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            AFC-POW-3      9/29/04

COLTS QB PEYTON MANNING, JAGUARS CB RASHEAN MATHIS &
TEXANS K KRIS BROWN NAMED AFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 3

Quarterback PEYTON MANNING of the Indianapolis Colts, cornerback RASHEAN MATHIS of the Jacksonville Jaguars and kicker KRIS BROWN of the Houston Texans are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the third week of the 2004 season (September 26-27), the NFL announced today.

OFFENSE: QB PEYTON MANNING, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

·         Indianapolis’ Manning was brilliant Sunday in a 45-31 home victory against Green Bay, throwing for five touchdowns without an interception on 28 of 40 passing (70.0 percent) for an NFL season-high 393 yards and a 140.9 passer rating.  The win keeps the Colts (2-1) within one game of the AFC South-leading Jacksonville Jaguars (3-0), who host Indianapolis this Sunday.  Manning now has 26 career games with a passer rating of 100.0 or better and has thrown five or more touchdowns in a game four times, including once in the playoffs.

The seven-year veteran from Tennessee has now earned seven Player of the Week Awards in his career.  Manning’s honor marks the second consecutive week that a Colt has earned this distinction (EDGERRIN JAMES, Week 2).

DEFENSE: CB RASHEAN MATHIS, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

·         Mathis turned in a complete performance last week, registering seven tackles, an interception, a forced fumble, and an additional pass defensed as the Jaguars upended AFC South rival Tennessee on the road, 15-12.  The 6-1, 200-pound Mathis was a key part of a defense that limited Tennessee to only 143 passing yards.  The win was Jacksonville’s first in The Coliseum and the team’s first on the road against the Titans since 1998 (Vanderbilt Stadium).  Jacksonville is 3-0 for the first time since 1998 when the club finished 11-5 as division champions.

In his second season from Bethune-Cookman, this is Mathis’ first career Player of the Week Award.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K KRIS BROWN, HOUSTON TEXANS

• Houston’s Brown was a perfect 3 for 3 in field goal attempts with his final kick accounting for the margin of victory in the Texans’ 24-21 win against the Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium.  Brown’s third field goal on the day split the uprights from 49 yards with seven seconds remaining in regulation, breaking a 21-21 tie.  Brown’s other two field goals were good from distances of 28 and 49.  The Southlake, Texas native (25 miles northwest of Dallas) now has four game-winning kicks as a Texan and eight in his career.

In his sixth season from Nebraska, this is Brown’s fourth career Player of the Week Award and his first with Houston.

2004 AFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK 

Other nominees for AFC Offensive Player of Week 3 were:

• Kansas City running back PRIEST HOLMES, who rushed for 134 yards on 32 carries in a 24-21 loss to Houston.
• Baltimore running back JAMAL LEWIS, who rushed for 186 yards on 18 attempts (10.3 avg.) and a touchdown in a 23-9 win at Cincinnati.  The day marked Lewis’ seventh consecutive 100-yard rushing game against the Bengals, tying the NFL record for the most consecutive 100-yard rushing performances against a single team (Terrell Davis, Denver vs. Seattle, 1996-01).
• Denver quarterback JAKE PLUMMER, who completed 25 of 36 passes (69.4 percent) for 294 yards and two touchdowns without an interception for a 112.5 rating in Denver’s 23-13 win over San Diego.
• Pittsburgh wide receiver HINES WARD, who racked up six receptions in wet weather conditions for 96 yards and a touchdown in the Steelers’ 13-3 win at Miami.  Ward leads the AFC with 346 receiving yards and is tied for the conference lead with 22 receptions (Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis).

Other nominees for AFC Defensive Player of Week 3 were:

• Houston cornerback MARCUS COLEMAN, who posted a 102-yard interception return for a touchdown and seven tackles in a 24-21 win at Kansas City. 
• Kansas City linebacker SCOTT FUJITA, who recorded six tackles, including 1.0 sack.
• San Diego linebacker RANDALL GODFREY, who notched seven tackles, including three behind the line of scrimmage against Denver.  Godfrey also forced and recovered a fumble on the same play.
• Denver safety KENOY KENNEDY, who registered seven solo tackles, including 1.0 sack, and a forced fumble that was recovered by the Broncos. 
• Pittsburgh linebacker JOEY PORTER, who chalked up seven tackles, including 1.0 sack for a seven-yard loss, a pass defensed and one forced fumble.
• Baltimore linebacker TERRELL SUGGS, who posted four tackles, including 2.0 sacks for 17 yards in losses.

Other nominees for AFC Special Teams Player of Week 3 were:

• Denver kick returner REUBEN DROUGHNS, who while handling starting fullback duties, averaged 34.3 yards on four kickoff returns (137 yards), including a long return of 48 yards.  Droughns also contributed with three special teams tackles.
• Pittsburgh punter CHRIS GARDOCKI, who punted six times in wet weather conditions for a 41.4 net average and placed three punts inside the 20 in the Steelers’ win at Miami.  Gardocki also successfully fielded snaps of wet footballs as the holder on two field goals and a point-after-touchdown.
• Kansas City kick returner DANTE HALL, who returned three kickoffs for 108 yards (36.0-yard average).
• Baltimore rookie return specialist B.J. SAMS (FA), who returned four punts for 84 yards (21.0-yard average).  Sams’ long punt return of 63 yards set up the Ravens’ first touchdown.

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