|
FOR USE AS DESIRED CHIEFS G BRIAN WATERS, RAVENS CB DEION SANDERS & JAGUARS K JOSH SCOBEE NAMED AFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 7 Guard BRIAN WATERS of the Kansas City Chiefs, cornerback DEION SANDERS of the Baltimore Ravens and kicker JOSH SCOBEE of the Jacksonville Jaguars are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the seventh week of the 2004 season (October 24-25), the NFL announced today. OFFENSE: G BRIAN WATERS, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS Kansas City’s Waters, who continually helped pave the way for Chiefs ball carriers, was the highest-performing cog in an offensive line that allowed rushers to score an NFL record eight touchdowns in a 56-10 win against Atlanta. The previous record of seven rushing touchdowns by one team in a game had stood for 28 years, established by the Los Angeles Rams (vs. Atlanta, 1976). Atlanta began the day with the NFL’s No. 1-ranked rush defense, allowing only 74.5 yards per game. The Chiefs (2-4) racked up 271 rushing yards en route to their eight rushing TDs. In addition, Waters – an every-game starter for NFL Europe’s Berlin Thunder in 2000 – and his linemates did not surrender a sack to the Falcons, who entered Sunday’s game tied for the most in the NFL (20). Waters is the first AFC offensive lineman to earn a Player of the Week Award since the honor’s inception in 1984. Three NFC lineman have been named Player of the Week, most recently tackle ERIK WILLIAMS of Dallas in 1992 (Week 9). In his fifth season from North Texas, Waters joins PRIEST HOLMES (Week 4) as Chiefs to earn Player of the Week honors in 2004. DEFENSE: CB DEION SANDERS, BALTIMORE RAVENS Baltimore’s Sanders intercepted two Buffalo passes, returning one for a touchdown, and racked up a pair of tackles in a 20-6 win against the Bills as the Ravens (4-2) are now one game behind Pittsburgh (5-1) in the AFC North. Sanders’ 48-yard interception return for a touchdown extends his own NFL record for career touchdown returns to 19. The play also ties him for the second-most touchdowns on interception returns in a career with nine, equaling Pro Football Hall of Famer KEN HOUSTON and current St. Louis Rams safety AENEAS WILLIAMS (ROD WOODSON, 12). Sanders’ second interception came in the Ravens’ end zone for a touchback to preserve a 17-6 lead with 12:34 remaining in the game. The interception halted a six-play Buffalo drive that reached Baltimore’s 19-yard line. In his 13th NFL season from Florida State, Sanders now has seven Player of the Week Awards in his career. This is the 37-year-old cornerback’s first AFC honor. SPECIAL TEAMS: K JOSH SCOBEE, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS Jacksonville rookie kicker Scobee (No. 137 overall) was a perfect four-for-four in field goal attempts, including a season-long 53-yard game-winner with 38 seconds left in regulation to help the Jaguars (5-2) upend the Colts (4-2) in Indianapolis, 24-21. The win lifts Jacksonville to first-place in the AFC South, marking the first time that the Jaguars have resided atop their division beyond Week 7 since 1999. Scobee, selected in the fifth round from Louisiana Tech, was good from 26, 32, 26, and 53 yards. Scobee is the first Jaguars kicker to earn a Player of the Week honor since MIKE HOLLIS in 1997 (Week 14). 2004 AFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Other nominees for AFC Offensive Player of Week 7 were: New England running back COREY DILLON, who averaged 5.2 yards per carry on 22 attempts to record his third 100-yard game of the season as the Patriots defeated the Jets 13-7 to remain unbeaten (6-0). Miami quarterback JAY FIEDLER, who completed 13 of 17 passes (76.4 percent) for 203 yards and two touchdowns without an interception for a 154.8 passer rating in Miami’s 31-14 win against St. Louis. Cincinnati wide receiver CHAD JOHNSON, who had an NFL Week 7-best 149 receiving yards on seven catches, including a 50-yard touchdown reception, in the Bengals’ 23-10 Monday night win against Denver. Jacksonville quarterback BYRON LEFTWICH, who recorded a 116.0 passer rating by completing 23 of 30 (76.7 percent) passes for 300 yards with a pair of touchdowns against one interception versus the Colts. Leftwich has posted a 100+ passer rating and 300 or more yards in three of his past four games and threw for 298 yards in the one game that he missed 300 in that span. Buffalo wide receiver ERIC MOULDS, who extended his club-record receiving streak to 100 games at Baltimore. Moulds posted a season-long 49-yard reception and five of his six receptions against the Ravens moved the chains. Baltimore running back CHESTER TAYLOR, who led the Ravens’ ground game with career highs of 21 carries for 89 yards. Other nominees for AFC Defensive Player of Week 7 were: Kansas City rookie defensive end JARED ALLEN, who notched 2.0 sacks. The fourth-round selection (No. 126) from Idaho State leads the Chiefs with 4.0 sacks on the season. New England linebacker TED JOHNSON, who led the team with 10 tackles including seven solo stops and forced a fumble, which resulted in a Patriots field goal. Buffalo defensive end AARON SCHOBEL, who chalked-up 2.0 sacks and forced a fumble against the Ravens. Schobel has at least 1.0 sack as well as a forced fumble in three consecutive games. Cincinnati defensive end JUSTIN SMITH, who registered 2.0 sacks for the Bengals. Other nominees for AFC Special Teams Player of Week 7 were: Oakland kicker SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI, who was four-for-four in field goal attempts in a 31-26 loss to New Orleans. Janikowski was good from 28, 42, 44, and 40 yards. Buffalo punter BRIAN MOORMAN, who kicked four punts for 154 yards (38.5 average) including a long of 52 yards. Moorman has posted a punt of 50 or more yards in 41 of 54 career games. Miami punter MATT TURK, who punted four times to post a 40.3-yard net average. The Rams returned two of Turk’s punts for a minus-0.5-yard return average. New England kicker ADAM VINATIERI, who was two-for-two on field goal attempts (41 and 27 yards).
|