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Home , Calvin Johnson, Connor Barth, Drew Brees, Kai Forbath, Kurt Coleman, Kwon Alexander

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11/4/15 http://twitter.com/nfl345

SAINTS QB , BUCCANEERS LB KWON ALEXANDER & VIKINGS PR MARCUS SHERELS NAMED NFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 8

Quarterback DREW BREES of the Saints, rookie linebacker KWON ALEXANDER of the and returner MARCUS SHERELS of the are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the eighth week of the 2015 season (October 29, November 1-2), the NFL announced today.

OFFENSE: QB DREW BREES,  Brees tied the NFL single-game record with seven passes and completed 39 of 50 passes (78 percent) for 505 yards and a 131.7 in the Saints’ 52-49 win over the .  Brees and Pro Football Hall of Famer Y.A. TITTLE (October 28, 1962) are the only players in NFL history to pass for at least 500 yards and seven in a single game.  The game marked the 10th time Brees has passed for at least five touchdowns in a game, the most in NFL history (, nine).  Brees, who had a career-high 510 passing yards on November 19, 2006, and are the only in NFL history with two games of at least 500 passing yards.  In his 15th season from Purdue, this is Brees’ 22nd Player of the Week Award and second this season (Week 4).  Since joining the Saints in 2006, Brees has won 20 Player of the Week Awards, the most in franchise history. During that span, Brees’ 20 Player of the Week Awards are the most in the NFL.  Brees is one of three players to win at least 20 Player of the Week Awards, joining Manning (27) and (25).

DEFENSE: LB KWON ALEXANDER, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS  Alexander had a game-high 11 tackles, one , a forced and a fumble recovery in the Buccaneers’ 23-20 win at .  His forced fumble and fumble recovery – on the same play – set up a Tampa Bay field . Alexander’s interception, which he returned 15 yards to midfield, led to a Buccaneers touchdown.  Alexander is the first Buccaneers player to record an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the same game since JOHN LYNCH on November 24, 1996.  Alexander is the first rookie linebacker in the NFL to have an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in a single game since DE MECO RYANS on December 3, 2006.  In his rookie year from Louisiana State, this is Alexander’s first career Player of the Week Award.  Alexander is the first Buccaneers rookie to be named Defensive Player of the Week since SANTANA DOTSON in 1992 (Week 4).

SPECIAL TEAMS: PR MARCUS SHERELS, MINNESOTA VIKINGS  Sherels had a 65-yard punt-return touchdown in the Vikings’ 23-20 win at Chicago.  With the Vikings trailing 3-0 in the first quarter, Sherels got the Vikings on the board with a 65-yard punt-return touchdown to give Minnesota a 7-3 lead.  He finished the game with 77 punt-, the most in the NFL in Week 8. He also added a special teams .  Since 2012, Sherels has three punt-return touchdowns, tied for the most in the NFL. During that span, Sherels’ 1,126 punt-return yards are the most in the league.  This season, Sherels ranks third in the NFC averaging 11.5 yards per punt return.  In his fifth season from Minnesota, this is Sherels’ first career Player of the Week Award.  He is the first punt returner in franchise history to win 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, KR-RB David Johnson, Arizona Wk 3 QB , Green Bay S , Arizona PR-RB , Wk 4 QB Drew Brees, New Orleans CB Josh Norman, Carolina K , Chicago Wk 5 QB , New York Giants DE , Philadelphia PR Bobby Rainey, Tampa Bay Wk 6 WR , Detroit DT , 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

Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 8 as submitted by NFC clubs:  St. Louis , who rushed for 133 yards and a touchdown in the Rams’ 27-6 win over San Francisco.  Atlanta JULIO JONES, who had 12 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown in the Falcons’ overtime loss to Tampa Bay.  New York Giants ELI MANNING, who completed 30 of 41 passes (73.2 percent) for 350 yards with six touchdowns and no for a 138.2 passer rating in the Giants’ loss at New Orleans.  Arizona quarterback , who completed 23 of 38 passes (60.5 percent) for 374 yards with four touchdowns and an interception for a 117.7 passer rating in the Cardinals’ 34-20 win at Cleveland.

Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 8 as submitted by NFC clubs:  Carolina safety KURT COLEMAN, who had eight tackles, an interception and three passes defensed in the Panthers’ 29-26 overtime win against Indianapolis.  Arizona safety RASHAD JOHNSON, who had an interception and two tackles.  Carolina linebacker , who had 14 tackles, an interception and three passes defensed.

Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 8 as submitted by NFC clubs:  Tampa Bay kicker , who converted all three field-goal attempts, including the game-winner in overtime.  New Orleans kicker , who converted the game-winning 50-yard as time expired and made all seven PAT attempts.  St. Louis , who averaged 54.5 yards per punt with a 49.8-yard net average and placed four punts inside the 20-yard line.  Minnesota kicker , who converted all three field-goal attempts, including the game-winner as time expired.