Quarterback TONY ROMO of the Dallas Cowboys, defensive end DEWAYNE WHITE of the Detroit Lions and rookie kicker MASON CROSBY of the Green Bay Packers are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played on NFL Kickoff 2007 Weekend (September 6, 9-10), the NFL announced Wednesday.
SPECIAL TEAMS: K MASON CROSBY, GREEN BAY PACKERS
Crosby, making his NFL debut, was successful on all three field goal attempts, including the game-winner from 42 yards out with two seconds remaining to lead the Packers to a 16-13 win over Philadelphia. The kick was the first game-winner by a rookie on Kickoff Weekend since 1979 (MATT BAHR). A sixth-round pick out of Colorado (No. 193), Crosby began his NFL career with a 53-yard field goal in the first quarter, one-yard shy of the franchise record (54). Crosby is the first player in NFL history to kick a 50-yard field goal and a game-winning field goal with under a minute remaining in his NFL debut.
In his rookie season from Colorado, this is Crosby's first career Player of the Week Award. Crosby is the first rookie kicker to be named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week on Kickoff Weekend.
OFFENSE: QB TONY ROMO, DALLAS COWBOYS
Starting on Kickoff Weekend for the first time in his career, Romo electrified the home crowd by passing for a career-high 345 yards with five touchdowns (four passing, one rushing) in the Cowboys' 45-35 win on Sunday night over the division rival New York Giants. Romo completed 62.5 percent of his passes (15 of 24) and posted a passer rating of 128.5. His four touchdown passes were the most thrown by a Dallas quarterback on Kickoff Weekend since 1999, when Pro Football Hall of Famer TROY AIKMAN tossed five TDs. The Cowboys' 45 points were the club's most in an opener since 1971 when the team went on to win Super Bowl VI. Romo's first touchdown came in the second quarter on a 12-yard pass to tight end JASON WITTEN and increased Dallas' lead to 17-6. In the third quarter, Romo led two touchdown drives. He capped the first one off with a 22-yard scoring strike to wide receiver TERRELL OWENS and ran for a nine-yard TD on the second. Romo and Owens hooked up again in the fourth quarter on a 47-yard touchdown that put Dallas' lead at 38-22. After two New York scores brought the Giants within three, Romo put the game away with a 51-yard scoring pass to wide receiver SAM HURD.
In his fifth season from Eastern Illinois, this is Romo's third career Player of the Week Award. Romo won the award two times last season (Weeks 10 and 12).
DEFENSE: DE DEWAYNE WHITE, DETROIT LIONS
-In his first game as a Lion, White had seven tackles, 1.0 sack, an interception and two forced fumbles as the Lions won in Oakland for the first time in franchise history. The veteran defensive end was a force in the fourth quarter as Detroit scored 16 unanswered points in the final 10:45 to come away with a 36-21 victory. After the Lions took a 26-21 lead in the fourth quarter, White intercepted a pass on the ensuing Raiders drive and returned it 28 yards to set up a field goal to increase Detroit's lead to eight. On the first play of the next Oakland possession, White sacked the Raiders quarterback and forced a fumble. Another Oakland player recovered the ball and White forced another fumble, which was recovered by teammate KALIMBA EDWARDS. The play helped set up a touchdown that put the game out of reach.
In his fifth year from Louisville, this is White's first Defensive Player of the Week Award. White was named the Special Teams Player of Week 16 in 2005 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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2007 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Wk 1
QB Tony Romo, Dallas
DE Dewayne White, Detroit
K Mason Crosby, Green Bay
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Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 1 were:
-New York wide receiver PLAXICO BURRESS, who had eight catches for 144 yards and a career-high three touchdowns.
-Carolina quarterback JAKE DELHOMME, who completed 18 of 27 passes (66.7 percent) for 201 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 125.7 passer rating in the Panthers' 27-13 win at St. Louis.
-Detroit quarterback JON KITNA, who completed 27 of 36 passes (75.0 percent) for 289 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions for a 102.7 passer rating.
-New York quarterback ELI MANNING, who completed 28 of 41 passes (68.3 percent) for 312 yards with four touchdowns and one interception for a 113.1 passer rating.
-Detroit wide receiver SHAUN MC DONALD, who caught six passes for 90 yards and one touchdown in his first game with the Lions.
-Minnesota rookie running back ADRIAN PETERSON, who rushed for 103 yards and added a 60-yard touchdown reception in the Vikings' 24-3 win over Atlanta. Peterson is the first player in league history to rush for 100 yards and record a 60-yard TD catch in his NFL debut.
-Washington wide receiver ANTWAAN RANDLE EL, who had five receptions for a career-high 162 yards in the Redskins' 16-13 overtime victory over Miami.
Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 1 were:
-Green Bay linebacker NICK BARNETT, who had a game-high 13 tackles and one interception in the Packers' 16-13 victory over Philadelphia.
-San Francisco cornerback NATE CLEMENTS, who helped shut down Arizona's Pro Bowl receivers as the 49ers allowed just 100 passing yards in a 20-17 win on Monday night.
-Detroit defensive end KALIMBA EDWARDS, who had 2.0 sacks, three tackles, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
-San Francisco cornerback WALT HARRIS, who intercepted a pass and helped the 49ers limit the Cardinals to just 100 passing yards.
-Washington linebacker ROCKY MC INTOSH, who recorded 11 tackles, 1.0 sack & forced a fumble.
-Seattle linebacker JULIAN PETERSON, who had seven tackles, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble in the Seahawks' 20-6 victory over Tampa Bay.
-Minnesota defensive tackle KEVIN WILLIAMS, who returned an interception 54 yards for a touchdown and added four tackles in the Vikings' 24-3 win over Atlanta.
-Minnesota cornerback ANTOINE WINFIELD, who returned an interception 14 yards for a touchdown and added five tackles.
Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 1 were:
-Carolina punter JASON BAKER, who had a gross average of 52.7 yards on three punts and a net average of 51.0 yards.
-Detroit kicker JASON HANSON, who scored 12 points, connecting on all three field goal attempts and three PATs.
-Minnesota punter CHRIS KLUWE, who punted five times and tied a team record by placing five punts inside the 20-yard line.
-Detroit defensive tackle SHAUN ROGERS, who blocked a field goal and helped the Lions force Oakland to miss all three field goal attempts.
-Washington kicker SHAUN SUISHAM, who was successful on all three field goal attempts, including the game-winner from 39 yards out in overtime.
