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Quarterback Brad Johnson and defensive end Simeon Rice, who helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rebound from a tough loss, were among the NFL Players of the Week announced Wednesday.
Johnson threw four touchdown passes as the Buccaneers rolled to their third straight road win, a 35-13 victory over the Washington Redskins, and was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for the seventh time in his career. He completed 22-of-30 passes for 268 yards against his former team.
"I can't be more proud of what Brad is doing," Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden said about Johnson, who is tied with Indianapolis' Peyton Manning for the NFL lead with 12 TD passes. "He's getting rid of the ball, he's throwing it on time, he's accurate, he's tough, he's making great decisions and he's seeing things. This guy is a force right now and he is certainly a big reason why we've had a chance to win five games." NFL Tickets
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Rice was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week after he had six tackles, four
sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery at Washington. The Bucs turned
in a big defensive effort after blowing a 21-point fourth-quarter lead in a
38-35 overtime loss to Indianapolis on October 6.
The last time two members of the same team captured offensive and defensive honors was Week Two of 1994, when Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Joe Montana and linebacker Derrick Thomas were honored for a 24-17 win over San Francisco. NFL Tickets
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Randal Williams was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Williams returned an onside kick 37 yards for a touchdown three seconds into the game and the Cowboys went on to a 23-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Trent Green helped keep his team undefeated and garnered offensive honors in the AFC. Green was 27-of-45 for 400 yards and three touchdowns as the Chiefs rallied from a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit in a 40-34 victory over the Green Bay Packers. Green tossed a 51-yard touchdown pass to Eddie Kennison 6:18 into overtime and finished with a 111.3 quarterback rating. NFL Tickets
"He's my special project," Cheifs coach Dick Vermeil said of Green. "He was on the field against a future Hall of Fame football player at the other (quarterback) position (Brett Favre) and he performed equally as well and ended up being the winner."
The Chiefs tied the NFL record by having a player win a Player of the Week Award in five straight weeks. Returner Dante Hall was the Special Teams Player of the Week the last four weeks. This week, that honor went to Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed.
Reed returned a blocked punt 22 yards for a touchdown late in the first half to help the Ravens defeat the Arizona Cardinals. NFL Tickets
New York Jets defensive tackle Jason Ferguson was the AFC Defensive Player of the Week. Ferguson had six tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble in New York's first win of the season, a 30-3 romp over the Buffalo Bills.