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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 10/3/12 http://twitter.com/NFL345

PACKERS QB , 49ERS LB & RAMS K GREG ZUERLEIN NAMED NFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 4

Quarterback AARON RODGERS of the , PATRICK WILLIS of the and rookie kicker GREG ZUERLEIN of the St. Louis Rams are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the fourth week of the 2012 season (September 27 & 30, October 1), the NFL announced today.

OFFENSE: QB AARON RODGERS, GREEN BAY PACKERS Rodgers completed 31 of 41 passes (75.6 percent) for 319 yards with four and one for a 119.9 passer rating in the Packers’ 28-27 win over New Orleans. He guided an offense that amassed a season-high 421 yards and 30 first downs, the most in a game by Green Bay since November 12, 1989. Trailing by six in the fourth quarter, Rodgers led the comeback and capped it off with an 11-yard pass to . In his career, the Packers are 23-0 when Rodgers has a passer rating of at least 115. Green Bay is 8-0 when Rodgers has at least four touchdown passes. In his eighth season from California, this is Rodgers’ sixth career Player of the Week Award. He was honored twice in 2010 (Weeks 13 and 16) and three times last year (Weeks 1, 4 and 9). Since Week 13, 2010, Rodgers’ six Player of the Week Awards are the most in the NFL during that span. Rodgers and BRETT FAVRE (12) are the only quarterbacks in team history to win the award at least six times.

DEFENSE: LB PATRICK WILLIS, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS Willis had a team-high 10 tackles, an interception and two passes defensed in the 49ers’ 34-0 victory at the New York Jets. The five-time Pro Bowler led a defense that limited New York to 145 total yards and 2.9 yards per play as the 49ers posted their first road shutout in more than a decade (January 6, 2002). He recorded his first interception of the season as San Francisco forced four turnovers (three , one interception). Six of Willis’ 10 tackles came within three yards of the line of scrimmage. Willis, a defensive captain, led a unit that held the Jets to 45 rushing yards and just 2.6 yards per carry. The 49ers limited the Jets to 100 net passing yards and a 42.6 passer rating. In his sixth year from Mississippi, this is Willis’ second career Player of the Week Award (Week 5, 2011). He is the first 49ers linebacker to be named Defensive Player of the Week multiple times. The last 49ers player to win Defensive Player of the Week Awards in consecutive seasons was safety TONY PARRISH (2002-03).

SPECIAL TEAMS: K GREG ZUERLEIN, ST. LOUIS RAMS Zuerlein scored 13 points in the Rams’ 19-13 win over Seattle, converting all four field-goal attempts (58, 48, 60 and 24 yards) and one PAT. He is the first player in NFL history with a 60-yard and 50-yard field goal in the same game and the only player in league annals to make two field goals over 55 yards in a single game. Zuerlein’s 60-yard field goal is the longest in franchise history and his 58-yarder ranks second. This season, he is a perfect 12 for 12 on field-goal attempts and his 12 field goals are tied for the most in the NFL. In his rookie season from Missouri Western, this is Zuerlein’s first career Player of the Week Award. Zuerlein is the third kicker in franchise history to be honored, joining JEFF WILKINS (Week 15, 2002 and Week 1, 2006) and JOSH BROWN (Week 8, 2009). This is the second consecutive season in which a Rams rookie has been named Special Teams Player of the Week (ROBERT QUINN, Week 8, 2011).

2012 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Offense Defense Special Teams Wk 1 QB Robert Griffin III, Washington DB Ronde Barber, Tampa Bay K Blair Walsh, Minnesota Wk 2 WR Hakeem Nicks, DE , Arizona P Tim Masthay, Green Bay Wk 3 WR , Arizona DE Chris Clemons, Seattle K Lawrence Tynes, New York Giants Wk 4 QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay LB Patrick Willis, San Francisco K Greg Zuerlein, St. Louis

Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 4 as submitted by NFC clubs: New Orleans quarterback , who completed 35 of 54 passes (64.8 percent) for 446 yards with three touchdowns and no for a 109 passer rating in the Saints’ 28-27 loss at Green Bay. Chicago quarterback , who completed 18 of 24 passes (75 percent) for 275 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 140.1 passer rating in the Bears’ 34-18 win at Dallas. Washington rookie quarterback ROBERT GRIFFIN III, who completed 26 of 35 passes (74.3 percent) for 323 yards for a 102.4 passer rating and rushed for 43 yards and a touchdown in the Redskins’ 24-22 win at Tampa Bay. Philadelphia LE SEAN MC COY, who rushed for 123 yards in the Eagles’ 19-17 win over the New York Giants. Minnesota running back , who rushed for 102 yards in the Vikings’ 20-13 win at Detroit. Arizona ANDRE ROBERTS, who had six catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns in the Cardinals’ 24-21 overtime win over Miami. Atlanta quarterback MATT RYAN, who completed 25 of 40 passes (62.5 percent) for 369 yards with three touchdowns and one interception for a 107.2 passer rating in the Falcons’ 30-28 win over Carolina.

Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 4 as submitted by NFC clubs: Minnesota defensive end JARED ALLEN, who had a sack and six tackles. Chicago linebacker LANCE BRIGGS, who had a 74-yard interception-return touchdown, six tackles and a forced . Carolina defensive end CHARLES JOHNSON, who had 3.5 sacks, eight tackles and a pass defensed in the Panthers’ 30-28 loss at Atlanta. Arizona safety ADRIAN WILSON, who had 10 tackles, one sack, a forced fumble and three passes defensed.

Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 4 as submitted by NFC clubs: Atlanta kicker MATT BRYANT, who converted all three field-goal attempts, including the game-winning 40-yarder with five seconds remaining. San Francisco linebacker LARRY GRANT, who blocked a punt that led to a 49ers touchdown. Minnesota kick returner-wide receiver , who had a 105-yard kick-return touchdown. Philadelphia kicker ALEX HENERY, who converted all four field-goal attempts, including the game-winner with 1:49 remaining. Minnesota punt returner- MARCUS SHERELS, who had a 77-yard punt-return touchdown. Arizona DAVE ZASTUDIL, who punted nine times and averaged 48.3 yards per punt with a net average of 47.3.