Quarterback TODD COLLINS of the Washington Redskins, cornerback MARCUS TRUFANT of the Seattle Seahawks and punt returner-cornerback WILL BLACKMON of the Green Bay Packers are the NFC Offensive, defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the 14th week of the 2007 season (December 6, 9-10), the NFL announced Wednesday.
SPECIAL TEAMS: PR-CB WILL BLACKMON, GREEN BAY PACKERS
Blackmon became the fourth player in NFL history with a punt-return touchdown and a fumble-return touchdown in the same game as the Packers clinched the NFC North with a 38-7 win over Oakland. The last player to accomplish the feat was LEMAR PARRISH in 1974. Blackmon had a 57-yard punt-return touchdown in the second quarter to increase Green Bay's lead to 14-0 and he recovered a fumble off a muffed punt in the end zone during the third quarter. Blackmon is the first Packer to score two special teams touchdowns in a game since TRAVIS WILLIAMS in 1969.
In his second season from Boston College, this is Blackmon's first career Player of the Week Award. He is the third Packer to be honored on special teams this year, joining kicker MASON CROSBY (Week 1) and punt returner TRAMON WILLIAMS (Week 11).
OFFENSE: QB TODD COLLINS, WASHINGTON REDSKINS
In a Thursday night showdown between two teams vying for a playoff berth, the veteran quarterback came off the bench to complete 15 of 20 passes (75 percent) for 224 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 144.6 passer rating in the Redskins' 24-16 win over Chicago. The performance marked the first time since December 14, 1997 that Collins had attempted more than seven passes in a game. The win improved Washington's record to 6-7 and the Redskins are just one game out of the final playoff spot in the NFC. Collins entered a scoreless game and guided the Redskins to 24 points, tossing a 21-yard touchdown to tight end TODD YODER late in the first half and a 16-yard scoring strike to running back LADELL BETTS in the fourth quarter.
In his 13th season from Michigan, this is Collins' first career Player of the Week Award. He is the second Washington quarterback to be honored this season, joining JASON CAMPBELL (Week 5).
DEFENSE: CB MARCUS TRUFANT, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Trufant had six tackles and a career-high three interceptions, including an 84-yard return-touchdown as the Seahawks clinched their fourth consecutive division title with a 42-21 win over Arizona. The touchdown marked the first score of his career and the return tied for the third-longest in team history. Trufant's three interceptions tied the franchise single-game record and, together with linebacker LOFA TATUPU's three-interception performance last week, it marked the first time in team history that Seahawks have recorded back-to-back three-interception games. The last time a pair of teammates had three interceptions in consecutive games was in 1962 when the Buffalo Bills' MARV MATUSZAK (10/7/62) and CARL CHARON (10/13/62) accomplished the feat.
In his fifth year from Washington State, this is Trufant's first career Player of the Week Award and he is the second Seahawk in a row to be honored on defense (Tatupu). The last time two Seahawks were named Defense Player of the Week in consecutive weeks was 1997 when linebacker CHAD BROWN (Week 3) and safety DARRYL WILLIAMS (Week 4) were selected.
2007 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Wk 1
QB Tony Romo, Dallas
DE Dewayne White, Detroit
K Mason Crosby, Green Bay
Wk 2
QB Brett Favre, Green Bay
LB Barrett Ruud, Tampa Bay
PR-KR Devin Hester, Chicago
Wk 3
RB Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia
CB Anthony Henry, Dallas
LB Lance Laury, Seattle
Wk 4
QB Brett Favre, Green Bay
DE Osi Umenyiora, NY Giants
PR-KR Steve Breaston, Arizona
Wk 5
QB Jason Campbell, Washington
CB Rod Hood, Arizona
K Nick Folk, Dallas
Wk 6
RB Adrian Peterson, Minnesota
CB Charles Woodson, Green Bay
WR-PR-KR Devin Hester, Chicago
Wk 7
QB Brian Griese, Chicago
DE Osi Umenyiora, NY Giants
WR-PR-KR Nate Burleson, Seattle
Wk 8
QB Drew Brees, New Orleans
DE Trent Cole, Philadelphia
K Jason Hanson, Detroit
Wk 9
RB Adrian Peterson, Minnesota
DT Shaun Rogers, Detroit
K Shaun Suisham, Washington
Wk 10
QB Marc Bulger, St. Louis
LB Karlos Dansby, Arizona
K Morten Andersen, Atlanta
Wk 11
WR Terrell Owens, Dallas
CB Antrel Rolle, Arizona
PR Tramon Williams, Green Bay
Wk 12
RB Frank Gore, San Francisco
S Dwight Smith, Minnesota
PR-KR Devin Hester, Chicago
Wk 13
QB Tony Romo, Dallas
LB Lofa Tatupu, Seattle
KR-WR Aundrae Allison, Minnesota
Wk 14
QB Todd Collins, Washington
CB Marcus Trufant, Seattle
CB-PR Will Blackmon, Green Bay
Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 14 were:
-New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES, who completed 28 of 41 passes (68.3 percent) for 328 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 116.7 passer rating in the Saints' 34-14 win over Atlanta.
-Tampa Bay running back EARNEST GRAHAM, who rushed for 61 yards and two touchdowns in the Buccaneers' 28-14 loss at Houston.
-Green Bay running back RYAN GRANT, who rushed for a career-high 156 yards with one touchdown.
-Seattle quarterback MATT HASSELBECK, who completed 22 of 33 passes (66.7 percent) for 278 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions for a 131.6 passer rating.
-Dallas tight end JASON WITTEN, who had a franchise-record 15 receptions for 138 yards and the game-winning touchdown in the Cowboys' 28-27 victory over Detroit.
Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 14 were:
-Minnesota linebacker E.J. HENDERSON, who had four tackles, two fumble recoveries and a pass defensed in the Vikings' 27-7 win over San Francisco.
-Seattle defensive end PATRICK KERNEY, who had seven tackles and three sacks, his third three-sack performance in the past four weeks.
-Washington cornerback SHAWN SPRINGS, who had four tackles and two interceptions.
-Tampa Bay defensive end GREG WHITE, who had six tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles.
-Minnesota defensive tackle KEVIN WILLIAMS, who returned an interception 18 yards for a touchdown 14 seconds into the game, the fastest score in team history.
Other nominee for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 14 was:
-Tampa Bay punter JOSH BIDWELL, who placed four of his six punts inside the 20-yard line and had a long of 55 yards.
