Running back Ahman Green of the Green Bay Packers was named NFC Offensive
Player of the Week, the NFL announced today. Green won the honor for the
third time this season after his record-setting performance against the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
Linebacker Chad Brown of the Seattle Seahawks and rookie defensive end
Osi Umenyiora of the New York Giants are the NFC Defensive and Special Teams
Players of the Week for games played the final week of the 2003 regular season
(December 28-29).
With the Packers needing a win against the Broncos at Lambeau Field to
keep their playoff hopes alive, Green delivered in a huge way, propelling Green
Bay to a 31-3 victory. That, along with the Arizona Cardinals' 18-17 win over
the Minnesota Vikings, gave Green Bay its second consecutive NFC North
division championship.
Green gained a team-record 218 yards on 20 carries, including a pair of
touchdown runs, in the win. Green’s 200-yard effort was the first ever in team
history. He finished 2003 with a franchise-record 1,883 yards rushing.
With Green Bay holding a 10-3 lead late in the third quarter, his 47-yard
run helped set up his own two-yard touchdown run two plays later for a 17-3
advantage. On the Packers’ ensuing possession, after the defense stopped
Denver on fourth and goal from the 2, Green etched his name in the record books yet
again.
He took a handoff from quarterback Brett Favre and exploded 98 yards for
a touchdown, the second-longest run from scrimmage in the 84-year history of
the National Football League, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony
Dorsett, who scored on a 99-yard run for the Dallas Cowboys on Jan. 3, 1983
against the Minnesota Vikings.
The touchdown gave Green 20 on the season, moving him past Jim Taylor for
the single-season franchise record. Taylor scored 19 touchdowns for the 1962
Packers, helping them to a 13-1 record and the NFL championship.
“The biggest thing for us in this game was just getting the win,” Green
said. “Now that we made the playoffs, we are excited about facing Seattle.
Their defense is going to be flying around and it will be another intense game,
both for us and for them.”
In his sixth season from Nebraska, this is Green’s fifth career Player of
the Week Award and third of 2003 (Week 4, 12).
Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 17 were:
Detroit quarterback Joey Harrington, who completed 26 of 36 attempts for
238 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in the Lions' 30-20 win over
the St. Louis Rams.
Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb, who completed 23 of 32 attempts
for 242 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in the Eagles' 31-7 win
over the Washington Redskins. McNabb also added a one-yard touchdown run in the
win.
Play of week: Green also won "NFL Play of the Week" for his 98-yard
touchdown run against the Broncos.
The other nominated plays were: the Priest Holmes (Kansas City)
record-breaking 2-yard touchdown run; the Koren Robinson (Seattle) 30-yard touchdown
reception from Matt Hasselbeck; the Nathan Poole (Arizona) game-winning 28-yard
touchdown reception from Josh McCown; and the Brandon Lloyd (San Francisco)
one-handed 14-yard reception from Jeff Garcia.
Each week's winner will be nominated for the "NFL Play of the Year -
Presented by LEVITRA". For more, visit NFL.com/playoftheweek.