Wide receiver CALVIN JOHNSON of the Detroit Lions, cornerback AQIB TALIB of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers andpunter TIM MASTHAY of the Green Bay Packers are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the eighth week of the 2010 season (October 31-November 1), the NFL announced today.
OFFENSE: WR CALVIN JOHNSON, DETROIT LIONS
- Johnson had nine catches for 101 yards and a career-high three touchdowns in Detroit's 37-25 win against Washington.
- All three of his touchdown catches either gave the Lions their initial lead or allowed them to regain the lead.
- Johnson's three touchdown receptions marked the first time a Lions wide receiver posted three in a game since ROY WILLIAMS on November 13, 2005 against Arizona.
- He tied a career high with nine receptions, and his 101 receiving yards gave him back-to-back 100 yard receiving performances for the second time in his career.
- Johnson, who is tied for the NFC lead with eight touchdown receptions this season, has at least one TD catch in four consecutive games.
- In his fourth season from Georgia Tech, this is Johnson's first career Player of the Week Award. He is the first Lions wide receiver to be honored since GERMANE CROWELL in 1999 (Week 9).
- He is the second Detroit player to win an NFC Player of the Week Award this season, joining kick returner-punt returner STEFAN LOGAN (Week 5, Special Teams).
DEFENSE: CB AQIB TALIB, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
- Talib had two interceptions, including one touchdown, and seven tackles in the Buccaneers' 38-35 win at Arizona.
- He intercepted his first pass of the day in the second quarter and returned it 45 yards for his first career touchdown.
- Talib's second INT occurred with just over two minutes remaining in the game as the Cardinals were driving towards Bucs' territory.
- Talib is the first Buccaneers defender to post three consecutive seasons with at least four interceptions (14 total) since cornerback DONNIE ABRAHAM (1999-2001).
- He ranks second in the NFL with five interceptions this season.
- In his third year from Kansas, this is Talib's first career Player of the Week Award. He is the fourth Buccaneers cornerback ever to be named NFC Defensive Player of the Week and the first since RONDE BARBER (Week 12, 2008).
SPECIAL TEAMS: P TIM MASTHAY, GREEN BAY PACKERS
- Masthaypunted eight times, placing five inside his opponent's 20-yard line, for a gross average of 44.0 yards and a career-best 41.5-yard net average in Green Bay's 9-0 win at the New York Jets.
- With five punts dropped inside the 20, Masthaytied a single-game franchise record (stat kept since 1976), tying DAVID BEVERLY, who accomplished the feat on October 8, 1978 against Chicago.
- The Jets did not register any punt-return yardage, and their best starting field position following a punt was their own 23-yard line.
- In his first season from Kentucky, this is Masthay's first career Player of the Week Award. He is the second punter in franchise history to win NFC Special Teams Player of the Week, joining CRAIG HENTRICH (Week 11, 1994).
GREEN BAY'S 2010 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Week 1 (Special Teams): K Mason Crosby
Week 2 (Defense): LB Clay Matthews
Week 4 (Defense): CB Charles Woodson
Week 8 (Special Teams): P Tim Masthay
Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 8:
- Tampa Bay rookie running back LE GARRETTE BLOUNT, who rushed for a career-high 120 yards on 22 carries (5.5 average) and two touchdowns.
- St. Louis rookie quarterback SAM BRADFORD, who completed 25 of 32 passes (78.1 percent) for 191 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 112.4 passer rating in the Rams' 20-10 win against Carolina.
- New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES, who completed 34 of 44 passes (77.3 percent) for 305 yards with two touchdowns and one interception for a 101.0 passer rating in the Saints' 20-10 win against Pittsburgh.
- San Francisco quarterback TROY SMITH, who completed 12 of 19 passes (63.2 percent) for 196 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions for a career-best 115.2 passer rating in the 49ers' 24-16 win against Denver at London's Wembley Stadium. He also ran for a touchdown.
- Detroit quarterback MATTHEW STAFFORD, who completed 26 of 45 passes (57.8 percent) for 212 yards with four touchdowns and one interception for a 90.2 passer rating.
- Tampa Bay rookie wide receiver MIKE WILLIAMS, who had a career-high 105 receiving yards on four catches (26.3 average) with one touchdown.
Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 8:
- St. Louis safety OSHIOMOGHO ATOGWE, who recorded an interception, two passes defensed, a sack and three tackles.
- Tampa Bay linebacker GENO HAYES, who returned an interception 41 yards for a touchdown and registered eight tackles, three passes defensed and one tackle for loss.
- Detroit rookie defensive tackle NDAMUKONG SUH, who had a 17-yard fumble-return touchdown and also posted a career-high two sacks and four tackles.
- Detroit defensive end KYLE VANDEN BOSCH, who finished with two sacks, a team-high six tackles, including three for losses, and forced a fumble.
- New Orleans linebacker JONATHAN VILMA, who notched eight tackles, one sack and a pass defensed.
- Green Bay cornerback TRAMON WILLIAMS, who intercepted a pass, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and registered five tackles.
Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 8:
- Washington rookie kick returner-punt returner BRANDON BANKS, who amassed a franchise-record 271 return yards (213 kick-return and 58 punt-return yards), including a 96-yard kickoff-return touchdown in the Redskins' 37-25 loss to Detroit.
- Minnesota punter CHRIS KLUWE, who averaged 47.3 yards on four punts and placed three inside the 20-yard line.
- Detroit punt returner-kick returner STEFAN LOGAN, who returned three punts for 79 yards (26.3 average), including a career-long 71-yarder. He also returned three kickoffs for 74 yards (24.7 average).
