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Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, who helped his team stifle another opponent, on Tuesday was among those named NFL Players of the Week.
Lewis was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for the fifth time in his career after he had 15 tackles and an interception in a 13-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers that clinched the first AFC North Division title for Baltimore (10-6).
Seven of Lewis' tackles were within three yards of the line of scrimmage and the Ravens permitted the Steelers to convert just 3-of-15 third downs. Lewis is tied for first on the Ravens' all-time list with 20 interceptions.
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"We just wanted to come in and make a mark going into the playoffs,"
Lewis said.
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Chad Brown was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in a 24-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers. Brown had 10 tackles and had a hand in three sacks as the Seahawks contained 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia.
With the Seahawks holding a 21-17 lead and the 49ers on a 3rd-and-12 from their own 44, Brown and cornerback Shawn Springs combined for a sack. Brown and defensive end John Randle also sacked Garcia on third down on San Francisco's final possession.
"You can credit our defense for playing an outstanding football game," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. "The 49ers are a very potent offensive team and they have been racking up big numbers the last few weeks. I know our defensive guys did a good job."
It was Brown's third career Player of the Week Award and first since 1997, when he was with Pittsburgh.
For the second straight week the NFC Offensive Player of the Week award went to a Green bay Packer as running back Ahman Green was honored for the third time this season.
Green set a team record with 218 rushing yards and ran for a pair of scores on 20 carries in a 31-3 romp over the Denver Broncos. Green had a 98-yard touchdown run, the second-longest in NFL history, and also set a team record with 1,883 rushing yards on the year. Last week, quarterback Brett Favre, was the NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
"The biggest thing for us was just getting the win," Green said. "Now that we made the playoffs, we are excited about facing Seattle. Their defense is going to be flying around and it will be another intense game, both for us and for them."
It was the fifth career Player of the Week Award for Green, who also set a Packers record with 20 rushing touchdowns.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady picked up his sixth career Player of the Week Award after leading his team to the best record in the AFC. Brady completed 21-of-32 passes for 204 yards and four touchdowns in 31-0 rout of the Buffalo Bills as New England (14-2) completed the best regular season in club history.
"One of the things that Tom has really done a good job of the last couple of years is managing the empty backfield, the 'no-huddle' procedure and that really came into play Saturday," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "He made a lot of good decisions, not only the throws, but in terms of just orchestrating the whole procedure."
Tennesse Titans kicker Gary Anderson was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week and New York Giants rookie defensive end Osi Umenyiora was honored in the NFC.
Anderson, 44, was 4-for-4 in field goal attempts as the Titans defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 33-13. He is the oldest ever Player of the Week and it was the seventh award of his career.
Despite his team losing,
37-24, to the Carolina Panthers, Umenyiora had two blocked punts that led to
a pair of touchdowns for the Giants.