Tight end JIMMY GRAHAM of the New Orleans Saints, defensive end GREG HARDY of the Carolina Panthers and rookie punter SAM MARTIN of the Detroit Lions are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the third week of the 2013 NFL season (September 19, 22-23).

Offense: TE Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints

Graham had nine catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns in the Saints' 31-7 win over Arizona.

His 16-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter gave the Saints the lead for good and he capped the scoring with a seven-yard TD catch in the fourth quarter.

Graham, who had 10 catches for 179 yards and a touchdown in Week 2, has 313 receiving yards in his past two games, the most by a tight end in a two-game span since 1996 (SHANNON SHARPE, 314 yards).

He has a touchdown catch in four consecutive games and has 100 receiving yards in each of his past two.

Graham leads NFL tight ends with 23 catches and 358 receiving yards. His four receiving touchdowns are the most in the NFC by any player.

In his fourth season from Miami, this is Graham's second career Player of the Week Award (Week 10, 2012).

Graham is the only tight end in franchise history to be honored.

He joins Sharpe (three) and ALGE CRUMPLER (two) as the only tight ends to be named Player of the Week multiple times since the award began in 1984.

Defense: DE Greg Hardy, Carolina Panthers

Hardy tied a career high with three sacks in the Panthers' 38-0 win over the New York Giants. He also had a team-high eight tackles.

Five of Hardy's eight tackles were behind the line of scrimmage for a total of minus-22 yards.

He was part of a defensive unit that registered seven sacks, forced three turnovers and allowed 150 total net yards. The Panthers are the first team in more than a decade to post a shutout victory of 38 points or more, record at least seven sacks and three turnovers, and hold an opponent to 150 total net yards in a game.

Carolina recorded its first shutout since October 5, 2008 and the team's seven sacks tied the single-game club record.

In his fourth year from Mississippi, this is Hardy's first career Player of the Week Award.

Hardy is the first Panthers defensive end to be honored since JULIUS PEPPERS (Week 8, 2009).

He joins Peppers (three) and MIKE RUCKER (two) as the only defensive ends in franchise history to be named Defensive Player of the Week.

Special Teams: P Sam Martin, Detroit Lions

Martin punted six times, averaging 52.5 yards per punt with a net average of 40.7 yards in the Lions' 27-20 win at Washington.

His average of 52.5 yards per punt was the highest in a game by a Lion with a minimum of six punts since PAT STUDSTILL (53.0) on September 11, 1966.

Martin had a long of 72 yards, the longest punt by a Lion since September 27, 1981 (TOM SKLADANY, 74 yards). It was also the second-longest in franchise history by a rookie trailing BOB CIFERS' 73-yard punt on November 17, 1946.

The Lions won at Washington for the first time ever and defeated the Redskins on the road for the first time since October 13, 1935 when Detroit registered a 17-7 win in Boston's Fenway Park over the Boston Redskins.

In his rookie season from Appalachian State, this is Martin's first career Player of the Week Award.

Martin is the first Lions punter to be honored since 1993 (JIM ARNOLD, Week 18).

He is the first Lions rookie to be named Player of the Week since MATTHEW STAFFORD (Offense, Week 11, 2009).

2013 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Week Offense Defense Special Teams
Source: NFL
Wk 1WR Anquan Boldin, San FranciscoDE Robert Quinn, St. LouisWR-PR Dwayne Harris, Dallas
Wk 2QB Aaron Rodgers, Green BayCB Richard Sherman, SeattleKR-PR Devin Hester, Chicago
Wk 3TE Jimmy Graham, New OrleansDE Greg Hardy, CarolinaP Sam Martin, Detroit

 

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

Chicago quarterback JAY CUTLER, who had 90.8 passer rating in the Bears' 40-23 win at Pittsburgh.

Detroit wide receiver CALVIN JOHNSON, who had seven catches for 115 yards and a touchdown.

Philadelphia running back LE SEAN MC COY, who rushed for 158 yards and a touchdown in the Eagles' 26-16 loss to Kansas City.

Dallas running back DE MARCO MURRAY, who rushed for 175 yards and a touchdown in the Cowboys' 31-7 win over St. Louis.

Carolina quarterback CAM NEWTON, who passed for 223 yards with three touchdowns and rushed for 45 yards with a TD.

Detroit quarterback MATTHEW STAFFORD, who passed for 385 yards and two touchdowns.

Seattle quarterback RUSSELL WILSON, who tied a career high with four touchdown passes and had a 117.5 passer rating in the Seahawks' 45-17 win over Jacksonville.

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

Detroit rookie defensive end EZEKIEL ANSAH, who had seven tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.

Minnesota linebacker ERIN HENDERSON, who had eight tackles, two sacks and an interception in the Vikings' 31-27 loss to Cleveland.

Dallas defensive end DE MARCUS WARE, who had six tackles and two sacks.

Chicago safety MAJOR WRIGHT, who returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown, forced a fumble and had seven tackles.

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

Arizona cornerback-kick returner JAVIER ARENAS, who averaged 33.0 yards per return, including a long of 46 yards.

Carolina kicker GRAHAM GANO, who converted all five PATs and a 53-yard field-goal attempt.

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NFL 2013 Week 3: NFC Players of the Week