On Wednesday, the NFL named the winners of offensive, defensive and special teams players of the month of October 2012 for both the NFC and AFC.
In the AFC, the top offensive player is one not too unfamiliar with the award. Peyton Manning was named the AFC offensive player of the month for October. It is the fifth time he has been given a “Player of the Month” award in his career. Manning completed 77 of 104 passes (74%) for 951 yards with nine touchdowns versus one interception and a 126.7 passer rating as he helped the Broncos to a 2-1 record in October. He currently is the top-rated passer in the NFL.
On the defensive side of the ball in the AFC, it was Cameron Wake of the Miami Dolphins who was given the nod. Wake earned a sack in each of Miami’s three games in October… all of which they won. He is second in the AFC in sacks with 7.5 and is a huge contributor to Miami’s AFC-leading 12 points allowed per game.
The Oakland Raiders’ Sebastian Janikowski was the AFC’s top special teams performer in October. The Raiders scored 72 points as a team for the month… and Janikowski scored exactly half of those with 36. He went 10 for 11 and helped Oakland to a 2-1 record in October.
In the NFC, Aaron Rodgers earned top dog status and named player of the month. He completed 96 of 141 passes (68.1%) for 1,101 yards with 14 touchdowns and one interception for a 121.5 passer rating during the month as the Packers went 3-1. This is the sixth time Rodgers has earned the award.
Charles Tillman of the Chicago Bears was named the top defenseman in the NFC for October. Tillman had two interceptions returned for TDs, two forced fumbles, five passes defensed and 23 tackles in October. Tillman was an easy choice since he won “Defensive Player of the Week” awards twice in October.
Finally, it was Lawrence Tynes, Placekicker for the New York Football Giants who named NFC special teams player of the month. Tynes led the NFL during the month with 13 field goals and 51 points as the Giants went 4-0. This is Tynes’ first ever player of the Month award.
