AFC Players of the Week

Running back RAY RICE of the Baltimore Ravens, defensive tackle GENO ATKINS of the Cincinnati Bengals and punt returner-wide receiver MICHEAL SPURLOCK of the San Diego Chargers are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the 16th week of the 2012 season (December 22-23), the NFL announced today.

OFFENSE: RB RAY RICE, BALTIMORE RAVENS

• Rice totaled 158 scrimmage yards (107 rushing, 51 receiving) with one touchdown reception in the Ravens’ 33-14 win over the New York Giants.
• With the win, Baltimore clinched its second consecutive AFC North division title.
• With 1:10 remaining in the second quarter, Rice took a short pass for a 27-yard touchdown reception to give the Ravens a 24-7 lead. It was Rice’s first TD reception of the season. He leads AFC running backs with 61 catches in 2012.
• Rice registered his 17th career game with 100+ rushing yards and the Ravens are 14-3 (.824) in such games.
• Through Week 16, Rice ranks second in the AFC with 1,616 scrimmage yards (1,138 rushing, 478 receiving).

• In his fifthseason from Rutgers, this is Rice’s fifth Offensive Player of the Week Award. He most recently won the award in Week 12 this season.
• Rice’s two AFC Offensive Player of the Week awards are the most by an AFC running back this season.

DEFENSE: DT GENO ATKINS, CINCINNATI BENGALS

• Atkins recorded six tackles, a team-high two sacks and forced one fumble in the Bengals’ 13-10 win at Pittsburgh.
• Helped hold the Steelers to a 14 percent (two of 14) conversion rate on third downs.

• Atkins led a Bengals defense that limited the Steelers to 280 total net yards (185 passing; 95 rushing).
• With the win, Cincinnati clinched a postseason berth in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1981-82.
• Through Week 16, Atkins has 12.5 sacks, the fifth-most in the NFL and the most among NFL defensive tackles. Atkins’ 12.5 sacks are the second-most by a Bengal in a season since sacks became an official statistic in 1982 (EDDIE EDWARDS, 13 in 1983).
• Cincinnati ranks second in the NFL with 47 sacks in 2012.
• In his third season from Georgia, this is Atkins’ first career Defensive Player of the Week Award. Atkins joins TIM KRUMRIE (Week 14 in 1985) as the second Bengal defensive tackle to win Defensive Player of the Week honors.
• Atkins joins MICHAEL JOHNSON (Week 3) and CARLOS DUNLAP (Week 13) as the third Bengal to earn the AFC Defensive Player of the Week award this season.

SPECIAL TEAMS: PR-WR MICHEAL SPURLOCK, SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

• ·         Spurlock returned four punts for 107 yards, including a 63-yard punt-return touchdown in the Chargers’ 27-17 win at the New York Jets. Spurlock also added four kickoff returns for 66 yards (16.5 average) and one special teams tackle.
• ·         His 173 total KR yards were the most in the NFL in Week 16
• ·         Spurlock’s PR-TD was the first by a Charger since DARREN SPROLES in 2009.
• ·         He registered the first punt-return touchdown against the Jets since PHILLIP BUCHANON did it for Oakland on November 9, 2003 (78 yards).
• ·         In his fifth season from Mississippi, this is Spurlock’s third career Special Teams Player of the Week Award. He most recently won the award in 2009 (Week 16) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• ·         He is the first Charger to win Special Teams Player of the Week since RICHARD GOODMAN in 2011 (Week 17).

2012 AFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Other nominees for AFC Offensive Player of Week 16 as submitted by AFC clubs:

• Miami running back REGGIE BUSH, who had 107 scrimmage yards (65 rushing, 42 receiving) with three touchdowns (two receiving, one rushing) in the Dolphins’ 24-10 win over Buffalo.
• Kansas City running back JAMAAL CHARLES, who rushed for 226 yards on 22 carries (10.3 average) with one touchdown in the Chiefs’ 20-13 loss to Indianapolis.
• Cincinnati wide receiver A.J. GREEN, who had 10 receptions for 116 yards (11.6 average).
• Indianapolis quarterback ANDREW LUCK, who passed for 205 yards with one touchdown in the Colts’ 20-13 win at Kansas City.
• Denver quarterback PEYTON MANNING, who completed 30 of 43 passes (69.8 percent) for 339 yards with three touchdowns versus one interception and a 106.6 passer rating in the Broncos’ 34-12 win over Cleveland.
• Buffalo running back C.J. SPILLER, who rushed for 138 yards on 22 carries (6.3 average) in the Bills’ 24-10 loss at Miami.
• Denver wide receiver DEMARYIUS THOMAS, who had nine receptions for 102 yards (11.3 average) with one touchdown.

Other nominees for AFC Defensive Player of Week 16 as submitted by AFC clubs:

• Pittsburgh cornerback CORTEZ ALLEN, who had seven tackles, two interceptions, three passes defensed and one forced fumble in the Steelers’ 13-10 loss to Cincinnati.
• Baltimore cornerback CHYKIE BROWN, who had two tackles and four passes defensed.
• Indianapolis cornerback DARIUS BUTLER, who had a 32-yard interception-return touchdown.
• New England safety PATRICK CHUNG, who had four tackles, two interceptions and two passes defensed in the Patriots’ 23-16 win at Jacksonville.
• Miami safety RESHAD JONES, who had two tackles, one interception, two fumble recoveries and one pass defensed.
• Denver linebacker VON MILLER, who had five tackles and 1.5 sacks.
• San Diego rookie defensive end KENDALL REYES, who had five tackles and 3.5 sacks.

Other nominees for AFC Special Teams Player of Week 16 as submitted by AFC clubs:

• Cincinnati punter KEVIN HUBER, who punted six times for 316 yards (52.7 average), including four punts inside the 20-yard line.
• Baltimore rookie kicker JUSTIN TUCKER, who made four field goals (23, 21, 30, 29).