The first week of NFL awards got off to a historic start on Wednesday, with Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III being named NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
Griffin is the first rookie quarterback to win the week award after his debut game. The Washington Redskins upset the New Orleans Saints on Sunday 40-32.
The No. 2 pick in the 2012 NFL draft torched the Saints for 320 yards passing on 19 of 26 completions and two touchdowns. He is also the first rookie quarterback in history to reach 300-plus yards passing, two or more passing touchdowns and no interceptions in an NFL debut.
His total of 320 passing yards is second all-time for a rookie debut, behind Cam Newton's 422 yards for the Carolina Panthers from a year ago.
Griffin is the first Redskins player to win the award since running back Clinton Portis in 2008 and the first Washington rookie since wide receiver Rod Gardner in 2001.
In his senior season at Baylor, Griffin was electric, passing for 4,293 yards with 37 touchdowns to go along with 700 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on his way to winning the Heisman trophy.
In the AFC, Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco won the Player of the Week award after throwing for 299 yards and two touchdowns in the Ravens 44-13 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. He threw no interceptions and completed 21 of 29 passes.
Baltimore used a new no-huddle offense to throttle the Bengals and totaled 430 yards, more than any AFC team in week one.
Veteran cornerback Ronde Barber of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took home the NFC Defensive Player of the Week after making his 200th consecutive start against the Carolina Panthers. He had a sack, one interception, was credited with two passes defended and five tackles.
It marked the 10th time in his career that he won the award. Barber was drafted by the Buccaneers in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft and has been a Pro Bowler five times.
Tracy Porter of the Denver Broncos was awarded the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his play against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night. He signed as a free agent with the team after playing with the New Orleans Saints.
The cornerback made a key play in the game, returning a 43-yard interception for a touchdown. He also had eight solo tackles and defended five passes. The award marked the first for his career.
The special teams awards went to a punter and receiver for week one.
Minnesota Vikings rookie kicker Blair Walsh won the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award after kicking four field goals in a win against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
He hit a 55-yard kick to send the game in overtime and also kicked a 38-yard field goal that ended up being the winning points. Walsh also had seven kickoffs, four of which were kept for touchbacks.
The AFC Special Team Player of the Week went to Jets receiver Jeremy Kerley for his play in New York's 48-28 win against the Buffalo Bills. He had a 68-yard punt return for a touchdown and also hauled in a touchdown pass from quarterback Mark Sanchez.
He is the first Jet since Santana Moss in 2002 to score a punt return touchodnw. He also is the first player to have a punt return and receiving touchdown in the first week of the season since Az-Zahir Hakim did it in 2000 for the Rams.
The NFL started the weekly awards in 1984.
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