Aaron Rodgers made it easy on those choosing the NFC Offensive Player of Week 3.
The Green Bay Packers quarterback threw five touchdowns, to go along with 333 yards on 24-of-35 passing, in a 38-28 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night. The early blowout was more lopsided than the score indicated thanks to Rodgers' pristine play. It's Rodgers' 13th Player of the Week honor, passing Brett Favre (12) for most in team history.
Rogers became the third player to ever throw five TD passes and zero INTs on Monday Night Football, joining Ben Roethlisberger and Drew Brees. He also extended his NFL record streak without an interception at home. The signal-caller has now thrown 486 passes over 16 straight games at Lambeau without a pick. That was 43 touchdowns ago, Week 13, 2012.
The praise for the quarterback has been palpable, with everyone diving on the Rodgers = Jordan in his prime comparison. In reality, you could compare any all-time great to Rodgers and it could work -- Tiger Woods, Pablo Picasso, Hemmingway, Michael Jackson -- thats how special the Packers quarterback has played.
The rest of this week's winners:
NFC
Arizona Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu: The Honey Badger was all over the field in the Cards' 47-7 demolition of the San Francisco 49ers. The buzzy safety earned two picks and five tackles. Used all over the formation, Mathieu has been a pest for offenses through three games.
Philadelphia Eagles PR-RB Darren Sproles: The running back's 89-yard touchdown return keyed the Eagles' first win of the season. It was the second-longest punt return TD in Philly franchise history. Sproles also added a rushing touchdown, becoming the only player in NFL history with 15-plus rushing TDs (17), 25-plus recieving TDs (27) and 5-plus punt return TDs (6) in a career.
AFC
Cincinnati Bengals WR A.J. Green: Green went off for 10 receptions, 227 yards and the final two Bengals' touchdowns in Cincy's 28-24 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. Green was so uncoverable it left Ravens coach John Harbaugh exasperated, wondering if his team will ever be able to slow down the wideout before he retires.
Buffalo Bills LB Preston Brown: The linebacker led the way in the Bills' 41-14 shellacking of division rival Miami Dolphins. Brown compiled two picks and seven tackles in the beat down. The second-year linebacker will garner much more national attention this season as a playmaker in Rex Ryan's defense.
Indianapolis Colts Punter Pat McAfee: McAfee booted five balls for 250 net yards in Sunday's 35-33 win. Perhaps more impressively, the 28-year-old executed a fake punt on fourth-and-10, deep in his own territory for an 18-yard gain.
