Saints QB Brees among Players of the Week

Oct 29, 2008 - 4:34 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who enjoyed a big game at the expense of his former team, was honored as the NFC's Offensive Player of the Week on Wednesday.

Facing the San Diego Chargers for the first time in his career, Brees completed 30-of-41 passes 339 yards and three touchdowns as the Saints posted a 37-32 victory in front of a crowd of 83,226 at Wembley Stadium in London.

Brees leads the the league with 2,563 passing yards through eight games, putting him on pace to eclipse Dan Marino's single-season record of 5,084 yards set in 1984.

Another quarterback was named in the AFC as Chad Pennington took home the honor after throwing for 314 yards and a touchdown in leading the Miami Dolphins to a 25-16 victory over the Buffalo Bills.

Defensive Player of the Week awards went to end Mathias Kiwanuka of the New York Giants in the NFC and safety Chris Hope of the Tennessee Titans in the AFC.

Kiwanuka registered three sacks, five tackles and forced a fumble in the Giant' s 21-14 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Hope helped keep the Titans remain unbeaten as he collected a career-high two interceptions and added four tackles in a 31-21 triumph over Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.

Special Team honors went to Santana Moss of the Washington Redskins in the NFC and Jacoby Jones of the Houston Texans in the AFC.

Moss returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter as the Redskins overcame the winless Detroit Lions, 25-17. He also had a 50-yard TD catch earlier in the contest.

Jones also found the end zone on a punt return, scoring on 73-yarder in the first quarter as the Texans rolled to a 35-6 rout of the winless Cincinnati Bengals.