!The NFL announced Tuesday that quarterbacks Tom Brady of the New England Patriots, Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys and Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions are the finalists for the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week honors for games played on September 18 - 19, while running backs LeGarrette Blount of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Fred Jackson of the Buffalo Bills and Micheal Turner of the Atlanta Falcons are the finalists for the FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week.
Fans can vote for one player in each category on NFL.com/FedEx from 9 a.m. ET on Tuesday through 3 p.m. ET on Friday to determine the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week. The winners will be announced Friday on NFL Total Access on NFL Network and on NFL.com.
FedEx will support education efforts at Junior Achievement by making weekly $2,000 donations in the winning players' names. The funding, allocated to local Junior Achievement area offices in that team's city or state, is used to educate the next generation of entrepreneurs on how to start and grow their own small businesses.
This season fans will be voting for more than their favorite player. FedEx introduces a new program called the FedEx Small Business of the Week. As fans visit NFL.com/FedEx to vote for their favorite Air & Ground players each week, they can also cast their vote for one of three small business nominees. FedEx will award $5,000 each week to the small business that receives the most online votes. The program then culminates in recognizing the FedEx Small Business of the Year with an all-inclusive trip to Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis.
FEDEX AIR -- QUARTERBACK NOMINEES
Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Brady completed 31 of 40 passes for 423 yards and three touchdowns in the Patriots' 35-21 win over the San Diego Chargers. After passing for 517 yards in Week 1, Brady is now the only player in NFL history to post a 400-yard passing performance immediately following a 500-yard game. His 135.7 quarterback rating was the highest of any quarterback on the weekend.
Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
Romo completed 20 of 33 passes for 345 yards and two touchdowns in the Cowboys' 27-24 overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers. Romo was forced to leave the contest early in the game, but returned late in the third quarter to lead Dallas to 13 unanswered points and a comeback victory. His 77-yard pass to WR Jesse Holley on the Cowboys' first offensive play of overtime set Dallas up for a 19-yard field goal for the win.
Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions
Stafford completed 23 of 39 passes for 294 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the Lions' 48-3 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. The 45-point margin of victory is the largest in Detroit team history. Combined with his three Week 1 touchdown passes, Stafford's four score performance helped him tie a 1962 Lions team record for most touchdown passes in the season's first two games.
VOTE NOW >>
FEDEX GROUND -- RUNNING BACK NOMINEES
LeGarrette Blount, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Blount tallied 13 carries for 71 yards and two touchdowns in the Bucs' 24-20 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. His two scores came in the second half as Tampa Bay rallied to win after an early 17-point deficit. His four-yard touchdown run with 31 seconds left secured the Bucs' victory.
Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills
Jackson had two touchdowns and 117 yards on just 15 carries to help the Bills overcome the Oakland Raiders, 38-35. His 7.8 yards-per-carry average was the highest among backs with more than 10 carries.
Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons
Turner rushed for 114 yards and a score on 21 carries in the Falcons' 35-31 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With Atlanta trailing in the fourth quarter, Turner broke off a 61 yard run to put the Falcons deep into Eagles' territory. Five plays later, he scored the go-ahead and game-winning touchdown.
VOTE NOW >>
