Ground Report

FALCONS RB JASON SNELLING, PACKERS LB CLAY MATTHEWS &

SAINTS K GARRETT HARTLEY NAMED NFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 2

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

Offense
Defense
Special Teams

Wk 1
RB Matt Forté, Chicago
S Adrian Wilson, Arizona
K Mason Crosby, Green Bay

Wk 2
RB Jason Snelling, Atlanta
LB Clay Matthews, Green Bay
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.

********************************************
********************************************

AFC

TEXANS WR ANDRE JOHNSON, STEELERS LB JAMES HARRISON &

BENGALS K MIKE NUGENT NAMED AFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 2

Wide receiver ANDRE JOHNSON of the Houston Texans, linebacker JAMES HARRISON of the Pittsburgh Steelers and kicker MIKE NUGENT of the Cincinnati Bengals are the AFC 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: WR ANDRE JOHNSON, HOUSTON TEXANS

Johnson tied his career-high with 12 receptions for 158 yards (13.2 average) and one touchdown in a 30-27 overtime victory at Washington.
Johnson now has 14 games with at least 10 catches and 100 receiving yards in his career, tying MARVIN HARRISON for the second-most such games in NFL history (JERRY RICE, 15).
Johnson hauled in a 34-yard touchdown pass with 2:03 remaining in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 27.
Helped the Texans overcome a 17-point deficit (27-10) to win the game in overtime. It was the second-largest come-from-behind win in team history.
Led the NFL in Week 2 in receptions (12) and receiving yards (158).
In his eighth season from Miami, this is Johnson’s second career Player of the Week Award. He previously won the award in Week 4 of 2006.

DEFENSE: LB JAMES HARRISON, PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Harrison registered 11 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in a 19-11 win at Tennessee.

Harrison helped Pittsburgh’s defense limit Titans’ running back CHRIS JOHNSON, who entered the game with 12 consecutive 100-yard rushing performances, to 34 yards rushing on 16 carries (2.1 avg.).

Played a pivotal role in the Steelers registering seven takeaways against the Titans (four fumble recoveries, three interceptions). It was the most takeaways for Pittsburgh since they had seven versus Baltimore on Nov. 9, 1997 (four interceptions, three fumble recoveries).

In his seventh year from Kent State, this is Harrison’s fourth career Player of the Week Award. Harrison last won the award in Week 5 of 2009.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K MIKE NUGENT, CINCINNATI BENGALS

In a key AFC North matchup, Nugent connected on a career-high five field goals (36, 30, 46, 38, 25), scoring all of the Bengals’ points in a 15-10 victory over the Ravens.
The Ohio native joins SHAYNE GRAHAM, DOUG PELFREY, HORST MUHLMANN and JIM BREECH as the fifth Bengals kicker to convert five field goals in a game.
It was the fifth time in team history that the Bengals have won a game without scoring a touchdown.
Led the NFL with five field goals in Week 2 and ranked first in the league with 15 points among kickers last week.
Ranks second in the NFL with six field goals this season and is third in the league with 21 points among kickers.
In his sixth season from Ohio State, this is Nugent’s first career Player of the Week Award. He is the first Bengals kicker to win Special Teams Player of the Week since DOUG PELFREY in 1995 (Week 1).

2010 AFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Offense
Defense
Special Teams

Wk 1
Wk 2

RB Arian Foster, Houston
WR Andre Johnson, Houston

LB Daryl Smith, Jacksonville
LB James Harrison, Pittsburgh

PR-WR, Dexter McCluster, Kansas City
K Mike Nugent, Cincinnati

Other nominees for AFC Offensive Player of Week 2:

· Indianapolis quarterback PEYTON MANNING, who completed 20 of 26 passes (76.9 percent) for 255 yards with three touchdowns and a 145.5 passer rating in a 38-14 win against the New York Giants.

· Oakland running back DARREN MC FADDEN, who rushed for 145 yards on 30 carries (4.8 average) in a 16-14 win over St. Louis.

· Denver quarterback KYLE ORTON, who completed 25 of 35 passes (71.4 percent) for 307 yards with two touchdowns and a 117.2 passer rating in a 31-14 win over Seattle.

· San Diego quarterback PHILIP RIVERS, who completed 22 of 29 passes (75.9 percent) for 334 yards with three touchdowns versus two interceptions and a 119.0 passer rating in a 38-13 victory over Jacksonville.

· New York Jets quarterback MARK SANCHEZ, who completed 21 of 30 passes (70.0 percent) for 220 yards with three touchdowns and a 124.3 passer rating in a 28-14 win against New England.

· Houston quarterback MATT SCHAUB, who completed 38 of 52 passes (73.1 percent) for franchise record 497 yards with three touchdowns versus one interception and a 114.0 passer rating.

Other nominees for AFC Defensive Player of Week 2:

Miami cornerback JASON ALLEN, who tied his career high with two interceptions in a 14-10 win over Minnesota.

Kansas City cornerback BRANDON FLOWERS, who registered a 33-yard interception-return touchdown in a 16-14 win over Cleveland.

San Diego cornerback ANTOINE CASON, who had a career-high two interceptions and one forced fumble.

Denver safety BRIAN DAWKINS, who had eight tackles and one interception.
Indianapolis defensive end DWIGHT FREENEY, who posted three tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles.

Pittsburgh safety TROY POLAMALU, who totaled six tackles and one interception.

New York Jets linebacker JASON TAYLOR, who had four tackles, one sack and one forced fumble.

Pittsburgh linebacker LAWRENCE TIMMONS, who had 15 tackles and forced one fumble.

Houston defensive end MARIO WILLIAMS, who recorded four tackles with three sacks.

Other nominees for AFC Special Teams Player of Week 2:

Pittsburgh rookie kick returner ANTONIO BROWN, who posted an 89-yard kick return-touchdown.

Indianapolis punter PAT MC AFEE, who had five touchbacks on kickoffs and tied teammate ADAM VINATIERI’s club record for the most touchbacks in a single game since 1970. He also had five punts with a net average of 40.4 yards and three punts inside the 20.

Pittsburgh kicker JEFF REED, who made four field goals (36, 34, 25, 27).