The fourth week of the NFL season saw the regular referees return for the first time and a range of exciting games, including an offensive explosion for the New England Patriots and an offensive implosion for the New York Jets. Numerous players made big impacts for their teams, including Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis.
New England quarterback Tom Brady was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week on Wednesday for his performance against the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots won easily 52-28 and saw Brady throw for three touchdowns and 340 passing yards.
"Down 21-7 and on the road, backs against the wall, and I thought we showed a lot of heart," Brady said to the Associated Press on Sunday. "That's what this team is made of. And we're going to battle until the end, I know that."
He was only sacked once and posted a 120.1 passer rating while completing 22 of 36 passing attempts. Brady eclipsed 300 yards passing for the third time this season and now has 48 in his career. He led the Patriots on six straight scoring drives in the game to defeat the Bills and improve to 2-2 on the year.
Amazingly, Brady has been named Offensive Player of the Week 21 times in his career according to a press release from the Patriots. He won three last season.
Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers was named the NFC Player of the Week after leading his team to a 28-27 comeback victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Rodgers, who was the NFL MVP last season, passed for 319 yards and four touchdowns to help the Packers improve to 2-2 on the season. He threw one interception and completed 31-of-41 passing attempts.
"We've probably had to deal with more adversity than most of the teams I've played with, especially early on we've had some interesting games already," Rodgers told the Associated Press on Sunday. "We're four games in. So, I think the character of this team is very strong. Winning games like this says a lot about the kind of men that we have."
According to a release from the Packers, Rodgers won his sixth career weekly award and improved the Packers to 23-0 when he has a quarterback rating of 115 or higher. The team also improved to 4-0 when Rodgers throws four or more touchdowns.
After a standout performance against the Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers linebacker Donald Butler was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week.
Butler propelled the Chargers to a 37-20 win on the road on Sunday by contributing a half sack and six tackles as well as an interception return for a touchdown. Butler leaped over tight end Tony Moeaki after catching the ball and benefited from a perfectly timed block from teammate Melvin Ingraham.
"I think I get a pat on the back," Butler said to NBCSanDiego.com. "That's enough for me."
The standout play for Butler came in the second quarter when he returned an interception 21 yards for a touchdown, putting the Chargers in a commanding 27-6 lead.
All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers was names NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in a 34-0 drubbing of the New York Jets.
Willis had ten tackles in the game and also added an interception for the dominating San Francisco defense. The linebacker from Ole Miss earned his second career weekly award, the first coming last year after an 18-tackle effort against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"Anytime I win an award, I want to start by thanking my teammates," Willis said to CBSSports.com. "Especially that front seven. I'll say it again, I don't think I'd be half the guy I am today without those guys."
Willis is considered to be one of the premiere defensive players in the league and currently is second on the 49ers with 41 tackles. He is the first 49ers linebacker to ever win two weekly awards.
On the special team's side of the ball, Denver Broncos kicker Matt Prater was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the week after his work against the Oakland Raiders in Denver's dominating 37-6 victory on Sunday.
Prater was 3-for3 on field goals, hitting from 21, 43 and 53 yards. He also had eight kickoffs that went for touchbacks. Prater was involved in a range of plays during the game, including a pass attempt on a fake field goal, but it was incomplete.
According to press release from the Broncos, Prater is the first kicker to have eight touchbacks in a game since 1994. He also improved his career percentage from 50+ yards to 77.8%, which is a record for kickers after the 1970 league merger.
Prater has converted all seven of his field goal attempts and made 11-of-11 extra points this season.
St. Louis Rams rookie kicker Greg Zuerlein was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after a record setting performance in the team's 19-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks.
Zuerlein accounted for 13 of the 19 points for the Rams and connected on kicks from 24, 48, 58 and 60 yards and adding one extra point. He also was involved in the Rams' only touchdown, lining up for a kick that ended up being a fake field goal attempt that resulted in a touchdown.
According to ESPN.com, "One big change for the Rams, according to John McTigue of ESPN Stats & Information: The Rams have attempted field goals (and made them) on all three drives ending between their opponents' 42- and 32-yard lines. These drives produce field goal attempts ranging from 50 to 60 yards. The Rams attempted field goals only 10.5 percent of the time on these drives all last season, making zero of them."
Zuerlein has hit all 12 field goals he has attempted this season and his 60-yard kick was the longest in Rams franchise history. According to a press release on the awards, Zuerlein is the first kicker to have a 60-yard and 50-yard field goal in the same game.
"Right now, our kicker is the MVP of the season," Rams running back Steven Jackson said this week. "Pretty much, all we've got to do is get across the 50-yard line and we're in his range."
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