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

PATRIOTS QB TOM BRADY, BRONCOS DE DEREK WOLFE & RAVENS K JUSTIN TUCKER NAMED AFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 8

Quarterback TOM BRADY of the New England Patriots, defensive end DEREK WOLFE of the Denver Broncos and kicker JUSTIN TUCKER of the Baltimore Ravens are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 8 (October 29, November 1-2), the NFL announced today.

OFFENSE: QB TOM BRADY, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS  Brady completed 26 of 38 passes (68.4 percent) for 356 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions for a 133.2 passer rating in the Patriots’ 36-7 win against Miami on Thursday Night Football.  The performance marked Brady’s 19th career game with at least four touchdown passes and no interceptions, eclipsing PEYTON MANNING (18) and DREW BREES (18) for the most in NFL history.  Brady, who led all AFC players in passing yards (356) and passer rating (133.2) in Week 8, connected with three different teammates on his four scoring throws, including a pair of TD passes to JULIAN EDELMAN in the fourth quarter.  Brady has led the Patriots to a 7-0 record for the second time in franchise history and first time since 2007, when New England finished the regular season 16-0.  In his 16th season from Michigan, this is Brady’s 25th career Offensive Player of the Week award, the second- most of any player since the accolade was instituted in 1984 (PEYTON MANNING, 27). He most recently won the award in 2013 (Week 12).  He is the first Patriot to be named Offensive Player of the Week since JONAS GRAY in 2014 (Week 11).

DEFENSE: DE DEREK WOLFE, DENVER BRONCOS  Wolfe posted a team-high seven tackles in the Broncos’ 29-10 win against the previously undefeated Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football.  Six of Wolfe’s seven tackles came within one yard the line of scrimmage or behind, including three stops for no gain and one tackle for a loss.  Wolfe led a defense that limited the Packers to 140 total net yards, the fifth-fewest yards allowed against an opponent with a 6-0 or better record in NFL history.  Denver leads the NFL in total defense (261.1 yards per game) and scoring defense (16.0 points per game) this season.  In his fourth season from Cincinnati, this is Wolfe’s first career Player of the Week Award and first by a Broncos defensive end since ELVIS DUMERVIL in 2007 (Week 14).  Wolfe is the third Bronco to be named Defensive Player of the Week this season, the most of any team in the conference, as he joins cornerback AQIB TALIB (Week 1) and safety T.J. WARD (Week 4).

SPECIAL TEAMS: K JUSTIN TUCKER, BALTIMORE RAVENS  Tucker converted all five of his field-goal attempts (48, 29, 48, 45 and 39 yards), including the 39-yard game- winner on the final play of the Ravens’ 29-26 win against San Diego.  He is the first player to convert at least five field-goal attempts with no misses including the game-winner as time expired in the fourth quarter since ROB BIRONAS in 2007.  Tucker, who also converted both PATs and booted all seven of his kickoffs for touchbacks against the Chargers, led all NFL kickers with 17 total points in Week 8.  In his fourth season from Texas, this is Tucker’s sixth Special Teams Player of the Week award and second of the 2015 season (Week 4).  His six career Special Teams Player of the Week Awards are tied with MATT STOVER for the most in franchise history.

2015 AFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Offense Defense Special Teams Wk 1 QB Marcus Mariota, Tennessee CB Aqib Talib, Denver PR-WR Jarvis Landry, Miami Wk 2 QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh CB Darrelle Revis, N.Y. Jets PR-WR Travis Benajamin, Cleveland Wk 3 WR A.J. Green, Cincinnati LB Preston Brown, Buffalo P Pat McAfee, Indianapolis Wk 4 QB Philip Rivers, San Diego S T.J. Ward, Denver K Justin Tucker, Baltimore Wk 5 QB Josh McCown, Cleveland S Mike Adams, Indianapolis K Mike Nugent, Cincinnati Wk 6 WR DeAndre Hopkins, Houston DE Cameron Wake, Miami K Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Wk 7 QB Ryan Tannehill, Miami LB Telvin Smith, Jacksonville K Stephen Gostkowski, New England Wk 8 QB Tom Brady, New England DE Derek Wolfe, Denver K Justin Tucker, Baltimore

Other nominees for AFC Offensive Player of Week 8 as submitted by AFC clubs:  Oakland quarterback DEREK CARR, who completed 23 of 36 (63.9 percent) for 333 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions for a 130.9 passer rating in the Raiders’ 34-20 win against the New York Jets.  Baltimore quarterback JOE FLACCO, who completed 25 of 37 passes (67.6) for 319 yards with no interceptions for a 103.3 passer rating and had two total touchdowns (one passing, one rushing).  Kansas City quarterback ALEX SMITH, who passed for 145 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 108.7 passer rating and rushed for 78 yards and one touchdown in the Chiefs’ 45-10 win against Detroit in London.  Denver wide receiver DEMARYIUS THOMAS, who had eight catches for 168 yards.

Other nominees for AFC Defensive Player of Week 8 as submitted by AFC clubs:  New England defensive end CHANDLER JONES, who had four tackles and two sacks.  Kansas City linebacker JUSTIN HOUSTON, who posted three tackles, 1.5 sacks and an interception.  Houston linebacker WHITNEY MERCILUS, who had seven tackles and 3.5 sacks in the Texans’ 20-6 win against Tennessee.  Cincinnati safety REGGIE NELSON, who had five tackles and two interceptions.  Baltimore linebacker DARYL SMITH, who had 14 tackles, including two tackles for a loss.

Other nominee for AFC Special Teams Player of Week 8 as submitted by AFC clubs:  Cincinnati punter KEVIN HUBER, who placed three of his four punts inside his opponent’s 20-yard line and whose punts resulted in zero return yards.