Ground Report

NFL

TEXANS RB ARIAN FOSTER, JAGUARS LB DARYL SMITH &CHIEFS PR-WR DEXTER MC CLUSTER

NAMED AFC PLAYERS OF WEEK  

Running back ARIAN FOSTER of the Houston Texans, linebacker DARYL SMITH of the Jacksonville Jaguars and rookie punt returner-wide receiver DEXTER MC CLUSTER of the Kansas City Chiefs are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played on NFL Kickoff 2010 Weekend (September 9, 12-13), the NFL announced today.

OFFENSE: RB ARIAN FOSTER, HOUSTON TEXANS

• Foster rushed for a franchise record 231 yards on 33 carries (7.0 average) with three touchdowns in a 34-24 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Kickoff Weekend. 
• His 231 rushing yards were the second-most on Kickoff Weekend in NFL history (O.J. SIMPSON, 250 on 9/16/73). 
• Foster became the first player in NFL history to rush for at least 200 yards and three touchdowns on Kickoff Weekend.
• He also became the seventh player all-time to reach 200 rushing yards on Kickoff Weekend.
• His three rushing touchdowns tied for a franchise record (RYAN MOATS, 3 in 2009).
• In his second season from Tennessee, this is Foster’s first career Player of the Week Award.  He joins STEVE SLATON (Week 13 in 2008) as the second running back to be named AFC Offensive Player of the Week in franchise history.

DEFENSE: LB DARYL SMITH, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Smith registered a team-high 11 tackles, one forced fumble and one interception in a 24-17 win against the Broncos on Kickoff Weekend. 

In the second quarter, Smith stripped Broncos running back CORRELL BUCKHALTER at Denver’s 25-yard line and the ball was recovered by Jaguars safety SEAN CONSIDINE.  It was Smith’s seventh career forced fumble. 

He sealed the Jaguars victory with an interception of Denver quarterback KYLE ORTON with 53 seconds remaining in the game, the fifth interception of his career. 

In his seventh year from Georgia Tech, this is Smith’s first career Player of the Week Award.  The last Jaguars linebacker to be named AFC Defensive Player of the Week was JUSTIN DURANT in 2009 (Week 13).

SPECIAL TEAMS: PR-WR DEXTER MC CLUSTER, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

In the grand opening of New Arrowhead on Monday night, McCluster recorded 100 punt return yards, including a 94-yard PR-TD in a 21-14 victory against the San Diego Chargers.

McCluster’s 94-yard punt return-touchdown was the longest in Chiefs history.  DANTE HALL (93 yards vs. Denver on 10/5/03) previously held the franchise record.

His 94-yard PR-TD was the longest in a player’s NFL debut since Tampa Bay wide receiver JACQUEZ GREEN, who posted a 95-yard PR-TD at Green Bay on September 13, 1998.

• In his rookie season from Mississippi, this is McCluster’s first career Player of the Week Award.  He is the first Chiefs return specialist to win Special Teams Player of the Week since kick returner-running back JAMAAL CHARLES in 2009 (Week 11).

2010 AFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Other nominees for AFC Offensive Player of Week 1:

·     New England quarterback TOM BRADY, who completed 25 of 35 passes (71.4 percent) for 258 yards with three touchdowns and a 120.9 passer rating in a 38-24 win over Cincinnati.

·     Jacksonville quarterback DAVID GARRARD, who completed 16 of 21 passes (76.2 percent) for 170 yards with three touchdowns and a career-high 138.9 passer rating.

·     Cincinnati wide receiver CHAD OCHOCINCO, who tied a career-high with 12 receptions for 159 yards (13.3 average) and one touchdown.

·     Denver wide receiver BRANDON LLOYD, who hauled in five receptions for 117 receiving yards (23.4 average).

·     Pittsburgh running back RASHARD MENDENHALL, who gained 120 rush yards on 22 attempts (5.5 average) with one touchdown in a 15-9 overtime win against Atlanta.  Mendenhall’s 50-yard TD run was the third-longest game-winning overtime touchdown run in NFL history.

·     Pittsburgh wide receiver HINES WARD, who totaled six receptions for 108 receiving yards (18.0 average).

·     New England wide receiver WES WELKER, who totaled eight receptions for 64 receiving yards (8.0 average) and tied his career high with two touchdown receptions.

Other nominees for AFC Defensive Player of Week 1:

• Miami linebacker KARLOS DANSBY, who tied for a team-high with eight tackles and one sack in a 15-10 win over Buffalo.
• New England linebacker GARY GUYTON, who had 59-yard interception-return touchdown.
• Jacksonville defensive end AARON KAMPMAN, who recorded nine tackles and 1.5 sacks. 
• Pittsburgh linebacker LAWRENCE TIMMONS, who recorded 11 tackles and one pass defensed as Pittsburgh limited Atlanta to 58 total rushing yards.
• Denver linebacker D.J. WILLIAMS, who posted a team-high 11 tackles.

Other nominees for AFC Special Teams Player of Week 1:

·     Pittsburgh punter DAN SEPULVEDA, who punted five times for 254 yards (50.8 average).

·     New England wide receiver-kick returner BRANDON TATE, who had four kick returns for 184 yards (46.0 average), including a 97-yard kick return touchdown.

NFL 2010

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