FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1/6/16 http://twitter.com/nfl345 PANTHERS QB CAM NEWTON, VIKINGS DE EVERSON GRIFFEN & SEAHAWKS PR-KR-WR TYLER LOCKETT NAMED NFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 17 Quarterback CAM NEWTON of the Carolina Panthers, defensive end EVERSON GRIFFEN of the Minnesota Vikings and rookie punt returner-kick returner-wide receiver TYLER LOCKETT of the Seattle Seahawks are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the final week of the 2015 season (January 3), the NFL announced today. OFFENSE: QB CAM NEWTON, CAROLINA PANTHERS Newton passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two touchdowns in the Panthers’ 38-10 win over Tampa Bay. With the victory, Carolina improved to 15-1 and clinched home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. He completed 21 of 26 passes (80.8 percent) for 293 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 139.3 passer rating. It marked his eighth game with a 100+ rating this season. Newton has 31 career games with both a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown, tied for the most in NFL history with Pro Football Hall of Famer STEVE YOUNG. Newton is the first player in NFL history with at least 30 passing touchdowns (35) and 10 rushing touchdowns (10) in a single season. In his fifth season from Auburn, this is Newton’s eighth career Player of the Week Award and fifth this season (Weeks 9, 11, 13, 15). Newton’s five Player of the Week Awards are tied for the most in a season in NFL history (TOM BRADY, 2007). Newton is the first player to win five Player of the Week Awards in a nine-week span within a season. DEFENSE: DE EVERSON GRIFFEN, MINNESOTA VIKINGS Griffen had two sacks, six tackles and forced a fumble which was returned 55 yards for a touchdown in the Vikings’ 20-13 win at Green Bay. With the victory, Minnesota clinched the NFC North division title. In the third quarter with the Vikings leading 13-3, Griffen sacked Green Bay’s quarterback and forced a fumble which was returned by CAPTAIN MUNNERLYN 55 yards for a touchdown to extend Minnesota’s lead. In addition to Griffen’s two sacks, he had two tackles for a loss on running plays. Those four plays resulted in a loss of 14 yards. Griffen finished the season with a team-high 10.5 sacks, his second consecutive 10+ sack season. In his sixth year from Southern California, this is Griffen’s first career Player of the Week Award. Griffen is the first Vikings defensive end to be named Defensive Player of the Week since JARED ALLEN in 2008 (Week 13). SPECIAL TEAMS: PR-KR-WR TYLER LOCKETT, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS Lockett had four punt returns for 139 yards (34.8 average) in the Seahawks’ 36-6 win at Arizona. He had three returns of at least 30 yards (66, 42, 31 yards) and is the only player in the NFL to accomplish the feat over the past 10 seasons. Lockett is the fourth rookie since 1970 to average at least 34 yards per punt return in a game (minimum four returns) and only the second to do so in the past 25 years. Two of Lockett’s punt returns set Seattle up deep in Arizona territory and led to touchdowns. In his rookie season from Kansas State, this is Lockett’s first career Player of the Week Award. He was also named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month in September. Lockett is the first Seahawks rookie to be named Special Teams Player of the Week since DOUG BALDWIN in 2011 (Week 14). Lockett is the first Seattle rookie to win a Player of the Week Award since quarterback RUSSELL WILSON in 2012 (Week 13, Offense). 2015 NFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Offense Defense Special Teams Wk 1 WR Julio Jones, Atlanta DT Aaron Donald, St. Louis PR-WR Tavon Austin, St. Louis Wk 2 WR Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona LB Sean Lee, Dallas KR-RB David Johnson, Arizona Wk 3 QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay S Tyrann Mathieu, Arizona PR-RB Darren Sproles, Philadelphia Wk 4 QB Drew Brees, New Orleans CB Josh Norman, Carolina K Robbie Gould, Chicago Wk 5 QB Eli Manning, New York Giants DE Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia PR Bobby Rainey, Tampa Bay Wk 6 WR Calvin Johnson, Detroit DT Kawann Short, Carolina LB Michael Mauti, New Orleans Wk 7 QB Kirk Cousins, 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 Terence Newman, Minnesota KR Ameer Abdullah, Detroit Wk 11 QB Cam Newton, Carolina LB Lavonte David, Tampa Bay K Mason Crosby, Green Bay Wk 12 QB Russell Wilson, Seattle LB Luke Kuechly, Carolina P Sam Martin, Detroit Wk 13 QB Cam Newton, Carolina S Malcolm Jenkins, 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 Wk 16 WR Julio Jones, Atlanta LB Dwight Freeney, Arizona K Blair Walsh, Minnesota Wk 17 QB Cam Newton, Carolina DE Everson Griffen, Minnesota PR-KR-WR Tyler Lockett, Seattle Other nominees for NFC Offensive Player of Week 17 as submitted by NFC clubs: New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES, who passed for 323 yards, one touchdown and a 105.6 passer rating in the Saints’ 20-17 win at Atlanta. Philadelphia quarterback SAM BRADFORD, who passed for 320 yards, two touchdowns and a 108.3 passer rating in the Eagles’ 35-30 win at the New York Giants. Carolina rookie wide receiver DEVIN FUNCHESS, who had seven catches for 120 yards and a touchdown. San Francisco quarterback BLAINE GABBERT, who passed for 354 yards and a touchdown in the 49ers’ 19-16 overtime win over St. Louis. Detroit wide receiver CALVIN JOHNSON, who had 10 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown in the Lions’ 24-20 win at Chicago. Detroit quarterback MATTHEW STAFFORD, who completed 28 of 39 passes (71.8 percent) for 298 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 119.4 passer rating. Seattle quarterback RUSSELL WILSON, who threw three touchdown passes and had a 123.7 passer rating. Other nominees for NFC Defensive Player of Week 17 as submitted by NFC clubs: Detroit defensive end EZEKIEL ANSAH, who had a sack, three tackles and a pass defensed. Seattle defensive end CLIFF AVRIL, who had 1.5 sacks. Washington cornerback WILL BLACKMON, who had an interception, a forced fumble and seven tackles in the Redskins’ 34-23 win at Dallas. Minnesota cornerback CAPTAIN MUNNERLYN, who had a 55-yard fumble-return touchdown, four tackles and a pass defensed. Philadelphia safety WALTER THURMOND, who had an 83-yard fumble-return touchdown. Other nominees for NFC Special Teams Player of Week 17 as submitted by NFC clubs: San Francisco kicker PHIL DAWSON, who converted all four field-goal attempts, including the game-winner in overtime. New Orleans kicker KAI FORBATH, who converted both field-goal attempts, including the game-winner as time expired. Detroit kicker MATT PRATER, who converted a 59-yard field goal, the longest in franchise history. Minnesota wide receiver ADAM THIELEN, who had a 41-yard run on a fake punt. .