QB Young, LB Merriman among NFL Players of the Week

Dec 27, 2006 - 7:33 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Vince Young has been the driving force behind the Tennessee Titans' six-game winning streak. It finally resulted in an AFC Offensive Player of the Week award for the rookie quarterback.

Young passed for two touchdowns and raced for a 36-yard score to engineer his fourth comeback in the fourth quarter or overtime in a 30-29 win at Buffalo last Sunday.

The third overall pick in the draft, Young is 8-4 since taking over as the Titans' starter.

Linebacker Shawne Merriman of the San Diego Chargers was named as the AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

Running back Steven Jackson of the St. Louis Rams and defensive end Aaron Kampman of the Green Bay Packers were named as the NFC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week.

Merriman had three sacks, two other quarterback pressures, two passes defensed and five tackles in the Chargers' 20-17 win at Seattle.

A first-round pick in 2005, Merriman earned his second career AFC Defensive honor.

Jackson rushed for 150 yards on 33 carries, including a 21-yard touchdown in overtime, and caught six passes for 102 yards in the St. Louis Rams' 37-31 victory over Washington. It is his third career Player of the Week award.

Kampman tied his career high with three sacks and recorded seven tackles in the Packers' 9-7 win over Minnesota.

Kickers Robbie Gould of the Chicago Bears and Kris Brown of the Houston Texans were named as the NFC and AFC Special Teams Players of the Week, respectively.

Gould tied his career high with four field goals in the Bears' 26-21 victory over the Detroit Lions.

Brown kicked a 48-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Texans to a 27-24 upset of the Indianapolis Colts.