Kicker Ryan Longwell of the Green Bay Packers, running back NICK GOINGS of the Carolina Panthers and safety MICHAEL BOULWARE of the Seattle Seahawks and are the NFC Special Teams, Offensive, and Defensive Players of the Week for games played the 11th week of the 2004 season (November 21-22), the NFL announced Wednesday.
SPECIAL TEAMS: K RYAN LONGWELL, GREEN BAY PACKERS
Longwell succeeded with the game on the line for Green Bay, as the Packers rebounded from a 13-3 fourth-quarter deficit en route to a 16-13 road-win over the Houston Texans. Longwell, who connected on three of four field goal attempts, capped the comeback with his game-winning 46-yarder as time expired, helping the Packers remain in a first-place tie with the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North at 6-4. In addition to his game-winner, Longwell was good from 23 and 39 yards, with his lone miscue coming from 49 yards. He has also connected on 135 consecutive extra points, tying him with CHRIS JACKE for the most in franchise history.
In his eighth season from California, this is Longwell's fifth career Player of the Week Award. The Bend, Oregon native was also named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for October.
OFFENSE: RB NICK GOINGS, CAROLINA PANTHERS
Goings helped the Panthers to their second consecutive victory, a 35-10 home-win against the Arizona Cardinals. Goings rushed for a Week 11 NFC-high 121 yards on 22 carries, including a franchise-record- tying three touchdown runs. His two-yard touchdown opened the scoring midway through the first quarter and he followed that up later in the first with a 57-yard scoring jaunt, the longest run of his career. The Dublin, Ohio native staked the Panthers to a 21-0 second-quarter advantage with a one-yard touchdown run, as he averaged 5.5 yards per carry on the day. Goings three-touchdown performance came against a Cardinals defense that entered the game having allowed only four rushing touchdowns all season, tied for the third-fewest in the NFL. He also added three receptions for 21 yards in the win.
In his fourth season from Pittsburgh, this is Goings' first Player of the Week Award.
DEFENSE: S MICHAEL BOULWARE, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Boulware produced a monumental play in the Seahawks 24-17 victory over the visiting Miami Dolphins, lifting Seattle to a 6-4 record and a one-game lead in the NFC West. With the score tied 17-17 late in the fourth quarter, Miami faced a first and 10 at the Seattle 41, marching toward a potential game-winning field goal, when the rookie intervened. Boulware intercepted a pass and returned it 63 yards for a touchdown, giving the Seahawks a 24-17 lead with 56 seconds remaining. Boulware, who also added three tackles on the day, is tied for the NFL rookie lead with four interceptions.
A second-round draft choice from Florida State, this is Boulware's first Player of the Week Award.
2004 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Wk 1
QB Daunte Culpepper, Minnesota
LB Nick Barnett, Green Bay
S Bracy Walker, Detroit
Wk 2
QB Michael Vick, Atlanta
LB Brian Urlacher, Chicago
P Tom Rouen, Seattle
Wk 3
QB Daunte Culpepper, Minnesota
CB Ken Lucas, Seattle
K John Carney, New Orleans
Wk 4
RB Tiki Barber, New York
S Adrian Wilson, Arizona
K David Akers, Philadelphia
Wk 5
QB Tim Rattay, San Francisco
DE James Hall, Detroit
K Steve Christie, New York
Wk 6
QB Daunte Culpepper, Minnesota
CB Lito Sheppard, Philadelphia
P Sean Landeta. St. Louis
Wk 7
RB Ahman Green, Green Bay
DT Shaun Rogers, Detroit
K Neil Rackers, Arizona
Wk 8
QB Michael Vick, Atlanta
LB Brian Urlacher, Chicago
WR David Tyree, New York
Wk 9
RB Michael Pittman, Tampa Bay
DE Alex Brown, Chicago
WR James Thrash, Washington
Wk 10
QB Brett Favre, Green Bay
DE Bertrand Berry, Arizona
PR Eddie Drummond, Detroit
Wk 11
RB Nick Goings, Carolina
S Michael Boulware, Seattle
K Ryan Longwell, Green Bay
Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 11 were:
-Green Bay wide receiver Donald Driver, who totaled 10 receptions for 148 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown catch.
-Tampa Bay rookie wide receiver JOE JUREVICIUS, who had five receptions for 82 yards and two touchdowns. His first-half touchdown catches of nine and 42 yards helped stake the Buccaneers to a 21-0 lead en route to the 35-3 win over San Francisco.
-Philadelphia quarterback DONOVAN MC NABB, who completed 18 of 26 attempts for 222 yards and four touchdowns, posting a 118.9 passer rating in a 28-6 win against Washington.
-Tampa Bay running back MICHAEL PITTMAN, who rushed for 106 yards on 21 carries, including touchdown runs of 14 and six yards.
-Philadelphia running back BRIAN WESTBROOK, who total 105 yards from scrimmage, rushing for 63 yards and adding four receptions for 42 yards, including touchdown receptions of one and 14 yards.
Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 11 were:
-Carolina safety COLIN BRANCH, who posted his first two career interceptions on consecutive possessions in the second quarter, returning one 76 yards to set up a touchdown.
-Tampa Bay linebacker DERRICK BROOKS, who had eight tackles, one forced fumble and 1.0 sack.
-Minnesota defensive end LANCE JOHNSTONE, who had five tackles and a career-high-tying 3.0 sacks in a 22-19 win over visiting Detroit.
-Carolina defensive end JULIUS PEPPERS, who led the Panthers' defensive line with six tackles and added 2.0 sacks, his seventh-career multiple-sack game.
-Philadelphia linebacker JEREMIAH TROTTER, who had a team-leading 11 tackles.
Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 11 were:
-Tampa Bay punter JOSH BIDWELL, who punted five times and averaged 48.6 yards per punt, with a long of 60 yards.
-Detroit kick returner EDDIE DRUMMOND, who returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown, joining DANTE HALL of the Kansas City Chiefs (2003) as the only players in NFL history to score two punt return and two kickoff return touchdowns in a single season.
