Defensive end AARON KAMPMAN of the Green Bay Packers, quarterback MICHAEL VICK of the Atlanta Falcons and rookie wide receiver SAM HURD of the Dallas Cowboys are the NFC Defensive, Offensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the eighth week of the 2006 season (October 29-30), the NFL announced Wednesday.
DEFENSE: DE AARON KAMPMAN, GREEN BAY PACKERS
Playing in front of the home fans at Lambeau Field, Kampman posted eight tackles, 2.0 sacks and three quarterback pressures in the Packers' 31-14 win over the Arizona Cardinals. The former Iowa standout, who recorded the third multiple-sack game of his career, was part of a defensive unit that allowed a season-low 218 total net yards and just 3.4 yards per play. The Packers allowed only 86 total rushing yards and 132 net yards passing. Kampman, who was drafted in the fifth round of the 2002 NFL Draft (No. 156 overall), sacked Arizona rookie quarterback MATT LEINART twice for a loss of 11 yards and his total of three quarterback pressures was the most by a Packer on the day. Kampman's eight tackles tied rookie linebacker A.J. HAWK for the team lead. This season, Kampman has a career-best 8.5 sacks, which leads the NFC and ties for the most in the NFL.
In his fifth year from Iowa, this is Kampman's first career Player of the Week Award.
OFFENSE: QB MICHAEL VICK, ATLANTA FALCONS
On the road against the defending AFC North Division champions, Vick completed 20 of 28 passes (71.4 percent) for 291 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 140.6 passer rating in the Falcons' 29-27 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Vick also rushed nine times for 55 yards (6.1 average). With Atlanta trailing 14-6 in the second quarter, the left-handed quarterback led the Falcons on a 10-play, 81-yard drive, culminating with a 16-yard touchdown pass to tight end ALGE CRUMPLER. On Atlanta's first possession of the second half, the former Virginia Tech star guided the Falcons on a 65-yard drive, capping it with a 26-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver MICHAEL JENKINS to put Atlanta up 20-17. Later in the third quarter, Vick finished a 60-yard drive with an eight-yard TD pass to fullback JUSTIN GRIFFITH to put the Falcons ahead 26-20, a lead the club would not relinquish. Vick's 140.6 passer rating is the second-highest single-game mark in his career and the three touchdown passes is his second-most in a game. On the day, Vick passed for a season-best 15 first downs and added three rushing first downs. He also had three rushes of at least 10 yards and currently leads the NFL with 24 runs of 10 yards or more.
In his sixth season from Virginia Tech, this is Vick's fourth career Player of the Week Award. This marks the first time in franchise history that two Falcons have been named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week in consecutive weeks (Crumpler, Week 7).
SPECIAL TEAMS: WR SAM HURD, DALLAS COWBOYS
With a national TV audience watching on Sunday night, Hurd made a game-changing play in the Cowboys' 35-14 road win over the Carolina Panthers. After a Dallas field goal cut the Panthers lead to 14-13 with 9:54 remaining, Hurd forced a fumble and recovered the loose ball at the Carolina 14-yard line on the ensuing kickoff. On the very next play, Cowboys running back JULIUS JONES raced up the middle for a touchdown that put Dallas up for good at 21-14. The rookie wide receiver added another special teams tackle covering a punt in the fourth quarter and finished the day with two special teams tackles to go along with a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
In his rookie season from Northern Illinois, this is Hurd's first career Player of the Week Award.
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
Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 8 were:
New York Giants wide receiver PLAXICO BURRESS, who had seven catches for 86 yards and one touchdown in the Giants' 17-3 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
{sportsad300}San Francisco running back FRANK GORE, who registered his third 100-yard game of the year with 111 yards on 12 attempts (9.3 average) in the 49ers' 41-10 loss at the Chicago Bears.
Green Bay running back AHMAN GREEN, who rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Green's two touchdown runs give him 51 as a Packer, passing Pro Football Hall of Famer PAUL HORNUNG (50) for second in team history.
Chicago quarterback REX GROSSMAN, who completed 23 of 29 passes (79.3 percent) for 252 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 137.4 passer rating in Chicago's 41-10 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 8 were:
Dallas defensive end GREG ELLIS, who had four tackles, 2.0 sacks and forced a fumble that led to a Cowboys touchdown two plays later.
Green Bay cornerback AL HARRIS, who had a season-high four passes defensed along with four tackles.
Dallas linebacker BRADIE JAMES, who led the team with 11 tackles as the Cowboys limited the Panthers to 204 total yards.
New York Giants rookie defensive end MATHIAS KIWANUKA, who had six tackles, 1.0 sack, a forced fumble and a quarterback pressure in his first NFL start.
New York Giants linebacker ANTONIO PIERCE, who had eight tackles and forced a fumble as the Giants held the Buccaneers to 174 total yards of offense.
Chicago linebacker BRIAN URLACHER, who totaled five tackles, one tackle for a loss, one quarterback pressure and an interception as the Bears allowed 262 total yards.
Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 8 were:
New York Giants punter JEFF FEAGLES, who punted nine times for a 37.3-yard average in windy conditions. Among his nine punts, one was downed at the five-yard line and another at the four.
Chicago kicker ROBBIE GOULD, who scored 11 points on field goals of 43 and 36 yards and all five PAT attempts. Gould leads the NFL with 83 points and has not missed a kick this season, converting all 20 field goals and 23 PATs.
Minnesota running back-punt returner MEWELDE MOORE, who returned two punts for 81 yards (40.5 average), including a 71-yard touchdown in the Vikings' 31-7 loss to the New England Patriots.
