New York, NY – Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin, along with Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher and cornerback Sherrick McManis were recognized as the NFC's top Week 9 performers.
Martin earned top offensive honors for the first time in his career by setting personal and franchise bests of 251 yards rushing and four touchdowns in a 10- point win at Oakland last Sunday. He joined Denver's Mike Anderson as the only other player in NFL history to rush for more than 250 yards and score four times in one game.
The Boise State product also became the first player in league annals to register three TDs of at least 45 yards, scoring on runs of 45, 67 and 70 yards, and his 486 yards from scrimmage over the last two contests is the most by a rookie since Walter Payton in 1977.
Urlacher earned defensive honors by recording seven tackles, a forced fumble and a 46-yard interception returned for a touchdown in the Bears' 51-20 rout of the Tennessee Titans. The pick was his 22nd career swipe, tying him with Hall of Famer Dick Butkus for second-most in NFL history among linebackers in Chicago history.
McManis took home the special teams award thanks to recording two tackles and blocking a punt that was eventually returned for a score in Chicago's blowout victory in Nashville. The Northwestern product was the first non-return specialist to be given the honor since Zackary Bowman for Week 7 in 2008.
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