NFC Offensive Player of the Month: Aaron Rodgers
For the sixth time in his career, Aaron Rodgers is named NFC Offensive player of the month, tying him with Tom Brady, Bret Favre, Steve Young, Barry Sanders and Bruce Smith for the most all time.
The month of October was a complete turn around from the less than stellar 1-2 start that the Packers got off to this season. In October, Aaron Rodgers has thrown for 1,101 yards on 96-for-141 passing with 14 touchdowns and just a single interception. Rodgers biggest game of the month was a six-touchdown performance against the often great defense of the Houston Texans. The Packers are now on a three game winning streak as they head into their match up with the struggling Arizona Cardinals this weekend.
NFC Defensive Player of the Month: Charles Tillman
After Bears corner Tim Jennings won NFC Defensive Player of the Month for September, another corner from the City of Wind took home the award this month. Charles Tillman has had a spectacular month in Chicago.
Tillman returned one of five Tony Romo interception for a touchdown on the first Monday Night game of the month. The next week, he took a Blane Gabbert pick to the house in the Bears 41-3 rout of the Jaguars. The following week, he was given the assignment to cover one of the game’s most prolific wide-outs in Calvin Johnson. Johnson was thrown to 11 times but ended the game with only 34 yards on three catches.
In the final game of the month, Tillman recorded seven tackles and a deflected pass to wrap up the award. Tillman is a huge reason the Bears are now 6-1 with a 1.5 game lead in the NFC North.
AFC Offensive Player of the Month: Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning’s comeback has been nothing short of incredible as he is now leading or is tied for the lead in most significant passing categories (yards, touchdowns, passer rating).
In October, he threw for at least 300 yards in every game and at least a 115.0 passer rating. Also in those games, he’s completed 74 percent of his passes and has thrown for nine touchdowns and just one interception. Manning has the Broncos atop the AFC West and has the Broncos at the third best offense in the NFL with an average of 405.3 yards per game.
AFC Defensive Player of the Month: Cameron Wake
Coming into this season, not many were expecting the Miami Dolphins to be much of anything while they used this year to break in rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Instead, the Dolphins are 2nd in the AFC East with a 4-3 record due in large part to their defense, and more specifically, Cameron Wake.
Wake recorded one sack in each of his three games during the month of October and added nine tackles to help him secure the AFC Defensive Player of the Month award. Wake has a high motor and was able to get to the quarterback five other times. Miami’s defense gave up an average of 13 points per game in their three wins in October.
