Running back JASON SNELLING of the Atlanta Falcons, linebacker CLAY MATTHEWS of the Green Bay Packers and kicker GARRETT HARTLEY of the New Orleans Saints are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the second week of the 2010 season (September 19-20), the NFL announced today.
OFFENSE: RB JASON SNELLING, ATLANTA FALCONS
- Snelling totaled a career-high 186 scrimmage yards and scored three touchdowns in the Falcons' 41-7 win over Arizona.
- The running back rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns and added five catches for 57 yards and another TD.
- He is the second player in franchise history (WILLIAM ANDREWS, 1983) to record at least 125 rushing yards, 50 receiving yards, a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in a single game.
- In the second quarter, Snelling caught a 19-yard touchdown pass and scored on a one-yard TD run. It marked the first time since 2001 that a Falcon scored touchdowns by rushing and receiving in the same quarter (MAURICE SMITH).
- In his fourth season from Virginia, this is Snelling's first career Player of the Week Award.
- He is the fifth Falcons running back to be named Offensive Player of the Week, joining GERALD RIGGS (four times), JAMAL ANDERSON (three), MICHAEL TURNER (three) and WARRICK DUNN (one).
DEFENSE: LB CLAY MATTHEWS, GREEN BAY PACKERS
- Matthews had five tackles and three sacks in the Packers' 34-7 win over Buffalo.
- Four of his five tackles were for a loss.
- Matthews, who also had three sacks in Week 1, is the first player in franchise history to record at least three sacks in back-to-back games.
- He is one of only six players with at least six sacks in the first two games of a season since the sack became an official statistic in 1982.
- In his second year from Southern California, this is Matthews' second career Player of the Week Award (Week 13, 2009).
- His father, CLAY MATTHEWS, was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week twice in his career with the Cleveland Browns (Week 12, 1984 and Week 9, 1991). They are the only father and son to win Player of the Week Awards.
SPECIAL TEAMS: K GARRETT HARTLEY, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
- Hartley converted all three field-goal attempts, including the game-winner as time expired, in the Saints' 25-22 win at San Francisco.
- Despite windy conditions, Hartley made field goals of 46, 19 and 37 yards and added two PATs.
- His 37-yarder as time expired gave the Saints a 25-22 victory and helped the defending Super Bowl champions improve to 2-0.
- In his third season from Oklahoma, this is Hartley's first career Player of the Week Award.
- He is the fourth Saints kicker to be named Special Teams Player of the Week, joining JOHN CARNEY (four times), MORTEN ANDERSEN (two) and DOUG BRIEN (two).
2010 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Week 1
Offense: RB Matt Forté, Chicago
Defense: S Adrian Wilson, Arizona
Special Teams: K Mason Crosby, Green Bay
Week 2
Offense: RB Jason Snelling, Atlanta
Defense: LB Clay Matthews, Green Bay
Special Teams: K Garrett Hartley, New Orleans
Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 2:
- Dallas wide receiver MILES AUSTIN, who had 10 catches for 142 yards in the Cowboys' 27-20 loss to Chicago.
- Detroit rookie running back JAHVID BEST, who rushed for 78 yards and two touchdowns and caught nine passes for 154 yards and another score in the Lions' 35-32 loss against Philadelphia.
- Chicago quarterback JAY CUTLER, who completed 21 of 29 passes (72.4 percent) for 277 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 136.7 passer rating in the Bears' 27-20 win at Dallas.
- Green Bay tight end JERMICHAEL FINLEY, who had four catches for 103 yards, his second career 100-yard performance.
- Tampa Bay quarterback JOSH FREEMAN, who threw two touchdowns and posted a 102.4 passer rating in the Buccaneers' 20-7 win at Carolina. Freeman added 43 rushing yards.
- Philadelphia wide receiver DE SEAN JACKSON, who had four catches for 135 yards and one touchdown in the Eagles' 35-32 victory at Detroit.
- Philadelphia running back LE SEAN MC COY, who rushed for a career-high 120 yards and three touchdowns.
- Minnesota running back ADRIAN PETERSON, who rushed for 145 yards and one touchdown in the Vikings' 14-10 loss to Miami. Peterson added five receptions for 41 yards.
- Philadelphia quarterback MICHAEL VICK, who started at QB for the first time since 2006 and completed 21 of 34 passes (61.8 percent) for 284 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 108.0 passer rating.
Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 2:
- Tampa Bay linebacker QUINCY BLACK, who had 11 tackles and one sack.
- Tampa Bay defensive end TIM CROWDER, who had eight tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.
- Chicago cornerback D.J. MOORE, who recorded two interceptions, the first two of his career.
- Atlanta rookie linebacker SEAN WEATHERSPOON, who had 10 tackles and his first career sack.
Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 2:
- Dallas rookie wide receiver-punt returner DEZ BRYANT, who had a 62-yard punt-return touchdown, the first of his career.
- Detroit punter NICK HARRIS, who punted four times for 210 yards (52.5 average) with a net average of 48.8.
- Philadelphia punter SAV ROCCA, who averaged 48.7 yards on seven punts, including a 41.0 net average and placing two inside the 20-yard line.
