Quarterback AARON RODGERS of the Green Bay Packers, linebacker SEAN LEEof the Dallas Cowboys and kick returner-punt returner ERIC WEEMSof the Atlanta Falcons are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the 13th week of the 2010 season (December 2, 5-6), the NFL announced today.
OFFENSE: QB AARON RODGERS, GREEN BAY PACKERS
- Rodgers completed 21 of 30 passes (70.0 percent) for 298 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 135.1 passer rating in the Packers' 34-16 win over San Francisco.
- He threw long touchdown passes to DONALD DRIVER (61 yards) and GREG JENNINGS (57), just the second time a player had two 50 yard TD passes in a December game at Lambeau Field (BRETT FAVRE, 1998).
- Rodgers has not thrown an interception in five consecutive games and is the first Packer to not throw an interception in five consecutive starts since Pro Football Hall of Famer BART STARR in 1966. He has not thrown an interception in 177 attempts, the second-longest streak in franchise history (Starr, 294).
- He has posted a passer rating of at least 110.0 in four consecutive games. It is just the third time a Packers quarterback has accomplished the feat; Rodgers in 2009 and Starr in 1966.
- In his sixth season from California, this is Rodgers' first career Player of the Week Award. He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month in October 2009.
- He joins BRETT FAVRE and ANTONIO FREEMAN as the only offensive players in franchise history to be named both Player of the Week and Player of the Month.
DEFENSE: LB SEAN LEE, DALLAS COWBOYS
- Lee had four tackles and two interceptions in the Cowboys' 38-35 overtime victory over Indianapolis.
- In the third quarter, he registered the first interception of his career and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown, becoming the 10th rookie in team history with an INT-TD.
- He set up the game-winning score in overtime when he intercepted a pass at the Indianapolis 49-yard line and returned it to the 36.
- Lee is the first Dallas linebacker to record two interceptions in a game since DEXTER COAKLEY in 1999. He is the 11th Cowboys rookie with multiple interceptions in a game and the first since TERENCE NEWMAN had three in 2003.
- In his rookie year from Penn State, this is Lee's first career Player of the Week Award.
- He joins DE MARCUS WARE (Week 16, 2005) as the only rookie linebackers in franchise history to be named Defensive Player of the Week.
SPECIAL TEAMS: KR-PR ERIC WEEMS, ATLANTA FALCONS
- Weems averaged 40.8 yards per kick return (163 yards, four returns) and had a franchise-record 102-yard kickoff-return touchdown in the Falcons' 28-24 win at Tampa Bay.
- With Atlanta trailing 24-14 with 10:24 remaining in the game, Weems returned a kickoff 102 yards to spark the comeback. It is the longest kickoff-return touchdown in team history, breaking the previous mark of 100 yards set by DENNIS PEARSON (1978), DEION SANDERS (1991) and DARRICK VAUGHN (2000).
- The last Falcon to return a kickoff for a touchdown was ALLEN ROSSUM on December 15, 2002 (91 yards).
- Weems ranks second in the NFL this season averaging 28.1 yards per kickoff return.
- In his third year from Bethune-Cookman, this is Weems' first career Player of the Week Award.
- He is the fifth Falcons returner to be named Special Teams Player of the Week, joining BYRON HANSPARD (Week 15, 1997), TIM DWIGHT (Week 5, 1998 and Week 17, 1999), DARRIEN GORDON (Weeks 9 and 14, 2001) and HARRY DOUGLAS (Week 12, 2008).
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
Week 9 (Defense): LB Clay Matthews
Week 11 (Offense): WR Greg Jennings
Week 13 (Offense): QB Aaron Rodgers
Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 13:
- Chicago wide receiver EARL BENNETT, who had seven receptions for 104 yards in the Bears' 24-20 win at Detroit.
- Tampa Bay rookie running back LE GARRETTE BLOUNT, who rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 28-24 loss to Atlanta.
- New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES, who completed 24 of 29 passes (82.8 percent) for 313 yards with two touchdowns and one interception for a 120.3 passer rating in the Saints' 34-30 win at Cincinnati.
- New Orleans rookie running back CHRISTOPHER IVORY, who rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns.
- St. Louis running back STEVEN JACKSON, who rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown in the Rams' 19-6 win at Arizona.
- New York Giants running back BRANDON JACOBS, who rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns in the Giants' 31-7 victory over Washington.
- Philadelphia running back LE SEAN MC COY, who had 130 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in the Eagles' 34-24 win over Houston.
- Minnesota running back ADRIAN PETERSON, who rushed for 107 yards and three touchdowns in the Vikings' 38-14 win over Buffalo.
- Philadelphia quarterback MICHAEL VICK, who completed 22 of 33 passes (66.7 percent) for 302 yards with two touchdowns and one interception for a 103.3 passer rating. He also rushed for 48 yards and a touchdown.
Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 13:
- Minnesota defensive end JARED ALLEN, who had five tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.
- Detroit defensive end CLIFF AVRIL, who had three sacks and four tackles in the Lions' 24-20 loss to Chicago.
- Atlanta cornerback BRENT GRIMES, who had seven tackles, six passes defensed and sealed the victory with an interception.
- Minnesota defensive end BRIAN ROBISON, who had three tackles and two fumble recoveries.
- New York Giants cornerback TERRELL THOMAS, who had five tackles, an interception and a forced fumble.
- Chicago linebacker BRIAN URLACHER, who had 17 tackles and a half sack.
Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 13:
- St. Louis kicker JOSH BROWN, who converted all four field-goal attempts, including a 52-yarder.
- Chicago kicker ROBBIE GOULD, who had a career-long 54-yard field goal, three PATs and two touchbacks on kickoffs.
- Detroit kick returner-punt returner STEFAN LOGAN, who averaged 38.7 yards per kickoff return (116 yards, three returns) and had a 19-yard punt return.
- New York Giants special team DEVIN THOMAS, who had two special teams tackles, downed a punt at the five-yard line and blocked a punt.
