FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFC-POW-13  12/3/03

SAINTS RB DEUCE MC ALLISTER, RAMS DE LEONARD LITTLE

& EAGLES K DAVID AKERS NAMED NFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 13

Running back DEUCE MC ALLISTER of the New Orleans Saints, defensive end LEONARD LITTLE of the St. Louis Rams and kicker DAVID AKERS of the Philadelphia Eagles are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the thirteenth week of the 2003 season (November 27, 30; December 1), the NFL announced today.

McAllister carried 30 times for 165 yards, averaging 5.5 yards per carry in the Saints 24-20 road-win over the Washington Redskins.  He also added four receptions for 31 yards, as the Saints won for the fifth time in seven games and improved to 6-6 in 2003.

McAllister had a hand in each of New Orleans’ four scoring drives, rushing for 28 yards on three carries on an 84-yard march that netted the Saints a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter.  Then, after the Redskins had evened things at 7-7, McAllister ran for 52 yards on the next play from scrimmage, setting up a go-ahead 25-yard field goal by kicker JOHN CARNEY with 2:24 remaining before halftime.

After the Redskins seized a 20-17 fourth-quarter advantage, the Saints gained possession at the Washington 40 and again turned to McAllister.  He touched the ball on the club’s next four plays, rushing for 18 yards and adding a five-yard reception, setting up quarterback AARON BROOKS’ 15-yard touchdown pass to tight end BOO WILLIAMS for the game-winning points.

With his 165-yard performance, McAllister became the fifth player in NFL history with nine consecutive 100-yard receiving games, joining BARRY SANDERS, MARCUS ALLEN, WALTER PAYTON and FRED TAYLOR in the exclusive class.

“Deuce has great vision right now and is making excellent decisions on his cuts,” said Saints head coach JIM HASLETT.  “Great running backs usually get on a roll and stay on a role, like Barry Sanders and Walter Payton.  The good teams ride them until the end and we plan on doing that.”

In his third season from Mississippi, this is McAllister’s first career Player of the Week Award.

Little earned defensive honors for his play in the NFC West-leading Rams 48-17 win over the visiting Minnesota Vikings.  The win was St. Louis’ twelfth consecutive triumph before the hometown fans, equaling the second-longest streak in club history.

Little returned to action after missing the previous four games due to injury and made his presence felt.  He posted six tackles, a career-high four sacks and forced two fumbles, helping the Rams improve to 9-3 on the season and solidify their standing among the NFC’s best teams.

Little’s four sacks resulted in a loss of 25 yards for the Vikings, as he pressured Vikings quarterback DAUNTE CULPEPPER throughout the game.  With Minnesota driving in the fourth quarter, Little’s sack of Culpepper forced a fumble that was recovered by Rams teammate AENEAS WILLIAMS, who raced 90 yards for a touchdown, giving St. Louis a 41-17 advantage.

Little’s four sack performance was the first by a Rams defender since SEAN GILBERT had four sacks in a 27-0 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 12, 1993.  The club record of five sacks is held by GARY JETER, who accomplished the feat in a 22-17 win against the Raiders on September 18, 1988.

“Leonard is unreal,” said Rams defensive end BRYCE FISHER.  “If there is a better defensive end in this league, I don’t know who it is.”

In his sixth season from Tennessee, this is Little’s first Player of the Week Award.  

Akers earned special teams recognition for his role in the Eagles 25-16 road-victory over the NFC South-leading Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia’s seventh consecutive win.

A former NFL Europe League standout with the Berlin Thunder, Akers connected on four of four field goals from 35, 48, 38 and 29 yards, accounting for 13 points on the day.  For the season, Akers has made 19 of 22 field goal attempts and 26 of 26 extra points for 83 points.

“I thought David really had a fine game and maybe was the difference between the two teams,” said Eagles head coach ANDY REID.  “David was on and it made a big impact for us.”

In his fifth season from Louisville, this is Akers’ fifth-career Player of the Week Award and second of 2003 (Week 4).

Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 13 were:  

• St. Louis running back MARSHALL FAULK, who rushed for 108 yards on 17 carries, including touchdown runs of 18, five and seven yards.  Faulk’s three touchdowns give him 127 in his career, fifth-most in NFL history.

• Seattle quarterback MATT HASSELBECK, who completed 26 of 35 attempts for 328 yards, three touchdowns and one interception for a 119.7 passer rating in the Seahawks’ 34-7 win against Cleveland.

• Seattle wide receiver DARRELL JACKSON, who totaled eight receptions for 102 yards, including touchdown catches of three and 26 yards.

• Chicago quarterback KORDELL STEWART, who completed 22 of 37 attempts for 284 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 101.6 passer rating in the Bears’ 28-3 win against Arizona.  He also added 26 yards rushing, including an eight-yard touchdown run.

Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 13 were: 

• Detroit cornerback DRÉ BLY, who had a career-high two interceptions and forced one fumble in the Lions’ 22-14 win over Green Bay, finishing with two tackles and three passes defensed.
• Seattle safety REGGIE TONGUE, who finished with six tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles and one pass defensed.

Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 13 were:

• New Orleans kick returner KEYUO CRAVER, who returned two kickoffs for 77 yards, including a long return of 52 yards to set up the game-winning touchdown.

• Detroit kicker JASON HANSON, who connected on five-of-five field goal attempts (42, 28, 49, 46, 32) against Green Bay.

2003 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK