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AFC-POW-13 12/8/04

BENGALS QB CARSON PALMER, CHARGERS CB DRAYTON FLORENCE & BILLS KR-CB TERRENCE MC GEE NAMED AFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 13

Quarterback CARSON PLAMER of the Cincinnati Bengals, cornerback DRAYTON FLORENCE of the San Diego Chargers and kick returner-cornerback TERRENCE MC GEE of the Buffalo Bills are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the 13th week of the 2004 season (December 5-6), the NFL announced today.

OFFENSE: QB CARSON PALMER, CINCINNATI BENGALS

Cincinnati’s Palmer completed 29 of 36 passes (80.6 percent) for a season-high 382 yards with three touchdowns against one interception for a career-best 127.1 passer rating in a 27-26 victory at Baltimore. The 6-5, 230 pounder, in his second season from USC, led the Bengals to victory after entering the fourth quarter trailing 20-3. Palmer completed 10 of 13 passes for 200 yards and all three of his touchdowns in the final stanza to outscore Baltimore 24-6. Two of Palmer’s three fourth-quarter incompletions were spikes to stop the clock. The Laguna Hills, California native posted the comeback victory against a defense ranked No. 1 against the pass (173.1 yards per game) and leading the league in lowest opposing passer rating (62.1). With the win, the Bengals (6-6) strengthen their hopes for an AFC playoff berth.

This is the first Player of the Week Award for Palmer.

DEFENSE: CB DRAYTON FLORENCE, SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

Florence made his second-career start in a game that would determine first-place in the AFC West as the Chargers upended Denver in San Diego 20-17 for the team’s sixth consecutive victory.  Florence made his presence felt immediately with an interception on the third play from scrimmage which resulted in a Chargers touchdown four plays later.  Florence also displayed exemplary coverage skills in tipping a Denver pass in the San Diego end zone, which was intercepted by a teammate to thwart a Broncos scoring drive and maintain a three-point lead with 3:45 remaining in regulation. The Ocala, Florida native is tied for the team-lead in interceptions with safety JERRY WILSON with three.

In his second year from Tuskegee, this is Florence’s first career Player of the Week Award.

 SPECIAL TEAMS: KR-CB TERRENCE MC GEE, BUFFALO BILLS

Buffalo’s McGee posted a club-record 104-yard kick return for a touchdown on the game’s opening play to help the Bills march to a 42-32 win at Miami – the Bills’ fifth win in six games. The second-year player from Northwestern State (Louisiana) returned five kickoffs on the day for 173 yards (34.6 average). McGee became the first Bills player and the first Dolphins opponent to return a game’s opening kickoff for a score.  The 5-9, 201-pounder is the first Bills player to record three kickoff returns for touchdowns in a season and is only the 10th player in NFL history to do so. For the season, Buffalo has tied an NFL record for five kick or punt returns for touchdowns (three kickoffs, two punts), shared by three other teams. The AFC’s kickoff return leader (26.9 average) also posted an interception for the third consecutive game as the Bills (6-6) advance their chances for an AFC playoff spot.

This is McGee’s second Player of the Week Award on the season (Week 8) and marks the third special teams honor earned by a Bills player (BRIAN MOORMAN, Week 6) in the past eight weeks.

2004 AFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
  Offense Defense Special Teams
Wk 1 RB Curtis Martin, NY Jets DE Kenard Lang, Cleveland P-K Micah Knorr, Denver
Wk 2 RB Edgerrin James, Indianapolis S Rodney Harrison, New England P Shane Lechler, Oakland
Wk 3 QB Peyton Manning, Indianapolis CB Rashean Mathis, Jacksonville K Kris Brown, Houston
Wk 4 RB Priest Holmes, Kansas City LB Tedy Bruschi, New England K Jason Elam, Denver
Wk 5 RB Chris Brown, Tennessee DE John Abraham, NY Jets KR-PR-K Wes Welker, Miami
Wk 6 QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh LB James Farrior, Pittsburgh P Brian Moorman, Buffalo
Wk 7 G Brian Waters, Kansas City CB Deion Sanders, Baltimore K Josh Scobee, Jacksonville
Wk 8 QB Drew Brees, San Diego LB Joey Porter, Pittsburgh KR-CB Terrence McGee, Buffalo
Wk 9 RB Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh S Ed Reed, Baltimore K Adam Vinatieri, New England
Wk 10 QB Peyton Manning, Indianapolis S Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh QB-P Kordell Stewart, Baltimore
Wk 11 RB Edgerrin James, Indianapolis S Lawyer Milloy, Buffalo P Chris Gardocki, Pittsburgh
Wk 12 QB Peyton Manning, Indianapolis DE Jason Taylor, Miami T Langston Walker, Oakland
Wk 13 QB Carson Palmer, Cincinnati CB Drayton Florence, San Diego KR-CB Terrence McGee, Buffalo

Other nominees for AFC Offensive Player of Week 13 were:

Buffalo quarterback DREW BLEDSOE, who passed for a season-high 275 yards and four touchdowns without an interception, completing 19 of 30 passes for a season-high passer rating of 132.9.

New England running back COREY DILLON, who ran for 100 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 18 carries in a 42-15 win at Cleveland.  Dillon had 69 rushing yards in the first quarter as the Patriots pulled away early in the second half.

Kansas City quarterback TRENT GREEN, who passed for 340 yards with three touchdowns with one interception on 23 of 35 (65.7 percent) passing for a 114.0 passer rating in a 34-27 win at Oakland.

Indianapolis quarterback PEYTON MANNING, who completed 25 of 33 (75.8 percent) for 425 yards with three touchdowns against two interceptions for a 122.3 passer rating in a 51-24 win against Tennessee.

New York running back CURTIS MARTIN, who made his 150th career start and rushed for 134 yards on 23 carries (5.8 average) with a touchdown and caught four passes for 20 yards and another touchdown in a 29-7 win against Houston.

Pittsburgh rookie quarterback BEN ROETHLISBERGER (No. 11), who led the Steelers on a last-minute game-winning drive for a 17-16 win at Jacksonville.  Roethlisberger completed 14 of 17 for 221 yards with two touchdowns without an interception for a 158.0 passer rating and rushed for 40 yards on three carries.

San Diego running back LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON, who had two touchdowns and 113 rushing yards on 30 carries and caught five passes for 17 yards.  Tomlinson has now rushed for 1,000 yards (1,012) in his first four seasons and has scored a touchdown in nine consecutive games, tying a franchise record.

Other nominees for AFC Defensive Player of Week 13 were:

Jets cornerback DAVID BARRETT, who had six tackles and three passes defensed, including an interception.

Pittsburgh linebacker JAMES FARRIOR, who totaled eight tackles and one pass defensed.

Indianapolis defensive end DWIGHT FREENEY, who notched 3.0 sacks for his eighth multiple-sack game and his second career 3.0-sack performance.

New England rookie cornerback RANDALL GAY, who scooped up a fumble and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown.  Gay also had a tackle and a pass defensed.

Buffalo linebacker TAKEO SPIKES, who registered seven tackles, his third interception of the season, and a forced fumble.

Kansas City defensive end GARY STILLS, who chalked up a pair of tackles and 1.0 sack.

Buffalo defensive tackle PAT WILLIAMS, who caught his first career interception and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown to seal a victory.

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

Kansas City return specialist DANTE HALL, who returned five kickoffs for 136 yards (27.2 average).

New England kick returner-wide receiver BETHEL JOHNSON, who took an opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown.  Johnson returned three kicks for 134 yards (44.7 average). Johnson also caught one pass on offense for 20 yards.

Pittsburgh kicker JEFF REED, who kicked a game-winning 37-yard field goal with 23 seconds remaining.

San Diego punter MIKE SCIFRES, who punted eight times for a net average of 39.9 yards, including a pair of fourth quarter punts that traveled 60 and 52 yards.  Only 16 of Scifres’ 51 punts have been returned on the season.