AFC Players of the Week -- Week 14

Quarterback TOM BRADY of the New England Patriots, cornerback CASSIUS VAUGHN of the Indianapolis Colts and rookie punt returner-wide receiver TRAVIS BENJAMIN of the Cleveland Browns are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the 14th week of the 2012 season (December 6, 9-10), the NFL announced today.

OFFENSE: QB TOM BRADY, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

• Brady completed 21 of 35 passes (60 percent) for 296 yards with four touchdowns versus zero interceptions and a 125.4 passer rating in the Patriots’ 42-14 win over Houston on Monday Night Football.
• His 125.4 passer rating was an NFL-best in Week 14 and his four touchdowns passes tied for a league-high. It marked Brady’s 36th career game with at least three touchdowns and no interceptions, tying BRETT FAVRE for the second-most such games in NFL history. PEYTON MANNING holds the record with 37 career games with at least three touchdowns and no interceptions. 
• Brady extended his touchdown pass streak to 45 consecutive games, trailing only DREW BREES (54) and Pro Football Hall of Famer JOHNNY UNITAS (47) for the longest streak in NFL history.
• Helped the Patriots reach 10 regular-season wins for the 10th consecutive season, joining the San Francisco 49ers (1983-1998; 16) as the only teams in NFL history to record 10 consecutive 10-win seasons.
• In his 13thseason from Michigan, this is Brady’s 23rd Player of the Week award, surpassing PEYTON MANNNG (22) for the most Player of the Week awards since the accolade was instituted in 1984. Brady has won the award three times in the 2012 season, the most in the AFC (Weeks 4, 8, 14).

DEFENSE: CB CASSIUS VAUGHN, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

• Vaughn tied a team-high with eight tackles and posted three passes defensed and an interception-return touchdown in the Colts’ 27-23 win over Tennessee.
• With the Colts trailing 20-14 in the third quarter, Vaughn intercepted Titans quarterback JAKE LOCKER at the Titans’ three-yard line and returned it for a score as the Colts took a 21-20 lead.
• Registered his first interception of the season and second of his career.
• Vaughn helped hold the Titans to a 36.4 percent (four of 11) conversion rate on third downs.
• Helped the Colts win their third consecutive game and seventh out of their past eight.
• Indianapolis has made a nine-game improvement over last season (0-13) through Week 14.
• In his third season from Mississippi, this is Vaughn’s first career Defensive Player of the Week Award.
• He joins cornerback DARIUS BUTLER (Week 10) as the second Colt to win AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors this season.

SPECIAL TEAMS: PR-WR TRAVIS BENJAMIN, CLEVELAND BROWNS

• ·         Benjamin registered a 93-yard punt-return touchdown in the Browns’ 30-7 win over Kansas City.
• ·         Benjamin’s 93-yard PR-TD in the second quarter, which gave the Browns a 10-7 lead, was the longest punt return in Browns history.
• ·         He also had one rush on a reverse for 15 yards, setting up a TRENT RICHARDSON touchdown run six plays later.
• ·         His 93-yard PR-TD was the longest in the AFC this season and the second-longest in the NFL in 2012 (DEMARIS JOHNSON, 98-yard PR-TD).
• ·         In his rookie season from Miami, this is Benjamin’s first career Special Teams Player of the Week Award. He is the first Brown to win AFC Special Teams Player of the Week since JOSHUA CRIBBS in 2011 (Week 2).

2012 AFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Other nominees for AFC Offensive Player of Week 14 as submitted by AFC clubs:

• Tennessee wide receiver KENNY BRITT, who had eight receptions for 143 yards (17.9 avg.) in the Titans’ 27-23 loss at Indianapolis.
• Baltimore quarterback JOE FLACCO, who completed 16 of 21 passes (76.2 percent) for 182 yards with three touchdowns versus one interception and a 121.4 passer rating in the Ravens’ 31-28 overtime loss at Washington.
• New York Jets running back SHONN GREENE, who rushed for 77 yards on 20 carries with one touchdown in the Jets’ 17-10 win at Jacksonville.
• Denver running back KNOWSHON MORENO, who rushed for 119 yards on 32 carries with one touchdown in the Broncos’ 26-13 win at Oakland. Moreno also added four receptions for 48 yards.
• New York Jets running back BILAL POWELL, who rushed for 78 yards on 19 carries with one touchdown.
• Baltimore running back RAY RICE, who rushed for 121 yards on 20 carries (6.1 average) with one touchdown.
• Indianapolis wide receiver REGGIE WAYNE, who had six receptions for 64 yards (10.7 average) with one touchdown.

Other nominees for AFC Defensive Player of Week 14 as submitted by AFC clubs:

• New York Jets linebacker DAVID HARRIS, who posted 10 tackles, one sack and one pass defensed.
• Denver linebacker VON MILLER, who had four tackles, one sack and one forced fumble.
• Cincinnati safety REGGIE NELSON, who had five tackles, one sack, one interception and one pass defensed in the Bengals 20-19 loss to Dallas.
• Cleveland defensive end FROSTEE RUCKER, who posted seven tackles and one sack.
• Miami defensive end CAMERON WAKE, who had six tackles, three sacks and one forced fumble in the Dolphins’ 27-13 loss at San Francisco.
• New York Jets defensive end MUHAMMAD WILKERSON, who had three tackles and one sack.

Other nominees for AFC Special Teams Player of Week 14 as submitted by AFC clubs:

• Indianapolis punter PAT MC AFEE, who punted four times for 213 yards (53.3 avg.), including two punts inside the 20-yard line.
• Denver kicker MATT PRATER, who made four field goals (43, 34, 20, 33).
• San Diego punter MIKE SCIFRES, who punted seven times for 262 yards (37.4 average), including five punts inside of the 20-yard line.