QB Aaron Rodgers Named NFC Offensive Player of the Week

Quarterback AARON RODGERS of the Green Bay Packers, cornerback ANTOINE WINFIELDof the Minnesota Vikings and kicker GRAHAM GANOof the Washington Redskins are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the 16th week of the 2010 season (December 23, 25-28), the NFL announced today.

OFFENSE: QB AARON RODGERS, GREEN BAY PACKERS

• Rodgers completed 25 of 37 passes (67.6 percent) for a career-high 404 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions for a 139.9 passer rating in the Packers' 45-17 win over the New York Giants. 
• His 404 yards are the most by a Packers quarterback since LYNN DICKEY posted 418 on October 12, 1980.  Rodgers is the first quarterback in franchise history to throw for at least 400 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in a game. 
• It was the 10th time in Rodgers' career that he has thrown at least three touchdowns with no interceptions, the most in NFL history by a quarterback within three seasons of his first start (KURT WARNER, 9). 
• Since becoming the starter in 2008, Rodgers has passed for 12,165 yards, joining Warner (12,612) and PEYTON MANNING (12,287) as the only QBs in NFL history to throw for at least 12,000 yards in the first three seasons as a starter. 
• Rodgers threw an 80-yard TD pass to JORDY NELSON, his second 80+ yard touchdown of the season.  He is the first Packer to throw 80+ yard TD passes to two different players in a season since Pro Football Hall of Famer BART STARR in 1966. 
• In his sixth season from California, this is Rodgers' second career Player of the Week Award (Week 13, 2010).
• He joins BRETT FAVRE as the only Packers quarterbacks to be named NFC Offensive Player of the Week multiple times in a season. 

DEFENSE: CB ANTOINE WINFIELD, MINNESOTA VIKINGS

• Winfield had eight tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and a 45-yard fumble-return touchdown in the Vikings' 24-14 win at Philadelphia. 
• With less than a minute to go in the first half and the Vikings trailing 7-0, Winfield stopped a Philadelphia drive by recording a sack, stripping the ball and returning the fumble 45 yards for a touchdown to tie the game 7-7.  It marked his first fumble-return touchdown since September 21, 2008 (19 yards vs. Carolina). 
• Winfield also had a sack in the first quarter, the first time in his career he has recorded multiple sacks in a game.
• The Vikings registered six sacks in the game and held the high-powered Eagles offense to 14 points and 331 total net yards.

• In his 12th year from Ohio State, this is Winfield's second career Player of the Week Award (Week 5, 2008).  
• He is the first Vikings cornerback to be named NFC Defensive Player of the Week multiple times.   

SPECIAL TEAMS: K GRAHAM GANO, WASHINGTON REDSKINS

• Gano converted both field-goal attempts, including the game-winning 31-yarder in the Redskins' 20-17 overtime win at Jacksonville. 
• The field goal marked Gano's third game-winning field goal in overtime this year, tying JASON HANSON (Detroit, 1994) and JOHN KASAY (Carolina, 2003) for the most OT field goals in a single season.  Gano also kicked overtime game-winners in Week 5 against Green Bay (33 yards) and Week 11 at Tennessee (48 yards). 
• For the game, Gano made a 48-yard field goal in the first quarter and added PATs in the first and fourth quarters. 
• This season, he has a career-high 24 field goals and 98 points. 
• In his first full season from Florida State, this is Gano's first career Player of the Week Award.
• He is the third kicker in franchise history to be honored with a weekly award, joining CHIP LOHMILLER (Offense, Week 2, 1991) and SHAUN SUISHAM (Special Teams, Week 9, 2007). 

GREEN BAY'S 2010 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Week 1 (Special Teams): K Mason Crosby
Week 2 (Defense): LB Clay Matthews
Week 4 (Defense): CB Charles Woodson
Week 8 (Special Teams): P Tim Masthay
Week 9 (Defense): LB Clay Matthews
Week 11 (Offense): WR Greg Jennings
Week 13 (Offense): QB Aaron Rodgers
Week 16 (Offense): QB Aaron Rodgers

Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 16:

• St. Louis rookie quarterback SAM BRADFORD, who completed 28 of 37 passes (75.7 percent) for 292 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions for a 107.0 passer rating in the Rams' 25-17 win over San Francisco. 
• Chicago quarterback JAY CUTLER, who threw three touchdown passes and rushed for one TD in the Bears' 38-34 win over the New York Jets. 
• Chicago running back MATT FORTÉ, who rushed for 113 yards with one touchdown and had four receptions for 56 yards. 
• Tampa Bay quarterback JOSH FREEMAN, who completed 21 of 26 passes (80.8 percent) for 237 yards with a franchise record-tying five touchdowns and no interceptions for a 144.2 passer rating in the Buccaneers' 38-15 win over Seattle. 
• Detroit quarterback SHAUN HILL, who completed 14 of 26 passes (53.8 percent) for 222 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 108.2 passer rating in the Lions' 34-27 win at Miami. 
• Green Bay running back JOHN KUHN, who scored three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving).
• Minnesota running back ADRIAN PETERSON, who rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown. 
• Minnesota rookie quarterback JOE WEBB, who won his first career start while passing for 195 yards and rushing for 31 yards and a touchdown. 

Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 16:

• Atlanta defensive end JOHN ABRAHAM, who had a sack and an interception. 
• Green Bay safety NICK COLLINS, who had five tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception. 
• St. Louis defensive end JAMES HALL, who had 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a safety.
• Chicago safety CHRIS HARRIS, who had 11 tackles, a fumble recovery and sealed the victory with an interception. 
• Tampa Bay linebacker GENO HAYES, who had nine tackles and a career-high two sacks. 
• Detroit linebacker DE ANDRE LEVY, who had four tackles and a 30-yard interception-return touchdown for the game-winning points. 

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Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 16:

• San Francisco punt returner TED GINN JR., who had a 78-yard punt-return touchdown.  Green Bay safety CHARLIE PEPRAH, who had four special teams tackles.
  
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