FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NFL-PW-20          1/31/02

 

RAMS RB MARSHALL FAULK & DE GRANT WISTROM

& PATRIOTS WR-PR TROY BROWN

NAMED NFL PLAYERS OF CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFFS

 

Running back MARSHALL FAULK and defensive end GRANT WISTROM of the St. Louis Rams and wide receiver-punt-returner TROY BROWN of the New England Patriots are the NFL Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for the NFL Championship Games (January 27), the NFL announced today.

Faulk rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries and had four receptions for another 13 yards in the Rams’ 29-24 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.  His 159 yards rushing were the most in 2001 against the Eagles’ defense, which allowed a 100-yard rusher in only two contests all season.

Faulk’s first touchdown gave St. Louis a 22-17 lead when he scored on a 1-yard run with 1:18 remaining in the third quarter.  His second TD, which proved to be the game-winner, put the Rams in front for good at 29-17 when he scored on another 1-yard run with 6:55 left in the fourth quarter. 

Wistrom recorded four tackles and had 1.0 sack in the Rams’ 29-24 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.  The Rams held the Eagles to 256 total yards, including 146 net passing yards. 

Brown’s 55-yard punt return with 3:42 remaining in the first quarter opened the scoring in the Patriots’ 24-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Brown finished with 80 yards on three punt returns for a 26.7 average.  He also caught eight passes for 121 yards as a receiver.

With New England ahead 14-3 midway through the third quarter, Brown recovered a blocked field-goal attempt on the Patriots’ 40-yard line.  He carried the ball for 11 yards before lateralling to ANTWAN HARRIS, who ran the final 49 yards for a touchdown.  

2001 NFL PLAYOFFS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK