FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFC-POW-16  12/29/04

SEAHAWKS RB SHAUN ALEXANDER, RAMS DE BRYCE FISHER &
SAINTS KR/PR MICHAEL LEWIS
NAMED NFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 16

Running back SHAUN ALEXANDER of the Seattle Seahawks, defensive end BRYCE FISHER of the St. Louis Rams and return specialist MICHAEL LEWIS of the New Orleans Saints are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the 16th week of the 2004 season (December 24-27), the NFL announced today.

OFFENSE: RB SHAUN ALEXANDER, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

·        Alexander led the Seahawks to a 24-21 win over the Arizona Cardinals at Qwest Field, helping Seattle clinch a playoff berth for the second consecutive season.  He carried 30 times for 154 yards in the victory, including touchdown runs of 1, 17 and 23 yards.  After his second-quarter one-yard touchdown sparked the Seahawks to a 10-7 halftime advantage, the Florence, KY native really heated up in the second half, rushing for 102 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the team to the playoffs.  Alexander tops the NFL with 1,616 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns.  His five 150-yard rushing games are the most in the league.  With his 154 yards on Sunday, he surpassed CHRIS WARREN for the franchise single-season rushing record.  Warren rushed for 1,545 yards in 1994.

In his fifth season from Alabama, this is Alexander’s fourth Player of the Week Award.

DEFENSE: DE BRYCE FISHER, ST. LOUIS RAMS

·        Fisher played a pivotal role for the Rams in a 20-7 victory over the NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles on ABC’s NFL Monday Night Football.  Fisher totaled seven tackles, 1.0 sack and one forced fumble, helping create a key turnover that enabled the Rams to seal the win and hand Philadelphia its first NFC loss of the season.  With the Rams leading 17-7 in the fourth quarter and having just lost a fumble two plays earlier, Fisher responded.  His sack forced a fumble, which was ultimately recovered by linebacker PISA TINOISAMOA and set up St. Louis at the Eagles’ 31-yard line.  Eight plays later, kicker JEFF WILKINS’ 29-yard field goal gave the Rams a 13-point advantage that would prove insurmountable.  The win keeps St. Louis’ hopes alive for a fifth trip to the playoffs in the last six years.

In his fourth season from Air Force, this is Fisher’s first Player of the Week Award. 

SPECIAL TEAMS: KR/PR MICHAEL LEWIS, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

·        Lewis had another standout performance on special teams for New Orleans, playing an important role in a 26-13 win over the Atlanta Falcons.  The victory keeps the Saints alive for their first playoff berth since 2000.  Lewis returned three kickoffs for 122 yards, including a 96-yard third quarter touchdown which gave the Saints a 13-point lead.  The kickoff return touchdown was the third of his career and first for the NFL Europe League veteran (Rhein Fire, 2001) since 2002.  Lewis returned five punts in the game, with a long return of 25 yards, giving him 118 for his career, passing TYRONE HUGHES (116) for the most in franchise history.  The New Orleans native helped the Saints score first, downing a first-quarter punt at the one-yard line which set up a safety three plays later for a 2-0 New Orleans advantage.

In his fourth season, this is Lewis’ second Player of the Week Award.                                                                                    

2004 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 16 were:

• Minnesota running back MICHAEL BENNETT, who rushed for 92 yards and added three receptions for 67 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown catch against Green Bay.
• Minnesota quarterback DAUNTE CULPEPPER, who passed for 285 yards and posted a 151.2 passer rating, tossing three touchdown passes and no interceptions.
• Carolina quarterback JAKE DELHOMME, who completed 19 of 24 passes for 214 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions, posting a career-high 143.4 passer rating in a 37-20 win against Tampa Bay.
• Green Bay wide receiver DONALD DRIVER, who matched a career-high with 11 receptions for 162 yards in a division-clinching 34-31 win at Minnesota.  He also added a three-yard touchdown catch in the win.
• Green Bay quarterback BRETT FAVRE, who completed 30 of 43 attempts for 365 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, posting a 109.2 passer rating.
• Tampa Bay wide receiver JOEY GALLOWAY, who had nine receptions for 98 yards against Carolina, including a 14-yard touchdown catch.  Galloway has scored six touchdowns in his last four games.
• St. Louis rookie running back STEVEN JACKSON (first round-Oregon State), who had his career-highs with 24 carries and 148 yards, including a five-yard touchdown run.
• Detroit rookie running back KEVIN JONES (first-round, Virginia Tech), who topped 100 yards rushing for the fourth time this season, totaling 123 yards and one touchdown in a 19-13 win over Chicago.
• New Orleans running back DEUCE MC ALLISTER, who rushed for 128 yards on 29 carries, his best rushing performance of 2004.  McAllister’s 128-yard effort gives him 4,054 career rushing yards, joining GEORGE ROGERS (4,267) and DALTON HILLIARD (4,164) as the only Saints in team history with 4,000.
• Carolina wide receiver MUHSIN MUHAMMAD, who totaled eight receptions for 115 yards, including touchdown receptions of 15 and six yards.

Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 16 were:

• Minnesota linebacker CHRIS CLAIBORNE, who totaled 10 tackles and returned an interception 15 yards for a touchdown.
• New Orleans cornerback MIKE MC KENZIE, who had two fourth-quarter interceptions and added two tackles against Atlanta.
• Tampa Bay safety DWIGHT SMITH, who posted a team-leading and career-high 14 tackles, including two for a loss.  He also added one forced fumble and one pass defensed.

Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 16 were:

• Green Bay kicker RYAN LONGWELL, who kicked a game-winning 29-yard field goal as time expired.  He also added a 42-yarder to end the first half.
• Detroit kicker JASON HANSON, who connected on field goals of 31, 39, 34 and 40 yards.