first career Player of the Week Award. He is the eighth Bears player to be honored for special teams and the first since DEVIN HESTER (Week 17, 2007).
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2008 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Wk 1
RB Michael Turner, Atlanta
DE Adewale Ogunleye, Chicago
PR-KR Will Blackmon, Green Bay
Wk 2
QB Kurt Warner, Arizona
S Chris Horton, Washington
KR-RB Felix Jones, Dallas
Wk 3
RB Michael Turner, Atlanta
S Brian Dawkins, Philadelphia
K John Carney, NY Giants
Wk 4
QB Jake Delhomme, Carolina
LB Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay
K Matt Bryant, Tampa Bay
Wk 5
RB Clinton Portis, Washington
CB Antoine Winfield, Minnesota
PR-RB Reggie Bush, New Orleans
Wk 6
QB Drew Brees, New Orleans
S Oshiomogho Atogwe, St. Louis
WR Sean Morey, Arizona
WK 7
RB Steven Jackson, St. Louis
S Aaron Rouse, Green Bay
S Zackary Bowman, Chicago
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Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 7 were:
-Tampa Bay wide receiver ANTONIO BRYANT, who had six catches for 115 yards (19.2 average) and a 47-yard touchdown in the Buccaneers' 20-10 win over Seattle.
-Tampa Bay quarterback JEFF GARCIA, who completed 27 of 36 passes (75.0 percent) for a Week 7-high 310 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions for a 109.7 rating. Garcia completed passes to ten different Buccaneers receivers.
-Chicago quarterback KYLE ORTON, who completed 21 of 32 passes (65.6 percent) for 283 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 114.5 passer rating.
-Washington running back CLINTON PORTIS, who rushed for 175 yards on 27 carries (6.5 average) and a touchdown in Washington's 14-11 win over Cleveland. Portis also added one catch for eight yards. His 183 yards from scrimmage led the NFL in Week 7.
-Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS, who completed 21 of 28 passes (75.0 percent) for 186 yards and one touchdown with zero interceptions for a 104.2 passer rating.
Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 7 were:
-St. Louis safety OSHIOMOGHO ATOGWE, who recorded two interceptions, two passes defensed and three tackles. Atogwe (11) is second in the NFL in interceptions since 2007 (ANTONIO CROMARTIE, 12).
-New York Giants linebacker CHASE BLACKBURN, who had 10 tackles, his first career sack, two tackles for losses and a forced fumble while filling in for ANTONIO PIERCE in the Giants' 29-17 win over San Francisco.
-Green Bay safety NICK COLLINS, who returned an interception 62 yards for a touchdown.
-Washington linebacker LONDON FLETCHER, who registered 12 tackles.
-New York Giants safety MICHAEL JOHNSON, who recorded two interceptions, the first of which led to a field goal and the second of which was made in the end zone to preserve a Giants lead at the end of the first half.
-St. Louis defensive end LEONARD LITTLE, who had four tackles, including 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and added three quarterback hurries.
-Chicago safety KEVIN PAYNE, who had nine tackles, recorded a sack and had an interception with a 50-yard return to set up a touchdown.
-Carolina defensive end JULIUS PEPPERS, who recorded three tackles, including two for losses, one sack, a forced fumble and a pass breakup in a 30-7 victory over the division-rival New Orleans Saints.
-Tampa Bay linebacker BARRETT RUUD, who had six tackles, including one for a loss, one pass defensed and one fumble recovery. Ruud's pass defensed led to an interception by rookie cornerback AQIB TALIB.
-New York Giants defensive end JUSTIN TUCK, who had three tackles, including two sacks and two forced fumbles.
Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 7 were:
-Detroit kicker JASON HANSON, who converted both of his field-goal attempts, each from 54 yards, in a 28-21 loss to Houston. Hanson moved into sole possession of third place on the NFL's all-time career 50-yard field goals made list with 37 (MORTEN ANDERSEN and JASON ELAM, 40 and 38, respectively).
-Detroit punter NICK HARRIS, who punted four times for a net punting average of 50.3 yards. Harris is the only punter since 1976 (the first year net punting was recorded) to record at least four punts in a game and register a net per punt average of negative 3.0 yards.
-New York Giants punter JEFF FEAGLES, who averaged 48.8 yards per punt and had a net average of 45.5 with a long of 61 while placing three punts inside the 20-yard line.
