NFL 2013 Week 3: AFC Players of the Week

Quarterback PEYTON MANNING of the Denver Broncos, linebacker JUSTIN HOUSTON of the Kansas City Chiefs and punter SPENCER LANNING of the Cleveland Browns are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the third week of the NFL 2013 season.

Offense: QB Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos

Manning completed 32 of 37 passes (86.5 percent) for 374 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 135.8 passer rating in the Broncos' 37-21 win against the Oakland Raiders on Monday Night Football.

His performance marked the sixth game in NFL history in which a player passed for at least 350 yards and three touchdown passes with a completion percentage of 85.0+.

Manning's 135.8 passer rating and 86.5 completion percentage were the highest among AFC players in Week 3, and his three touchdown passes were tied for the most in the conference this week.

Manning now has 12 touchdown passes, the most of any player through the first three weeks of a season in NFL history.

In his 16th season from Tennessee, this is Manning's 25th Player of the Week Award, the most of any player since the accolade was instituted in 1984. This is Manning's fourth Player of the Week Award with the Broncos. He most recently won the award on 2013 Kickoff Weekend.

Defense: LB Justin Houston, Kansas City Chiefs

Houston posted a career-high 4.5 sacks with seven tackles, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble in the Chiefs' 26-16 victory at Philadelphia on Thursday Night Football.

His 4.5 sacks were the third-highest single-game total of any Chiefs player, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famer DERRICK THOMAS (seven on 11/11/90; six on 9/6/98).

Houston's 4.5 sacks were the most in the NFL in Week 3, and he currently leads the league with 7.5 sacks this season.

In his third season from Georgia, this is Houston's second career Defensive Player of the Week Award and second this season (Week 1, 2013).

Houston is the second Chiefs linebacker to win two Defensive Player of the Week Awards in one season, joining Thomas (Weeks 6 and 11, 1991).

Special Teams: P Spencer Lanning, Cleveland Browns

Lanning averaged 46.8 yards on five punts, threw an 11-yard touchdown pass and converted one extra point in the Browns' 31-27 victory at Minnesota.

He is the first player since Philadelphia's SAM BAKER on October 13, 1968 with a punt, an extra point and a touchdown pass in a single game.

Lanning completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end JORDAN CAMERON on a fake field-goal attempt give the Browns a 24-14 lead with 3:39 remaining in the second quarter.

He scored his first career kicking point with a PAT following the game-winning touchdown, providing the Browns with a four-point lead with 0:51 remaining in the fourth quarter.

In his first season from South Carolina, this is Lanning's first Special Teams Player of the Week Award. He is the first Browns punter to win the award since REGGIE HODGES in 2010 (Week 13).

2013 AFC Players Of The Week

Week Offense Defense Special Teams
Source: NFL
Wk 1QB Peyton Manning, DenverLB Justin Houston, Kansas CityK Nick Folk, New York Jets
Wk 2QB Philip Rivers, San DiegoDE Mario Williams, BuffaloPR-WR Trindon Holliday, Denver
Wk 3QB Peyton Manning, DenverLB Justin Houston, Kansas CityP Spencer Lanning, Cleveland Browns

 

Other nominees for AFC Offensive Player of Week 3 as submitted by AFC clubs

Kansas City wide receiver DONNIE AVERY, who had seven catches for 141 yards (20.1 average).

Indianapolis running back AHMAD BRADSHAW, who rushed for 95 yards on 19 carries (5 average) and a touchdown in the Colts' 27-7 win at San Francisco.

Cleveland tight end JORDAN CAMERON, who had six catches for 66 yards and three touchdowns.

Cleveland wide receiver JOSH GORDON, who had 10 receptions for 146 yards (14.6 average) with a 47-yard touchdown.

Cleveland quarterback BRIAN HOYER, who completed 30 of 54 passes (55.6 percent) for 321 yards with three touchdowns.

Tennessee quarterback JAKE LOCKER, who completed 23 of 37 passes (62.2 percent) for 299 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions for a 96.6 passer rating in the Titans' 20-17 victory against San Diego.

Baltimore running back BERNARD PIERCE, who rushed for 65 yards and one touchdown in the Ravens' 30-9 win against Houston.

Miami quarterback RYAN TANNEHILL, who completed 24 of 35 passes (68.6 percent) for 236 yards with two touchdowns and one interception for a 94.5 passer rating in the Dolphins' 27-23 victory against Atlanta.

Other nominees for AFC Defensive Player of Week 3 as submitted by AFC clubs

Denver defensive end ROBERT AYERS, who posted two sacks.

Miami linebacker DANNELL ELLERBE, who registered 10 tackles.

Cleveland linebacker D'QWELL JACKSON, who posted 10 tackles and forced a fumble.

Indianapolis linebacker ROBERT MATHIS, who registered three tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Cincinnati cornerback TERENCE NEWMAN, who posted six tackles, an interception and a 58-yard fumble-return touchdown in the Bengals' 34-30 win against Green Bay.

Baltimore linebacker DARYL SMITH, who registered 10 tackles and had a 37-yard interception-return touchdown.

Other nominees for AFC Special Teams Player of Week 3 as submitted by AFC clubs

Baltimore punt returner TANDON DOSS, who returned two punts for 93 yards (46.5 average), including an 82-yard punt-return touchdown.

New England kicker STEPHEN GOSTKOWSKI, who converted all three field-goal attempts (53, 46, 33) and two PATs in the Patriots' 23-3 win against Tampa Bay.

Indianapolis punter PAT MC AFEE, who punted four times for 192 yards (48 average), including three punts inside the 20-yard line.

Denver kicker MATT PRATER, who converted all three field-goal attempts (53, 41, 40) and four PATs.

Miami rookie kicker CALEB STURGIS, who converted both field-goal attempts (46, 50) and three PATs.

NFL Football News & Analysis

 

NFL Football News & Analysis

 

Super Bowl History

 

NFL Football News & Analysis [...]

 

Article: Copyright ©, iHaveNet.com

NFL 2013 Week 3: AFC Players of the Week