NFL 2013 Week 17: NFC Players of the Week

Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy and 49ers kicker Phil Dawson are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the 17th week of the 2013 season

Offense: QB Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Brees completed 24 of 31 passes (77.4 percent) for 381 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions for a 157.4 passer rating in the Saints' 42-17 win over Tampa Bay. He also had a nine-yard touchdown run. With the victory, the Saints clinched a playoff berth.

It marked the 25th game in his career with at least four touchdown passes, the second-most in NFL history.

Brees has five games in his career with a passer rating of at least 150.

He is the first quarterback in NFL history to complete 75 percent of his passes with at least 350 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions and a rushing touchdown in a single game.

Brees, who was selected to his eighth Pro Bowl, finished the season with 5,162 passing yards, his third consecutive 5,000-yard season and fourth overall. He is the only player with multiple 5,000-yard passing seasons and owns four of the eight such performances in NFL history.

In his 13th season from Purdue, this is Brees' 19th career Player of the Week Award and third this season (Weeks 4 and 10).

Since joining the Saints in 2006, Brees has won 17 Player of the Week Awards, the most in franchise history. During that span, Brees' 17 Player of the Week Awards are tied for the most in the NFL (TOM BRADY).

Brees' 19 Player of the Week Awards rank third all-time behind PEYTON MANNING (26) and Brady (24).

Defense: DE Greg Hardy, Carolina Panthers

Hardy had a franchise-record four sacks and six tackles in the Panthers' 21-20 win at Atlanta. With the victory, the Panthers clinched the NFC South division title and a first-round bye.

He finished the season with 15 sacks, tied for the most in team history (KEVIN GREENE, 1998).

In the final two games of the season, Hardy had seven sacks. He is the first player to enter the postseason with consecutive three-sack performances in the team's final two games.

Hardy, who was selected to his first Pro Bowl, was part of a defensive unit that had a franchise-record nine sacks in the game. The Panthers finished the season with 60 sacks, tied for the most in a season in team history (1996).

In his fourth year from Mississippi, this is Hardy's second career Player of the Week Award (Week 3, 2013).

The Panthers have won five Defensive Player of the Week Awards this season, the most in a season in franchise history. In addition to Hardy's two, linebackers LUKE KUECHLY (two) and THOMAS DAVIS have been honored.

Hardy is the fourth player in team history to be named Defensive Player of the Week multiple times. He joins Kuechly (three), JULIUS PEPPERS (three) and MIKE RUCKER (two).

Special Teams: K Phil Dawson, San Francisco 49ers

Dawson kicked three field goals, including the game-winner as time expired, and two PATS in the 49ers' 23-20 win at Arizona. With the win, San Francisco locked up the top Wild Card spot in the NFC.

He scored 11 points, the most in the NFC by a kicker in Week 17.

In the final 1:45 of the game, Dawson converted two field-goal attempts. He tied his career-long with a 56-yard field goal with 1:45 remaining to put San Francisco ahead 20-17. After the Cardinals tied the score, Dawson kicked the game-winner from 40 yards out as time expired to win the contest.

In his 15th season from Texas, this is Dawson's fourth career Player of the Week Award and second this season (Week 14). He previously won twice with Cleveland (Week 3, 2001 and Week 15, 2005).

Dawson and DAVID AKERS (Weeks 16 and 17, 2011) are the only players in franchise history to be named Special Teams Player of the Week twice in the same season.

2013 NFC Players Of The Week

Week Offense Defense Special Teams
Source: NFL
Wk 1WR Anquan Boldin, 49ersDE Robert Quinn, RamsWR-PR Dwayne Harris, Dallas
Wk 2QB Aaron Rodgers, Green BayCB Richard Sherman, SeattleKR-PR Devin Hester, Chicago
Wk 3TE Jimmy Graham, SaintsDE Greg Hardy, CarolinaP Sam Martin, Detroit
Wk 4QB Drew Brees, SaintsCB Patrick Peterson, ArizonaK Steven Hauschka, Seattle
Wk 5WR DeSean Jackson, EaglesCB Tramaine Brock, San FranciscoK Mason Crosby, Packers
Wk 6QB Nick Foles, EaglesLB Thomas Davis, PanthersKR-PR Dwayne Harris, Cowboys
Wk 7QB Matt Ryan, FalconsLB Sean Lee, CowboysP Andy Lee, 49ers
Wk 8WR Calvin Johnson, LionsCB Terrell Thomas, GiantsKR Cordarrelle Patterson, Vikings
Wk 9QB Nick Foles, EaglesDE Shea McClellin, ChicagoPR-WR Golden Tate, Seattle
Wk 10QB Drew Brees, SaintsLB Luke Kuechly, PanthersPR-WR Tavon Austin, Rams
Wk 11RB Bobby Rainey, Tampa BayDE Jason Pierre-Paul, GiantsP Donnie Jones, Eagles
Wk 12QB Carson Palmer, ArizonaLB Lavonte David, Tampa BayK Blair Walsh, Vikings/td>
Wk 13QB Russell Wilson, SeahawksDE Justin Tuck, GiantsP Donnie Jones, Eagles
Wk 14QB Josh McCown, BearsLB John Abraham, CardinalsK Phil Dawson, 49ers
Wk 15RB Eddie Lacy, PackersCB Richard Sherman, SeahawksK Jay Feely, Cardinals
Wk 16RB LeSean McCoy, EaglesLB Luke Kuechly, PanthersK Josh Brown, Giants
Wk 17QB Drew Brees, SaintsDE Greg Hardy, PanthersK Phil Dawson, 49ers

 

Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 17 as submitted by NFC clubs:

Minnesota running back MATT ASIATA, who rushed for 115 yards in the Vikings' 14-13 win over Detroit.

San Francisco wide receiver ANQUAN BOLDIN, who had nine catches for 149 yards and a touchdown.

Green Bay wide receiver RANDALL COBB, who had two touchdown catches, including the game-winner, in the Packers' 33-28 win at Chicago.

San Francisco quarterback COLIN KAEPERNICK, who completed 21 of 34 passes (61.8 percent) for 310 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 111.2 passer rating.

New York Giants wide receiver JERREL JERNIGAN, who had six catches for 90 yards with a touchdown and had a 49-yard touchdown run in the Giants' 20-6 win over Washington.

Philadelphia running back LE SEAN MC COY, who rushed for 131 yards and had a touchdown reception in the Eagles' 24-22 win at Dallas.

Minnesota rookie wide receiver CORDARRELLE PATTERSON, who had a 50-yard touchdown run and caught the game-winning touchdown pass.

Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS, who passed for 318 yards and two touchdowns.

Atlanta quarterback MATT RYAN, who completed 28 of 40 passes (70 percent) for 280 yards with two touchdowns and a 95.8 passer rating.

Seattle wide receiver GOLDEN TATE, who had eight catches for 129 yards and a touchdown in the Seahawks' 27-9 win over St. Louis.

Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 17 as submitted by NFC clubs:

Minnesota defensive end JARED ALLEN, who had two sacks, four tackles and a pass defensed.

San Francisco linebacker NA VORRO BOWMAN, who had 10 tackles, an interception, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Philadelphia cornerback BRANDON BOYKIN, who had an interception, three passes defensed and two tackles.

New Orleans linebacker JUNIOR GALETTE, who had two sacks and four tackles.

Dallas rookie linebacker DE VONTE HOLLOMAN, who had 11 tackles and two sacks.

Philadelphia linebacker MYCHAL KENDRICKS, who had 12 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble.

Seattle linebacker MALCOLM SMITH, who had a 37-yard interception-return touchdown and five tackles.

Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 17 as submitted by NFC clubs:

Green Bay kicker MASON CROSBY, who converted both field-goal attempts and all three PATs.

Seattle kicker STEVEN HAUSCHKA, who converted both field-goal attempts and all three PATs.

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NFL 2013 Week 17: NFC Players of the Week