Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and DB Micah Hyde have been named NFC players of the week for Week 17.
Rodgers is the NFC Offensive Player of the Week while Hyde is the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for their performances in Green Bay's 30-20 victory oer Detroit last Sunday to clinch the NFC North title and a first-round playoff bye. They are the first Packers to win the offensive and special teams honors in the same week since 1996.
Rodgers completed 17 of 22 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns for a 139.6 passer rating. He made a triumphant return from a calf injury that caused him to drop to the ground late in the first half as he threw a 4-yard TD pass to WR Randall Cobb. After missing the Packers' opening series of the second half, Rodgers came out of the locker room to "M-V-P!" chants from the Lambeau Field crowd and promptly led the Packers on two second-half TD drives.
He completed 11 of 13 passes for 129 yards after the injury and even called his own number on a QB sneak for the Packers' clinching points in the fourth quarter.
This is the fourth NFC player of the week award for Rodgers this season, also winning in Weeks 4, 7 and 10. It's the 12th time he has won the award in his career, tying him for the most in Packers history with Brett Favre.
For Hyde, this is the first player of the week award in his career. His 55-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter opened the scoring against the Lions and the Packers never trailed in the game.
Hyde has now returned two punts for TDs this season and three in his two-year career, tying the franchise career record also held by Desmond Howard and Will Blackmon.
