CHARGERS QB PHILIP RIVERS, TITANS S MICHAEL GRIFFIN &
DOLPHINS K DAN CARPENTER
NAMED AFC PLAYERS OF MONTH FOR OCTOBER
Quarterback PHILIP RIVERS of the San Diego Chargers, safety MICHAEL GRIFFIN of the Tennessee Titans and kicker DAN CARPENTER of the Miami Dolphins are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Month for October, the NFL announced today.
OFFENSE: QB PHILIP RIVERS, SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
For the month, Rivers completed 125 of 185 passes (67.6 percent) for an NFL-high 1,562 passing yards with eight touchdowns versus three interceptions and a 101.2 passer rating.
Rivers' 1,562 passing yards during the month set an NFL record for the most passing yards in October, passing Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (1,555 in October of 1988).
In Week 4 against Arizona, Rivers registered a season-best 148.1 passer rating with two touchdowns versus zero interceptions.
Rivers now has 2,649 passing yards this season, the most passing yards through a team's first eight games of a season in NFL history.
In his seventh season from North Carolina State, Rivers has three career Player of the Month Awards, the most in franchise history. He previously won the award in December of 2008 and 2009.
DEFENSE: S MICHAEL GRIFFIN, TENNESSEE TITANS
In October, Griffin led the AFC and ranked second in the NFL with four interceptions as he helped the Titans post a 3-2 record for the month.
In Week 5 against Dallas, Griffin recorded 10 tackles and picked off a TONY ROMO pass in the end zone, thwarting a Cowboys threat in the third quarter.
In Week 7 against Philadelphia, Griffin recorded his 15th career interception and became the seventh player in franchise history with an interception in four consecutive games.
For the season, Griffin is tied for first in the AFC and tied for third in the NFL with four interceptions.
In his fourth year from Texas, this is Griffin's first Player of the Month Award. He is the first Titans player to win Defensive Player of the Month since ALBERT HAYNESWORTH in September of 2008.
SPECIAL TEAMS: K DAN CARPENTER, MIAMI DOLPHINS
Carpenter led the NFL with 13 field goals for the month as he helped the Dolphins post a 2-2 record in October.
In Week 6, Carpenter recorded the fourth game-winning kick of his career when he connected on a 44-yard field goal in a 23-20 overtime win at Green Bay.
In Week 7 and 8, Carpenter made five field goals and joined JOHN CARNEY (1994), JOHN KASAY (1996) and RICHIE CUNNINGHAM (1997) as the only kickers to convert at least five field goals in consecutive games in NFL history.
Carpenter led all NFL players with 11.3 points per game in October.
In his third season from Montana, this is Carpenter's second career Player of the Month Award. He previously won the award in November of 2008.
