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NFL 2008

NFC POW -- Week 8

Week 8, 2008, 10/29/2008


SAINTS QB DREW BREES, GIANTS DE MATHIAS KIWANUKA &

REDSKINS WR-PR SANTANA MOSS NAMED NFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 8


Quarterback DREW BREES of the New Orleans Saints, defensive end MATHIAS KIWANUKA of the New York Giants and wide receiver-punt returner SANTANA MOSS of the Washington Redskins are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the eighth week of the 2008 season (October 26-27), the NFL announced today.



OFFENSE: QB DREW BREES, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

The veteran quarterback threw for 339 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions on 30 of 41 passing (73.2 percent) for a 121.9 passer rating as the Saints defeated the San Diego Chargers in front a crowd of 83,226 fans at Wembley Stadium in London, England. Brees, who leads the NFL in attempts, completions and yards, completed passes to eight different receivers, including touchdowns to wide receivers DEVERY HENDERSON (12 yards) and LANCE MOORE (30) and tight end MARK CAMPBELL (one) in defeating his former club. This marks Brees’ sixth game of 2008 with more than 300 yards passing and his fifth with a passer rating over 100.

In his eighth season from Purdue, this is Brees’ eighth career Player of the Week Award and second this season (Week 6). Brees’ six Player of the Week Awards as a Saint moves him past linebacker RICKEY JACKSON for the most total awards in franchise history.



DEFENSE: DE MATHIAS KIWANUKA, NEW YORK GIANTS

· In the Giants’ 21-14 victory against Pittsburgh, Kiwanuka had five tackles, one forced fumbled and three sacks, two of which came in the decisive fourth quarter. With the Giants down 14-12 midway through the fourth quarter, Kiwanuka sacked the Steelers quarterback on third down inside the Pittsburgh 20. The snap of the ensuing punt went over the punter’s head for a safety, tying the game at 14. In the Steelers’ last attempt for a game-tying drive after the Giants took a 21-14 lead, Kiwanuka sacked the Pittsburgh quarterback again on third down and forced a fumble. The Steelers recovered, but their fourth-down pass was intercepted by Giants rookie safety KENNY PHILLIPS to seal the win. The Giants lead the NFL with 26 sacks and have the top ranked defense in the NFC, allowing just 271.4 yards per game.

In his third year from Boston College, this is Kiwanuka’s first career Player of the Week Award. Kiwanuka is the fourth defensive end in franchise history to be named Defensive Player of the Week and the first since OSI UMENYIORA (Week 7, 2007).



SPECIAL TEAMS: WR-PR SANTANA MOSS, WASHINGTON REDSKINS

· With Washington leading Detroit 16-10 in the fourth quarter, Moss returned just his second punt of the season for an 80-yard touchdown in the Redskins’ 25-17 victory over the Lions. The punt-return touchdown marked the third of Moss’ career (two in 2002 with the New York Jets) and the first for a Redskins player since ANTWAAN RANDLE EL in 2006 (Week 7 vs. Indianapolis). Moss’ punt-return touchdown came on the heels of his 50-yard receiving touchdown from quarterback JASON CAMPBELL. Moss is the first player since DEVIN HESTER (Week 6, 2007) to record an 80-yard punt return touchdown and a 50-yard touchdown reception in the same game.

In his eighth season from Miami, this is Moss’ fifth career Player of the Week Award (three for offense, two for special teams). He is the eighth Redskins player to be honored for special teams and the first since SHAUN SUISHAM (Week 9, 2007).



2008 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK


Offense
Defense
Special Teams

Wk 1
RB Michael Turner, Atlanta
DE Adewale Ogunleye, Chicago
PR-KR Will Blackmon, Green Bay

Wk 2
QB Kurt Warner, Arizona
S Chris Horton, Washington
KR-RB Felix Jones, Dallas

Wk 3
RB Michael Turner, Atlanta
S Brian Dawkins, Philadelphia
K John Carney, New York

Wk 4
QB Jake Delhomme, Carolina
LB Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay
K Matt Bryant, Tampa Bay

Wk 5
RB Clinton Portis, Washington
CB Antoine Winfield, Minnesota
PR-RB Reggie Bush, New Orleans

Wk 6
QB Drew Brees, New Orleans
S Oshiomogho Atogwe, St. Louis
WR Sean Morey, Arizona

WK 7
RB Steven Jackson, St. Louis
S Aaron Rouse, Green Bay
S Zackary Bowman, Chicago

Wk 8
QB Drew Brees, New Orleans
DE Mathias Kiwanuka, New York
WR-PR Santana Moss, Washington



Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 8 were:

Washington quarterback JASON CAMPBELL, who completed 23 of 28 passes (82.1 percent) for 328 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions for a career-high 127.4 passer rating. Campbell has gone 252 attempts without an interception, the longest streak in the NFL since 2004 (AARON BROOKS, 256).
New York quarterback ELI MANNING, who completed 19 of 32 passes (59.4 percent) for 199 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions for an 87.9 passer rating. Manning is 20-5 in his past 25 starts, including the postseason.
Carolina wide receiver STEVE SMITH, who had five receptions for 117 yards (23.4 average) and two touchdowns in the Panthers’ 27-23 win over Arizona. The outing marks Smith’s 25th career 100-yard receiving game.
Seattle fullback LEONARD WEAVER, who had four receptions for 116 yards (29.0 average) and two touchdowns (43, 62) in the Seahawks’ 34-13 win at San Francisco. Weaver added 13 yards on two carries and became the first fullback since 1970 to have two touchdowns of 43 plus yards in the same game.
Philadelphia running back BRIAN WESTBROOK, who rushed for a career-high 167 yards on 22 carries (7.6 average) and two touchdowns in the Eagles’ 27-14 victory versus Atlanta. Westbrook also caught a team-high six passes for 42 yards (7.0 average) for a total of 209 yards from scrimmage. He became the third Eagles running back to surpass 5,000 career rushing yards (WILBERT MONTGOMERY, 6,538; STEVE VAN BUREN, 5,860).



Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 8 were:

Tampa Bay defensive end GAINES ADAMS, who had six tackles, including two tackles for loss and two sacks in the Buccaneers’ 13-9 loss to Dallas. Tampa Bay limited the Cowboys to 172 total net yards.
Carolina linebacker JON BEASON, who recorded eight tackles and notched an interception late in the fourth quarter.
Tampa Bay linebacker BARRETT RUUD, who had a season-high 16 tackles and one pass defensed.
New Orleans linebacker JONATHAN VILMA, who had nine tackles, one pass defensed and an interception late in the fourth quarter.
Seattle cornerback JOSH WILSON, who had six tackles, one forced fumble and a 75-yard interception-touchdown return.


Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 8 were:

Carolina punter JASON BAKER, who punted three times for a net average of 44.3 with two inside the 20 and no touchbacks.
New York kicker JOHN CARNEY, who converted all four of his field-goal attempts (26, 35, 25, 24).
Carolina kicker JON KASAY, who converted two field goals (23, 50) to move into eighth place in NFL history with 374 field goals. His 36 field goals of 50+ yards rank fourth in NFL history.
Washington kicker SHAUN SUISHAM, who converted four of his five field-goal attempts (25, 47, 45, 42).




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