FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFC-POW-14 12/15/04

SEAHAWKS WR DARRELL JACKSON, PANTHERS LB DAN MORGAN & SAINTS P MITCH BERGER NAMED
NFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 14

Wide receiver DARRELL JACKSON of the Seattle Seahawks, linebacker DAN MORGAN of the Carolina Panthers and punter MITCH BERGER of the New Orleans Saints are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the 14th week of the 2004 season (December 12-13), the NFL announced today.

OFFENSE: WR DARRELL JACKSON, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Jackson was instrumental in helping the Seahawks to an exciting 27-23 win over the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome, moving Seattle into sole possession of first place in the NFC West. Jackson, playing with a heavy heart after learning of the death of his father on Sunday morning, tied a career high with 10 receptions for 135 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown catch to give the Seahawks a 21-20 halftime advantage. Then with Seattle nursing a 27-23 lead and facing a third and seven from its 23-yard line with 1:55 remaining, Jackson’s 37-yard catch and run was a pivotal play in helping Seattle use the clock and improve its field position. Minnesota would retain possession at its own 11 with 44 seconds to play, but the Seattle defense rose to the occasion to seal the win. Jackson has 74 receptions this season and needs eight to pass BRIAN BLADES (81, 1994) for the most in a single season in franchise history.

In his fifth season from Florida, this is Jackson’s first Player of the Week Award.

DEFENSE: LB DAN MORGAN, CAROLINA PANTHERS

Morgan returned to the lineup after missing the previous three games due to injury and immediately made his presence felt, helping the Panthers to their fifth consecutive win, a 20-7 triumph over the visiting St. Louis Rams. Morgan led Carolina with a game-high nine tackles and had a career-best two interceptions, helping slow a passing attack that entered the game ranked fourth in the NFL, averaging 268.5 yards per game. Both of Morgan’s interceptions came in the fourth quarter, as the Rams tried to rally from a 13-point deficit. His first pick ended a drive at the Carolina 43 while his second did the same at the Carolina 48. The Coral Springs, FL native helped the Panthers to a franchise-record six interceptions on the day, limiting St. Louis to 289 total yards, their third-lowest total of the year.

In his fourth season from Miami, this is Morgan’s first Player of the Week Award.

SPECIAL TEAMS: P MITCH BERGER, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Berger played an important role in the Saints 27-13 road-win over the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium, helping New Orleans improve to 22-16 (.579) away from home under head coach JIM HASLETT. Berger punted five times for a 46.0-yard average on the day, pinning four of his five punts inside the 20-yard line. The veteran punter had a net average of 44.8 yards on the day and he leads the NFL with a 40.9-yard net average this season. Dallas’ punt return unit entered the game ranked tenth in the league (9.6), and Berger helped limit the Cowboys to six punt return yards and a 2.0-yard punt return average.

In his 10th season from Colorado, this is Berger’s fifth Player of the Week Award.

2004 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

  Offense Defense Special Teams
Wk 1 QB Daunte Culpepper, Minnesota LB Nick Barnett, Green Bay S Bracy Walker, Detroit
Wk 2 QB Michael Vick, Atlanta LB Brian Urlacher, Chicago P Tom Rouen, Seattle
Wk 3 QB Daunte Culpepper, Minnesota CB Ken Lucas, Seattle K John Carney, New Orleans
Wk 4 RB Tiki Barber, New York S Adrian Wilson, Arizona K David Akers, Philadelphia
Wk 5 QB Tim Rattay, San Francisco DE James Hall, Detroit K Steve Christie, New York
Wk 6 QB Daunte Culpepper, Minnesota CB Lito Sheppard, Philadelphia P Sean Landeta. St. Louis
Wk 7 RB Ahman Green, Green Bay DT Shaun Rogers, Detroit K Neil Rackers, Arizona
Wk 8 QB Michael Vick, Atlanta LB Brian Urlacher, Chicago WR David Tyree, New York
Wk 9 RB Michael Pittman, Tampa Bay DE Alex Brown, Chicago WR James Thrash, Washington
Wk 10 QB Brett Favre, Green Bay DE Bertrand Berry, Arizona PR Eddie Drummond, Detroit
Wk 11 RB Nick Goings, Carolina S Michael Boulware, Seattle K Ryan Longwell, Green Bay
Wk 12 TE Alge Crumpler, Atlanta DT Kevin Williams, Minnesota DE Jevon Kearse, Philadelphia
Wk 13 QB Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia LB Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay K John Kasay, Carolina
Wk 14 WR Darrell Jackson, Seattle LB Dan Morgan, Carolina P Mitch Berger, New Orleans

Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 14 were:

Tampa Bay rookie wide receiver MICHAEL CLAYTON, who had a game-high nine receptions for 145 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown catch, against San Diego. His nine receptions tied JAMES WILDER (1981) for the most by a rookie in franchise history.

Atlanta running back T.J. DUCKETT, who carried 12 times for 65 yards, setting a club record with four touchdown runs of 28, two, four and one yard in a division-clinching 35-10 win against Oakland.

Tampa Bay wide receiver JOEY GALLOWAY, who totaled five receptions for 78 yards, including touchdown receptions of 36 and four yards.

Seattle quarterback MATT HASSELBECK, who completed 23 of 34 attempts for 334 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions, posting a 104.3 passer rating.

San Francisco running back MAURICE HICKS, who carried 34 times for 139 and one touchdown, leading the 49ers to a 31-28 overtime win at Arizona. Hicks, who added five receptions for 29 yards in his first NFL start, spent the spring of 2003 with NFL Europe’s Scottish Claymores.

Detroit rookie running back KEVIN JONES, who rushed for at least 150 yards in his second consecutive game, totaling 156 yards on 33 attempts, including a 24-yard touchdown run against Green Bay.

Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 14 were:

Green Bay linebacker NICK BARNETT, who had a game-high 14 tackles and added 1.0 sack, as the Packers shutout Detroit in the second half en route to a 16-13 win.

Seattle rookie safety MICHAEL BOULWARE (second-round, Florida State), who led the club with seven tackles, had his first career sack and added a key fourth-quarter interception against Minnesota.

Philadelphia safety BRIAN DAWKINS, who had an interception in the end zone with 1:46 remaining against Washington, sealing a 17-14 win. He also added seven tackles.

Philadelphia defensive end JEVON KEARSE, who had eight tackles, three quarterback pressures and one pass knockdown.

Philadelphia linebacker JEREMIAH TROTTER, who posted a team-high 10 tackles, including one for a loss.

Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 14 were:

Minnesota punter DARREN BENNETT, who had a net average of 45.5 yards, including a long of 51 yards, pinning three of his four punts inside the 20-yard line.

Philadelphia punter DIRK JOHNSON, who punted seven times for a 43.1-yard average, including a key 51-yard punt late in the fourth quarter.

Green Bay kicker RYAN LONGWELL, who connected on three of three field goals in a driving wind, including a game-winning 23-yarder with two seconds remaining.

San Francisco kicker TODD PETERSON, who made a game-winning 31-yard field goal in overtime, becoming the first kicker in NFL history to score overtime field goals with four teams (Arizona, Kansas City, Pittsburgh and San Francisco).

Philadelphia rookie punt returner DEXTER WYNN (sixth round, Colorado State), who averaged 16.2 yards on five returns, including a long return of 30 yards and a 15-yard return which set up a touchdown.