New York, NY – Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith, Denver linebacker Von Miller and New England return specialist Julian Edelman have been selected as the AFC's top players for Week 11 of the NFL season.
Smith picked up the offensive award after catching six passes for 165 yards with a touchdown in Baltimore's 31-24 win over Cincinnati. The rookie notched his second 150-yard receiving game with a touchdown this season and joined Ken Burrow (1971) and Randy Moss (1998) as the only first-year players to accomplish that feat in multiple games since the 1970 merger.
Miller, also a rookie, earned defensive honors after registering a career-high 10 tackles with 1 1/2 sacks and a forced fumble in Denver's 17-13 win over the Jets. He has 9 1/2 sacks this season and has joined Derrick Thomas (1989) and Julius Peppers (2002) as the only first-year players to record at least 9 1/2 sacks through his team's first 10 games since the stat became official in 1982.
Edelman returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown during New England's 34-3 romp over Kansas City to take home the special teams award.
Others considered for the offensive award included Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, who had four catches for 96 yards and two scores in the win over the Chiefs; San Diego receiver Vincent Jackson, who caught seven passes for 165 yards with a touchdown in a 31-20 loss to Chicago; and Cincinnati receiver Jerome Simpson, who hauled in eight passes for 152 yards against the Ravens.
Defensive nominees included New England cornerback Kyle Arrington, who tied a career high with two interceptions against Kansas City, and Baltimore linebacker Jameel McClain, who posted nine tackles in the win over Cincinnati.
Denver's Cassius Vaughn was considered for the special teams honor after averaging 33 yards on three kickoff returns and recovering a fumble on kickoff coverage.
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