NFL 2011 Week 1

AFC Players of the Week -- NFL 2011 Week 1

Quarterback TOM BRADY of the New England Patriots, linebacker TERRELL SUGGS of the Baltimore Ravens and kicker SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI of the Oakland Raiders are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played on NFL Kickoff 2011 Weekend (September 8, 11-12), the NFL announced today.

OFFENSE: QB TOM BRADY, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Brady threw for 517 yards and 4 TDs
Brady threw for 517 yards and 4 TDs

Brady completed 32 of 48 passes (66.7 percent) for a franchise-record 517 passing yards with four touchdowns and a 121.6 passer rating in a 38-24 win over the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football.

Brady became the 11th quarterback in NFL history to pass for 500 yards. His 517 passing yards are the fifth-highest in league history.

Registered his 35th game with at least 300 passing yards, which ranks third among active NFL quarterbacks (PEYTON MANNING, 63; DREW BREES, 45).

In the fourth quarter, Brady connected with wide receiver WES WELKER for the 12th 99-yard touchdown pass in NFL history.

Brady (35,261) became the 18th quarterback ever to reach 35,000 career passing yards.

In his 12th season from Michigan, Brady earned Player of the Week honors for the 18th time, tying Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (18) for the second-most Player of the Week awards of any player since the accolade was instituted in 1984 (PEYTON MANNING, 21).

DEFENSE: LB TERRELL SUGGS, BALTIMORE RAVENS

Suggs tied career-highs with three sacks and two forced fumbles in the Ravens' 35-7 win against the Steelers on Kickoff Weekend.

Suggs, who now has 71.5 career sacks, surpassed PETER BOULWARE (70.0) for the most sacks in franchise history.

Helped Ravens register a franchise-record seven takeaways (four fumble recoveries, three interceptions).

In the first quarter, Suggs sacked Steelers quarterback BEN ROETHLISBERGER, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Baltimore defensive tackle HALOTI NGATA on Pittsburgh's 37-yard line.

In the fourth quarter, Suggs stripped Roethlisberger at the Steelers' nine-yard line, leading to a recovery by Ravens defensive end CORY REDDING.

Suggs' three sacks were an NFL-best in Week 1.

In his ninth year from Arizona State, this is Suggs' third career Defensive Player of the Week Award. He most recently won the award in 2008 (Week 7).

SPECIAL TEAMS: K SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI, OAKLAND RAIDERS

Center stage on Monday Night Football, Janikowski connected on a 63-yard field goal, tying the record for the longest field goal in NFL history, in a 23-20 win at Denver.

He joined kickers TOM DEMPSEY and JASON ELAM in accomplishing the feat.

Became the first player in NFL history with two 60-yard field goals (61-yard field goal on December 27, 2009).

Janikowski's three field goals (37, 21, 63) tied for an AFC-best in Week 1.

In his 12th season from Florida State, this is Janikowski's fourth career Special Teams Player of the Week Award. He most recently won the award in 2008 (Week 7).

NFC Players of the Week -- NFL 2011 Week 1

Quarterback AARON RODGERS of the Green Bay Packers, linebacker BRIAN URLACHER of the Chicago Bears and kick returner-punt returner TED GINN JR. of the San Francisco 49ers are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played on Kickoff Weekend 2011 (September 8, 11-12), the NFL announced today.

OFFENSE: QB AARON RODGERS, GREEN BAY PACKERS

NFL 2011 - Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers completed 27 of 35 passes (77.1 percent) for 312 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 132.1 passer rating in the Packers' 42-34 win over New Orleans.

In the first quarter, Rodgers completed 14 of 15 passes (93.3 percent) for 188 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 158.3 passer rating -- the highest mark attainable.

He became just the second player in NFL history to throw three touchdown passes in the first quarter of a season opener (JACK KEMP, Buffalo, September 13, 1964).

Rodgers led the Packers to 42 points, the second-most in a season opener in franchise history, trailing only the 53 points scored in 1919 against Menominee North End A.C.

In his seventh season from California, this is Rodgers' third career Player of the Week Award. He was honored twice last season (Weeks 13 and 16).

Rodgers and BRETT FAVRE (12) are the only quarterbacks in team history to win the award at least three times.

DEFENSE: LB BRIAN URLACHER, CHICAGO BEARS

Urlacher had a 12-yard fumble-return touchdown, an interception and a team-high 10 tackles in the Bears' 30-12 win over Atlanta.

His interception was the 19th of his career and he surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer BILL GEORGE for the third most by a linebacker in team history. Urlacher has now recorded an interception in nine of his 12 seasons.

Urlacher's touchdown was the fourth of his career and his first since December 23, 2007 (85-yard interception-return touchdown vs. Green Bay).

He led a defense that did not allow an offensive touchdown in Week 1, the only team in the NFL to do so.

In his 12th year from New Mexico, this is Urlacher's sixth career Player of the Week Award and first since Week 8, 2004.

Urlacher's six Defensive Player of the Week Awards are tied for the most in franchise history with Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end RICHARD DENT.

SPECIAL TEAMS: KR-PR TED GINN JR., SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

In the 49ers' 33-17 win over Seattle, Ginn became the 12th player in NFL history -- and the first on Kickoff Weekend -- to return a kickoff (102 yards) and a punt (55 yards) for a touchdown in a game. He accomplished the feat just 59 seconds apart, the fastest of the 12 players to do so.

Ginn finished with a franchise-record 268 total yards (176 kickoff, 92 punt).

His returns marked the first time in team history that the 49ers had a kickoff-return touchdown and punt-return touchdown in the same game.

In his fifth season from Ohio State, this is Ginn's second career Player of the Week Award (Week 8, 2009 with Miami).

Ginn is the first 49ers returner to be honored since 2003 (CEDRICK WILSON, Week 9).

Players of the Week - NFL 2011 Week 1