Defensive end AARON KAMPMAN of the Green Bay Packers, running back STEVEN JACKSON of the St. Louis Rams and kicker ROBBIE GOULD of the Chicago Bears are the NFC Defensive, Offensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the 16th week of the 2006 season (December 21, 23-25), the NFL announced Wednesday.
DEFENSE: DE AARON KAMPMAN, GREEN BAY PACKERS
Playing in front of a national audience on Thursday night, Kampman helped the Packers stay alive in the NFC playoff hunt as Green Bay defeated the Minnesota Vikings 9-7. Kampman had a team-best seven tackles, tied his career-high with 3.0 sacks and added a game-high four quarterback hurries. The Packers defense held Minnesota to three first-downs and 104 total net yards, including just 27 net passing yards. The five-year veteran had 2.0 sacks in the first half, both on third-down plays that forced the Vikings to punt. Kampman's third sack came on Minnesota's final drive of the game with 1:28 remaining and the Packers holding on to a two-point lead. For the year, Kampman ties for the NFL lead with a career-best 15.5 sacks, the third-highest single-season total in franchise history.
In his fifth year from Iowa, this is Kampman's second career Player of the Week Award and second this season (Week 8). Kampman joins Pro Football Hall of Famer REGGIE WHITE (1998) as the only Packers to win defensive honors twice in the same season.
OFFENSE: RB STEVEN JACKSON, ST. LOUIS RAMS
The Pro Bowl running back racked up 252 yards from scrimmage and scored two touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime, as the Rams kept their playoff hopes alive with a 37-31 win over the Washington Redskins. Jackson had 33 carries for 150 yards and added six receptions for 102 yards, becoming the first player in franchise history with 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving in the same game. With 6:30 remaining in the third quarter and the Rams trailing 28-14, Jackson scored on a 64-yard touchdown pass from All-Star quarterback MARC BULGER to bring St. Louis within one score. In overtime, Jackson scored on a 21-yard run 6:33 into the extra session to win the game for the Rams. With that touchdown, the three-year veteran became only the third player in NFL history to record 100 rushing yards, 100 receiving yards and score the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter or overtime in the same game. For the season, the first-time All-Star leads the NFC with a career-best 2,168 scrimmage yards and has 88 receptions, tops in the NFL among running backs and second overall in the conference.
In his third season from Oregon State, this is Jackson's first career Player of the Week Award. Jackson is the first Rams running back to win the award since MARSHALL FAULK (Week 17, 2001).
SPECIAL TEAMS: K ROBBIE GOULD, CHICAGO BEARS
Gould tied his career-high with four field goals in the Bears' 26-21 victory over the Detroit Lions. The former Penn State standout was four-for-four on the day, converting field goals from 36, 36, 39 and 44 yards. Three of Gould's field goals were in the fourth quarter as the Bears came back from a 21-17 deficit. On the season, the two-year veteran has 32 field goals, the most in a single season in franchise history. Gould's 142 points trail KEVIN BUTLER's team mark of 144 points set in 1985.
In this second season from Penn State, this is Gould's second career Player of the Week Award (Week 9, 2005).
2006 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Wk 1
QB Kurt Warner, Arizona
DE John Abraham, Atlanta
K Jeff Wilkins, St. Louis
Wk 2
QB Eli Manning, NY Giants
DT Tommie Harris, Chicago
K Ryan Longwell, Minnesota
Wk 3
QB Brett Favre, Green Bay
LB Scott Fujita, New Orleans
K John Kasay, Carolina
Wk 4
WR Santana Moss, Washington
DT Tommie Harris, Chicago
K Morten Andersen, Atlanta
Wk 5
RB Frank Gore, San Francisco
CB Lito Sheppard, Philadelphia
RB-PR Reggie Bush, New Orleans
Wk 6
RB Tiki Barber, NY Giants
DE James Hall, Detroit
K Josh Brown, Seattle
Wk 7
TE Alge Crumpler, Atlanta
CB Ronde Barber, Tampa Bay
K Matt Bryant, Tampa Bay
Wk 8
QB Michael Vick, Atlanta
DE Aaron Kampman, Green Bay
WR Sam Hurd, Dallas
Wk 9
QB Drew Brees, New Orleans
LB Brandon Moore, San Francisco
S Troy Vincent, Washington
Wk 10
QB Tony Romo, Dallas
DE Julius Peppers, Carolina
CB-PR Devin Hester, Chicago
Wk 11
RB Frank Gore, San Francisco
DE Mike Rucker, Carolina
P Mat McBriar, Dallas
Wk 12
QB Tony Romo, Dallas
S Sean Taylor, Washington
K Josh Brown, Seattle
Wk 13
RB Reggie Bush, New Orleans
S Lawyer Milloy, Atlanta
CB-PR-KR Devin Hester, Chicago
Wk 14
QB Drew Brees, New Orleans
CB Cedric Griffin, Minnesota
CB-PR-KR Devin Hester, Chicago
Wk 15
QB Rex Grossman, Chicago
S Brian Dawkins, Philadelphia
P Matt Turk, St. Louis
Wk 16
RB Steven Jackson, St. Louis
DE Aaron Kampman, Green Bay
K Robbie Gould, Chicago
Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 16 were:
New Orleans rookie running back REGGIE BUSH, who had a career-high 126 rushing yards and one touchdown in the Saints' 30-7 win over the New York Giants. Bush added two catches for 23 yards and has 86 receptions this year, the most by a rookie running back in NFL history.
{sportsad300}Detroit wide receiver MIKE FURREY, who had a career-best 10 receptions for 107 yards with one touchdown.
Philadelphia quarterback JEFF GARCIA, who completed 15 of 23 passes (65.2 percent) for 238 yards with one touchdown and one interception for a 95.9 passer rating in the Eagles' 23-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Garcia added 43 rushing yards and engineered four scoring drives of at least 75 yards.
Detroit quarterback JON KITNA, who completed 27 of 45 passes (60.0 percent) for 283 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 100.5 passer rating.
New Orleans running back DEUCE MC ALLISTER, who had 27 carries for 108 yards, including a nine-yard touchdown run.
Philadelphia running back BRIAN WESTBROOK, who had 122 yards on a career-best 26 carries and became the third player in franchise history to post six 100-yard rushing games in a season.
Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 16 were:
Chicago rookie defensive end MARK ANDERSON, who had 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble. Anderson leads all rookies with 12.0 sacks, the most by a rookie in team annals.
Tampa Bay linebacker DERRICK BROOKS, who had six tackles and a 21-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 22-7 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
Philadelphia safety BRIAN DAWKINS, who had three tackles and an interception as the Eagles held the Cowboys to 201 total net yards and seven points.
Carolina defensive end JULIUS PEPPERS, who had 2.0 sacks and three quarterback hurries in the Panthers' 10-3 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Carolina's defense allowed 177 total net yards and held the league's top rushing offense to 83 rushing yards.
Tampa Bay safety JERMAINE PHILLIPS, who had seven tackles and a career-best two interceptions.
Tampa Bay defensive end GREG SPIRES, who had five tackles and 2.0 sacks.
Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 16 were:
Carolina punter JASON BAKER, who averaged 48.8 yards per punt and posted a 45.8-yard net average. Baker placed two of his six punts inside the 20-yard line and recorded a long of 56 yards.
Washington safety VERNON FOX, who had seven tackles on special teams and blocked a punt to set up a Redskins touchdown. Fox had four tackles on kickoff returns inside the Rams 20-yard line.
Detroit punter NICK HARRIS, who had a 47.9-yard gross average and 45.3-yard net average. Harris placed three of his seven punts inside the 20-yard line.
Philadelphia safety QUINTIN MIKELL, who had two special teams tackles and forced a fumble.
Green Bay kicker DAVE RAYNER, who converted three of five field goals and scored all nine of the Packers' points, including the game-winning 44-yarder with 1:34 remaining.
