FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFC-PM-4       12/31/03

PACKERS QB BRETT FAVRE, RAMS DE GRANT WISTROM&
K JEFF WILKINS NAMED NFC PLAYERS OF MONTH FOR DECEMBER     

Quarterback BRETT FAVRE of the Green Bay Packers and defensive end GRANT WISTROM and kicker JEFF WILKINS of the St. Louis Rams are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Month for December, the NFL announced today.

Favre led the Packers to a perfect 4-0 month, defeating opponents by an average of 23 points per game, as Green Bay clinched its second consecutive NFC North division championship.  Favre guided the club’s red-hot offense to 144 points in December and 442 in 2003, fourth-most in the NFL.

The Kiln, Mississippi native completed 79 of 117 attempts for 1,003 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions, finishing December with a 111.9 passer rating.  Favre’s 10 scoring strikes gave him an NFL-leading 32 touchdown passes, joining JOHNNY UNITAS, LEN DAWSON and STEVE YOUNG as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to lead the league four times.

Favre twice had games of four touchdown passes in the month, including an inspiring performance in a 41-7 road-win over the Oakland Raiders on December 22.  One day after the death of his father and high school football coach, IRVIN FAVRE, the Packers’ quarterback completed 22 of 30 attempts for 399 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions for a 154.9 passer rating, the best of his career.

Favre also tossed four touchdowns in a 38-21 triumph against the San Diego Chargers on December 14, completing 22 of 33 attempts for 278 yards.  The strong-armed passer has thrown a touchdown pass in 25 consecutive games, the longest streak in franchise history.

“This team is going into the playoffs with a better mind-set than last year’s team,” Favre said.  “To overcome the Jets loss last year was tough.  But this team is feeling good and it would have been a shame to miss the playoffs because of the way we’re feeling and playing right now.”

In his 13th season from Southern Mississippi, this is Favre’s fourth-career Player of the Month Award and first since September 1999.

Wistrom was a key player for a Rams defense that helped the club to a 3-1 December record, improving their record to 12-4 and earning the NFC West division championship.

For the month, the Webb City, Missouri native totaled 37 tackles, 4.5 sacks and nine quarterback pressures, helping the Rams post 42.0 sacks this season, tied for fourth-most in the NFL.  Wistrom finished the regular season with 7.5 sacks and will look to continue keeping the pressure on opposing quarterbacks during the playoffs, as he has recorded at least one sack in each of the three postseasons (1999-01) he has participated in.

Wistrom had five tackles and three quarterback pressures in helping the team clinch a playoff berth with a 26-20 win over the Cleveland Browns on December 8.  The next week, he posted nine tackles, including two for a loss, and one sack in a division-clinching 27-22 triumph over the Seattle Seahawks.  His 2.5-sack, 12-tackle effort against Cincinnati helped St. Louis to a 27-10 win and he finished the month with 11 tackles and one sack against Detroit.

Wistrom had sacks in three consecutive December games, marking the third time in his career and first since the 2000 season that he has accomplished the feat.

"Grant has played exceptionally well,” said Rams head coach MIKE MARTZ.  "I remember one particular play against Cincinnati, when the ball goes off the right side.  He’s on the backside and he runs by everybody to tackle the ball carrier for a short gain.  That was a terrific effort and one that typifies his performance.”

In his sixth season from Nebraska, this is Wistrom’s first Player of the Month Award.

Wilkins enjoyed a record-setting December, earning special teams honors for his play during a month that saw the Rams win three of four games en route to securing a division championship and first-round bye in the NFC playoffs.

The NFC All-Star kicker connected on 10 of 11 field goals in December, including two-of-two from 50 yards and beyond, recording five touchbacks in four games.  Wilkins finished the season by hitting an NFL-high 39 field goals, tying the NFL record held by Miami kicker OLINDO MARE, who did it in 1999.

Wilkins led the league with 163 points scored, a total that ranks second all-time to current Tennessee Titans kicker GARY ANDERSON (164, Minnesota, 1998) for the most points in a single-season without a touchdown.  Wilkins also set the Rams’ season record for most points scored, eclipsing MARSHALL FAULK’s 160 in 2000.

In a win against Cleveland to open the month, he connected on four of five attempts, following up that effort by hitting on both field goal attempts in the NFC West-clinching win over Seattle.  His five touchbacks in December gave him an NFC-leading 12 this season.

“I’ve been on top and I’ve been down at the bottom and you learn to deal with and appreciate different situations,” Wilkins said.  “We have to continue to work hard in the weeks ahead and do whatever it takes to help this team win a championship.”

In his tenth season from Youngstown State, this is Wilkins second-career Player of the Month Award.  He was also honored in September for his 40-point, 10-of-11 field goal performance.
 

2003 NFC PLAYERS OF THE MONTH