Taking the NFL by storm, Pittsburgh’s Roethlisberger (No. 11, Miami of Ohio) led the Steelers to a perfect 4-0 October and to first-place in the AFC North at 6-1, tied for the AFC’s best record. A winner of his first five career starts, including four in the month, the Findlay, Ohio native compiled a 116.7 passer rating with six touchdown passes against one interception. The 6-4, 241-pound Roethlisberger completed 72 of 95 passes in his four October victories for a completion percentage of 75.8, including an 18 of 24 performance with two touchdowns and no interceptions in a Week 8 34-20 win against New England, who entered the game with a historic 21-game winning streak. The first quarterback selected by Pittsburgh in the first round since MARK MALONE in 1980 posted a 100.0+ passer rating in every October contest. Roethlisberger is the AFC’s third-highest rated overall (104.7) and owns the conference’s best completion percentage on the season (70.1). The highest completion percentage in history by a rookie quarterback with a minimum of 150 attempts is 58.4, attained by DAN MARINO of Miami in 1983.

Roethlisberger is the first Steelers player to earn Offensive Rookie of the Month honors since the honor’s inception in 1996.

The 5-2 New York Giants have received standout play in the defensive backfield from rookie fifth-round safety GIBRIL WILSON (No. 136, Tennessee). The San Jose, California native started all four October games, helping the club to a 3-1 record as the defense allowed an average of 14.5 points per game. Wilson recorded a sack or interception in three of four games in the month, finishing as the team’s leading tackler three times. Wilson posted 30 tackles, including 25 solo, 2.0 sacks for a loss of 10 yards, one interception and two passes defensed. In last week’s resounding 34-13 road-win over the Minnesota Vikings, his interception and 39-yard return helped set up a five-yard touchdown run by TIKI BARBER, giving New York a 17-0 advantage. Wilson leads the Giants and ties for the NFL rookie lead with three interceptions and his 2.0 sacks tie for third-most among NFC rookies.

Wilson is the first Giants rookie ever to earn Defensive Rookie of the Month honors since the award’s inception in 1996. The last New York rookie honored was tight end JEREMY SHOCKEY in November of 2002.

·        Minnesota running back MEWELDE MOORE (fourth-round, Tulane), who rushed for 368 yards in four October games, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. He also added 25 receptions for 224 yards, totaling 592 yards from scrimmage in the month.

Baltimore punt returner-kick returner B.J. SAMS (free agent, McNeese State), who returned two punts for touchdowns in the month, including a season-long 78-yarder on October 10 against Washington. Sams returned 11 punts in the month for 188 yards (17.1 average).

San Francisco guard JUSTIN SMILEY (second-round, Alabama), who started four games in October, helping the club average 328.5 yards per game.    

New York Giants guard CHRIS SNEE (second-round, Boston College), who helped the club average 153.3 rushing yards per game in October, including a 245-yard effort against Green Bay – the club’s most rushing yards since gaining 260 against the Arizona Cardinals on October 11, 1992. New York scored nine touchdowns in the month.

Denver wide receiver DARIUS WATTS (second-round, Marshall), who caught 15 passes for 184 yards (12.3) and a touchdown in five October games. Watts leads all AFC rookies in receptions and receiving yards for the season.