Cassel, Reed, Higgins earn AFC weekly honors
Sports Network | November 26, 2008
New York, NY (Sports Network) - New England Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel, Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed and Oakland Raiders punt returner Johnnie Lee Higgins have been selected as the AFC Players of the Week for Week 12 of the NFL season.
Cassel won the offensive honor by completing 30-of-43 passes for 415 yards and a career-high-tying three touchdowns in New England's 48-28 road thrashing of fellow AFC East foe Miami. Cassel, who was intercepted once in the game, completed 69.8 percent of his throws on his way to a 114.0 passer rating and also tallied a rushing touchdown for the reigning AFC champs. Cassel's 415 passing yards marked the fifth time in NFL history that a quarterback has accumulated 400 or more passing yards in consecutive games. He threw for 400 against the New York Jets on November 13. The fourth-year pro out of Southern California earned his second weekly honor as he also won in Week 7 of this season.
Reed earned defensive honors by helping Baltimore flatten the visiting Philadelphia Eagles 36-7, as the former Miami Hurricane registered two tackles, two passes defensed and equaled a career-best with a pair of interceptions. In the fourth quarter, Reed picked off Eagle QB Kevin Kolb in the end zone and raced 108 yards for the longest interception return in league history. He set the previous mark with a 106-yard return against the Cleveland Browns four years ago. A seven-year pro, Reed has now won this award three times.
Higgins was the special teams player of the week after returning a punt for a touchdown for the second time in two games, as his Raiders ripped the Denver Broncos 31-10. Higgins' 89-yard score marked the third-longest punt return in team history. He had the franchise's second-longest return two weeks ago, when he bolted for 93 yards against Miami. In his second year out of Texas-El Paso, Higgins is a first-time winner of this award.
Other nominees for AFC offensive honors were Buffalo quarterback Trent Edwards, Kansas City tight end Tony Gonzalez, New York Jets center Nick Mangold, Baltimore fullback Le'Ron McClain and New England wideout Randy Moss. Edwards completed 24-of-32 passes for 273 yards and two TDs in a 54-31 rout of the Chiefs.
Other defensive nominees were Jets' safety Abram Elam, Indianapolis defensive end Robert Mathis and rookie Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin. Elam piled up 10 tackles and forced a fumble in New York's 34-13 road victory over previously unbeaten Tennessee.
Other candidates for special teams honors were Bills linebacker Blake Costanzo, Ravens rookie linebacker Jameel McClain and Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri, who booted a 51-yard game-winner in a 23-20 win against San Diego.
