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Home , Ameer Abdullah, Deone Bucannon, Julio Jones, Michael Mauti, Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12/23/15 http://twitter.com/nfl345

PANTHERS QB , CARDINALS LB & RAMS KR BENNY CUNNINGHAM NAMED NFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 15

Quarterback CAM NEWTON of the , linebacker DEONE BUCANNON of the and kick returner BENNY CUNNINGHAM of the St. Louis Rams are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the 15th week of the 2015 season (December 17, 19-21), the NFL announced today.

OFFENSE: QB CAM NEWTON, CAROLINA PANTHERS  Newton passed for 340 yards with five (116.9 passer rating) and rushed for 100 yards in the Panthers’ 38-35 win at the . Carolina is the fourth team in the era to start 14-0.  He is the only player in NFL history with at least 300 passing yards, five passing touchdowns and 100 rushing yards in a single game.  The performance marked Newton’s third game this season with five passes. He is one of only five players in NFL history to have at least three games with five-or-more touchdown passes in a single season.  Newton has 3,402 passing yards and 580 rushing yards this year and is the only player in NFL history to have five seasons with at least 3,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards.  In his fifth season from Auburn, this is Newton’s seventh career Player of the Week Award and fourth this season (Weeks 9, 11 and 13).  Newton’s four Player of the Week Awards are tied for the second-most in a season in NFL history. Only New England’s (five in 2007) has won more in a single season.  Newton is the first player to win four Player of the Week Awards in a seven-week span within a season since San Diego LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON in 2006.

DEFENSE: LB DEONE BUCANNON, ARIZONA CARDINALS  Bucannon had a 39-yard -return touchdown and a game-high 11 tackles in the Cardinals’ 40-17 win at Philadelphia. Arizona recorded its franchise-record 12th victory and clinched the NFC West.  Bucannon’s interception-return touchdown was his first career touchdown and the first defensive touchdown he has scored at any level. His last touchdown was scored as a during his senior season at Vanden (Fairfield, CA) High School.  With 0:50 remaining in the first half and the Cardinals leading 17-10, Bucannon helped stop Eagles running back RYAN MATHEWS for no gain on fourth-and-one at the Arizona eight-yard line.  Five of his tackles came within four yards of the line of scrimmage or behind.  In his second year from Washington State, this is Bucannon’s first career Player of the Week Award.  Bucannon joins (Week 10, 2014) and (Week 3, 2015) as the only Cardinals to win Defensive Player of the Week over the past two seasons.

SPECIAL TEAMS: KR BENNY CUNNINGHAM, ST. LOUIS RAMS  Cunningham returned four kickoffs for 188 yards (47-yard average), including a 102-yard return, in the Rams’ 31- 23 win over Tampa Bay.  His 102-yard kickoff-return was the longest by a Rams player since 2000 (TONY HORNE, 103 yards) and the fourth-longest in the NFL this season.  Cunningham’s 47-yard return average was the second-highest mark in this year (minimum three KR).  He also had a 44-yard return on the game’s opening kickoff which set up a St. Louis touchdown.  Cunningham contributes on four special teams units – kickoff return, kickoff cover, return and punt cover – and helped limit the Buccaneers to zero punt- and 38 return yards on two kickoffs (19-yard average).  In his third season from Middle Tennessee, this is Cunningham’s first career Player of the Week Award.  Cunningham and Tony Horne (Week 12, 1999) are the only kick returners in franchise history to be named Special Teams Player of the Week.

2015 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Offense Defense Special Teams Wk 1 WR , Atlanta DT , St. Louis PR-WR Tavon Austin, St. Louis Wk 2 WR , Arizona LB Sean Lee, Dallas KR-RB David Johnson, Arizona Wk 3 QB , Green Bay S Tyrann Mathieu, Arizona PR-RB , Philadelphia Wk 4 QB , CB , Carolina K Robbie Gould, Chicago Wk 5 QB , New York Giants DE , Philadelphia PR Bobby Rainey, Tampa Bay Wk 6 WR , Detroit DT Kawann Short, Carolina LB Michael Mauti, New Orleans Wk 7 QB , Washington DE Michael Bennett, Seattle KR Dwayne Harris, New York Giants Wk 8 QB Drew Brees, New Orleans LB Kwon Alexander, Tampa Bay PR Marcus Sherels, Minnesota Wk 9 QB Cam Newton, Carolina DT Linval Joseph, Minnesota K Josh Brown, New York Giants Wk 10 QB Kirk Cousins, Washington CB , Minnesota KR , Detroit Wk 11 QB Cam Newton, Carolina LB , Tampa Bay K Mason Crosby, Green Bay Wk 12 QB , Seattle LB , Carolina P Sam Martin, Detroit Wk 13 QB Cam Newton, Carolina S , Philadelphia K Dan Bailey, Dallas Wk 14 QB Eli Manning, New York Giants DT Aaron Donald, St. Louis K Chandler Catanzaro, Arizona Wk 15 QB Cam Newton, Carolina LB Deone Bucannon, Arizona KR Benny Cunningham, St. Louis

Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 15 as submitted by NFC clubs:  Seattle wide receiver DOUG BALDWIN, who had two touchdown catches in the Seahawks’ 30-13 win over Cleveland.  Minnesota quarterback , who completed 17 of 20 passes (85 percent) for 231 yards with four touchdowns and no for a 154.4 passer rating in the Vikings’ 38-17 win over Chicago. He also rushed for a touchdown.  Washington quarterback KIRK COUSINS, who completed 22 of 28 passes (78.6 percent) for 319 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions for a 153.7 passer rating in the Redskins’ 35-25 win over Buffalo. He also rushed for a touchdown.  Arizona rookie running back DAVID JOHNSON, who rushed for 187 yards and three touchdowns and added four catches for 42 yards (229 scrimmage yards).  Atlanta wide receiver JULIO JONES, who had nine catches for 118 yards and a touchdown in the Falcons’ 23-17 win at Jacksonville.  Detroit quarterback , who completed 22 of 25 passes (88 percent) for 254 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 148.6 passer rating in the Lions’ 35-27 win at New Orleans.  Seattle quarterback RUSSELL WILSON, who completed 21 of 30 passes (70 percent) for 249 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 128.3 passer rating.

Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 15 as submitted by NFC clubs:  St. Louis TRUMAINE JOHNSON, who had nine tackles and an interception.  Green Bay linebacker , who had 2.5 sacks and four tackles in the Packers’ 30-20 win at Oakland.  Green Bay rookie cornerback DAMARIOUS RANDALL, who had a 43-yard interception-return touchdown and seven tackles.  Minnesota defensive end BRIAN ROBISON, who had a sack, a forced , a fumble recovery and two tackles.  Carolina cornerback CHARLES TILLMAN, who had an interception, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and five tackles.

Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 15 as submitted by NFC clubs:  Detroit rookie kick returner AMEER ABDULLAH, who returned four kickoffs for 123 yards (30.8 average).  Seattle kicker STEVEN HAUSCHKA, who scored 12 points, converting all three field-goal attempts and three PATs.  Minnesota kicker BLAIR WALSH, who made a 53-yard field goal and converted all five PATs.