Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and New York Giants running back Derrick Ward are the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week for games played on Dec. 18–22, the NFL announced Friday.
Manning completed 29 of 34 passes for 364 yards and three touchdowns for a 140.7 passer rating in the Colts' 31-24 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on NFL Network's Thursday Night Football.
Ward posted 215 yards on 15 carries, averaging 14.3 yards per attempt, in the Giants' 34-28 overtime victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday night.
Manning and Ward were selected from among six finalists in Air and Ground categories. The other FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week finalists were quarterbacks Matt Cassel and Philip Rivers, along with running backs Cedric Benson and Le'Ron McClain.
Fans voted for more than their favorite players. The weekly FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week Awards also are a win for local communities. Along with the player awards, FedEx is making a $1,000 donation in the winning players' names to the local Safe Kids USA coalitions in Indianapolis and New York to support pedestrian safety efforts. Safe Kids USA is a national non-profit organization that works to prevent accidental injury among children. This season, FedEx plans to surpass the $1 million mark in terms of charity donations they have made to deliver safe kids through the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Player of the Week Awards program.
During the week leading up to Super Bowl XLIII, FedEx plans to announce the 2008 FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Year in Tampa Bay. FedEx also will make a special delivery for the Tampa Safe Kids chapter, as well as make a special donation in the winning players' names to Safe Kids USA.
FedEx, the premier global provider of transportation, e-commerce and supply-chain management services, is the Official Delivery Service Sponsor of the NFL, Super Bowl and Pro Bowl. Through the weekly FedEx Air & Ground Awards, FedEx recognizes those NFL players who represent the same speed, precision and teamwork that their customers have come to expect from the full range of FedEx air, ground, freight and international shipping services, delivering safer kids in the process. With thousands of trucks out on the roads each day, FedEx is committed to improving pedestrian safety for children, by funding education programs and environmental improvements, from signage and crosswalks to pedestrian walkways near schools and playgrounds.
FedEx Air -- Quarterbacks
FedEx Ground -- Running Backs
Cedric Benson,
Cincinnati Bengals
Benson rushed for 171 yards on 38 carries to help the Bengals defeat the Cleveland Browns 14-0.
Derrick Ward,
New York Giants
Rivers completed 21 of 31 passes for 287 yards and four touchdowns in the Chargers' 41-24 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Le'Ron McClain,
Baltimore Ravens
