NFL Players of the Week: Andrew Luck, Matt Ryan shine in Week 7

Unsurprisingly, the NFL Offensive Players of the Week in the AFC and NFC for Week 7 were the two quarterbacks who shined when they had arguably the most to prove. Andrew Luck led the Indianapolis Colts to a victory over the previously-unbeaten Denver Broncos with 228 yards passing and three touchdowns in a 39-33 win Sunday night. Matt Ryan threw for 273 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Atlanta Falcons over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers despite missing his top two wide receivers, Julio Jones and Roddy White.

Luck last earned AFC Player of the Week honors in Nov. 2012 after passing for an NFL rookie record 433 yards against the Miami Dolphins. Ryan was named NFC Player of the Week last December for his four-touchdown performance against the Detroit Lions.

On the defensive side of the ball, Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams was honored by being named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season. On Sunday, Williams keyed a Bills victory by recording two sacks, the second of which forced a fumble on Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Williams also earned DPOW honors in Week 2 with a 4.5-sack performance against the Carolina Panthers.

For the NFC, Dallas Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee was named Defensive Player of the Week after racking up 11 tackles and an interception in a win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Lee already has 71 total tackles through seven games, putting him on track to smash his career-best of 105 tackles in a single season.

Shaun Suisham kicked four field goals, including the game-winner, to help the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Baltimore Ravens, and was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week as a result. San Francisco 49ers punter Andy Lee placed three punts inside the 20-yard line against the Tennessee Titans to earn NFC honors.