The NFL released its list of top players from the month of October on Thursday and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton and Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson top the list.
Andy Dalton, Calvin Johnson win October player of the month awards
The Red Rifle and Megatron highlight this month’s list of the NFL’s top players.
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Dalton, who helped lead the Bengals to a perfect 4-0 record in October, was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month. The third-year man out of TCU ravaged defenses during the win streak, completing 89 of 131 passes for 1,246 yards, 11 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He closes the month with a 116.8 passer rating.
Dalton's best game came last week during a 49-9 drubbing of the Jets, in which he threw a career-high five touchdowns and completed 63.3 percent of his 30 pass attempts.
Johnson was named the NFC's top offensive player following back-to-back monster games to close the month. Hampered by a knee injury, he missed the Lions' matchup with Green Bay back on October 6 and was severely limited the following week against the Browns, but more than made up for it during Weeks 7 and 8. Against the Bengals and Cowboys, Megatron piled up 484 yards and three touchdowns. His absurd 14-reception, 329-yard outburst in the win over Dallas left him just seven yards shy of the NFL single-game receiving yards record.
Dalton’s Bengals got the best of Johnson’s Lions in Week 7, winning 27-24.
As for the other awards:
| AFC defensive player | Robert Mathis | Indianapolis Colts |
| NFC defensive player | Sean Lee | Dallas Cowboys |
| AFC special teamer | Stephen Gostkowski | New England Patriots |
| NFC special teamer | Mason Crosby | Green Bay Packers |
| Offensive rookie | Eddie Lacy | Green Bay Packers |
| Defensive rookie | Tyrann Mathieu | Arizona Cardinals |
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