Tom Brady and Carson Palmer earned Offensive Player of the week honors — Brady for the AFC, Palmer for the NFC — for Week 12 after leading their teams to big victories.
NFL players of the week: Tom Brady, Carson Palmer, Troy Polamalu given weekly honors
The Patriots’ comeback victory and the Cardinals’ thrashing of the Colts earned the team’s quarterbacks the NFL’s weekly award.
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Troy Polamalu was named AFC Defensive Player of the week while Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David earned the honors in the NFC. A pair of kickers — the Vikings' Blair Walsh and the Ravens' Justin Tucker — took home the weekly special teams awards.
Brady led the Patriots on a furious second-half comeback to stun the Broncos, throwing for 344 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. Sure, he was helped to the victory by a boneheaded Broncos turnover, but those numbers stack up against anyone.
Polamalu looked like his old self in the Steelers' win over the Browns, wreaking havoc all over the field. He finished with four tackles, a sack, two forced fumbles and a pass defended for good measure. His ineffectiveness early in the season was a big reason for the Steelers' slow start. His resurgence has helped Pittsburgh right the ship.
Lavonte David was an absolute monster for the Buccaneers on Sunday, as he has been all year. He had 12 total tackles, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble, an interception and a pass breakup. He now has 99 tackles, five sacks and two interceptions on the year.
Blair Walsh was a massive part of the Vikings' efforts to tie the Packers in Week 12, going 4 of 4 on field goal attempts, including nailing a 35-yarder with 3:49 left in overtime to tie the game. Justin Tucker was just as solid for the Ravens, going 4 of 4 in the Ravens' 19-3 win over the Jets, including hitting one from 53 yards.
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