FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFC-POW-4      10/6/04

GIANTS RB TIKI BARBER, CARDINALS S ADRIAN WILSON &
EAGLES K DAVID AKERS NAMED NFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 4

Running back TIKI BARBER of the New York Giants, safety ADRIAN WILSON of the Arizona Cardinals and kicker DAVID AKERS of the Philadelphia Eagles are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the fourth week of the 2004 season (October 3-4), the NFL announced today.

OFFENSE: RB TIKI BARBER, NEW YORK GIANTS

·         Barber led the Giants to a 14-7 victory against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, rushing for 182 yards on 23 carries, averaging 7.9 yards per attempt.  After the Giants fell behind 7-0 in the third quarter, Barber provided the equalizer, scoring on a 52-yard touchdown run.  Then with the score knotted 7-7 in the fourth, Barber’s 38-yard run set up quarterback KURT WARNER’s go-ahead four-yard touchdown pass to tight end JEREMY SHOCKEY with 12:07 remaining.  Barber also added four receptions for 14 yards, helping the Giants to a 35:53-24:07 edge in time of possession.  His 455 rushing yards are tops in the NFC and second in the NFL to Kansas City’s PRIEST HOLMES (476). 

In his eighth season from Virginia, this is Barber’s second career Player of the Week Award.

DEFENSE: S ADRIAN WILSON, ARIZONA CARDINALS

·         Wilson sparked the Cardinals to their first win of the season, a 34-10 triumph against the visiting New Orleans Saints.  With the game scoreless late in the first quarter, the High Point, North Carolina native recovered a fumble and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown, giving Arizona a 7-0 advantage.  Wilson totaled five tackles and defended one pass for a Cardinals defense that has not allowed a touchdown since Week 2 versus New England, shutting down opposing offenses for 10 consecutive quarters.  Wilson’s touchdown was the second of his career and first since returning an interception 61 yards for a touchdown during his 2001 rookie season. 

In his fourth season from North Carolina State, this is Wilson’s second career Player of the Week Award and first since 2002 (Week 7).

SPECIAL TEAMS: K DAVID AKERS, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

·         With wind gusts of up to 25 miles an hour making conditions difficult for the kicking game, Akers connected on four of six field goal attempts (51, 42, 42, 40) in Philadelphia’s 19-9 win at Chicago.  He is the first player in team history to connect on four field goals of at least 40 yards in a game and the first to accomplish the feat in the NFL since MORTEN ANDERSEN did it for the Atlanta Falcons on September 3, 2000.  In addition to scoring 13 of the team’s 19 points, Akers added two touchbacks on kickoffs in the win.

      In his sixth season from Louisville, this is Akers’ sixth career Player of the Week Award.

2004 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 4 were:

• St. Louis running back MARSHALL FAULK, who rushed for 121 yards on 23 carries and added one reception for 25 yards in a 24-14 win at San Francisco.
• Philadelphia wide receiver TERRELL OWENS, who totaled eight receptions for 110 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown catch. 
• Arizona running back EMMITT SMITH, who gained 121 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown run.  Smith’s 100-yard game was his first as a Cardinal and 77th-career, tying WALTER PAYTON for most in NFL history.  He also added a 21-yard touchdown pass, the first of his career.
• Philadelphia running back BRIAN WESTBROOK, who accounted for 178 yards of total offense, rushing for 115 yards and adding nine receptions for 63 yards.

Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 4 were:

• Atlanta defensive end PATRICK KERNEY, who posted 10 tackles and 2.0 sacks in a 27-10 win at Carolina, his third consecutive multiple sack game.
• Atlanta safety BRYAN SCOTT, who totaled eight tackles, one forced fumble and one interception.
• St. Louis linebacker PISA TINOISAMOA, who finished with 14 tackles and 0.5 sacks, playing a key role in limiting the 49ers to 3.1 yards per carry.
• New York safety GIBRIL WILSON, who led the Giants with 12 tackles and added one pass defensed.

Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 4 were:

• Tampa Bay punter JOSH BIDWELL, who averaged 44.2 yards per punt, with a long of 50 yards, placing four punts inside the 20-yard line.
• St. Louis linebacker TREV FAULK, who led the team with four special teams tackles, including three on kickoffs.
• New York punter JEFF FEAGLES, who punted four times for an average of 35.0 yards, including all four inside the 20-yard line.
• New Orleans safety STEVE GLEASON, who blocked a punt that resulted in a touchdown and added one special teams tackle.