PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aaron Hernandez, New England Patriots
For those who don’t know, the second-year tight end used to be a running back.
He showed it Sunday.
In New England’s 49-21 win over Buffalo, Hernandez had seven catches for a team- and career-high 138 yards and a touchdown. It was his third game this season with over 100 yards receiving and nearly all of that came on yards-after-catch.
“I’m just trying to make moves and make people miss. Sometimes it works,” said Hernandez, who turned a pair of short-yardage completions into gains of 44 and 27. “I was a running back until high school. I loved carrying the ball and making moves. I still love to do that.”
Hernandez (79) and Rob Gronkowski (90) finished the regular season with 169 combined receptions, the most by a pair of tight ends in NFL history.
Statistics updated through Week 17
QUARTERBACK
Rex Grossman (2000-2002) Redskins
Week 17 — 22 completions, 45 attempts, 256 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Season — 265 completions, 458 attempts, 3,151 yards, 16 TDs, 20 INTs, 5 fumbles lost
Tim Tebow (2006-2009) Broncos
Week 17 — 6 completions, 22 attempts, 60 yards, 1 INT
Season — 126 completions, 271 attempts, 1,729 yards, 12 TDs, 6 INTs
RUNNING BACKS
Earnest Graham (1999-2002) Buccaneers
Season — 37 carries, 206 yards, 0 TDs, 1 fumble (out for season with torn Achilles)
Percy Harvin (2006-2008) Vikings
Week 17 — 5 carries, 13 yards, 1 TD
Season — 52 carries, 345 yards, 2 TDs, 2 fumbles lost
Louis Murphy (2005-2008) Raiders
Week 17 — 1 carry, 27 yards
Season — 6 carries, 69 yards, 1 TD
Tim Tebow (2006-2009) Broncos
Week 17 — 6 carries, 16 yards, 1 fumble lost
Season — 122 carries, 660 yards, 6 TDs, 6 fumbles lost
RECEIVERS
Andre Caldwell (2003-2007) Bengals
Week 17 — inactive
Season — 37 catches, 317 yards, 3 TDs
Riley Cooper (2006-2009) Eagles
Week 17 — active
Season — 16 catches, 315 yards, 1 TD
Jabar Gaffney (2000-2001) Redskins
Week 17 — 4 catches, 28 yards
Season — 68 catches, 957 yards, 5 TDs (career-high)
Earnest Graham (1999-2002) Buccaneers
Season — 26 catches, 163 yards, 0 TDs (out for season with torn Achilles)
Percy Harvin (2006-2008) Vikings
Week 17 — 10 catches, 115 yards
Season — 87 catches, 967 yards, 6 TDs (career-high)
Aaron Hernandez (2007-2009) Patriots
Week 17 — 7 catches, 138 yards, 1 TD; 2 carries, 26 yards
Season — 79 catches, 810 yards, 7 TDs
Louis Murphy (2005-2008) Raiders
Week 17 — 5 catches, 72 yards
Season — 15 catches, 241 yards, 0 TDs
David Nelson (2005-2009) Bills
Week 17 — 2 catches, 23 yards
Season — 61 catches, 658 yards, 5 TDs
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Cooper Carlisle (1996-1999) Raiders — 16 games, 16 starts
Marcus Gilbert (2006-2010) Steelers — 14 games, 14 starts
Maurice Hurt (2006-2010) Redskins — 8 games, 8 starts
Maurkice Pouncey (2007-2009) Steelers — 14 games, 14 starts
Mike Pouncey (2007-2010) Dolphins — 16 games, 16 starts
Max Starks (2000-2003) Steelers — 12 games, 12 starts
Phil Trautwein (2004-2008) Saints — 0 games, 0 starts (practice squad)
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN/LINEBACKERS
Jermaine Cunningham (2006-2009) Patriots
Season — 9 games, 1 tackle, 0 sacks, 0 INTs (out for season with hamstring injury)
Andra Davis (1998-2001) Bills
Week 17 — 1 solo tackle
Season — 16 games (3 starts), 14 tackles (6 solo), 0 sacks, 0 INTs
Carlos Dunlap (2007-2009) Bengals
Week 17 — 6 tackles (1 solo), 0.5 sack
Season — 12 games (1 start), 23 tackles (11 solo), 4.5 sacks, 0 INTs, 3 pass deflections
Derrick Harvey (2004-2007) Broncos
Week 17 — inactive
Season — 4 games, 4 tackles (2 solo), 0 sacks, 0 INTs
Ray McDonald (2003-2006) 49ers
Week 17 — 1 solo tackle
Season — 15 starts, 39 tackles (29 solo), 5.5 sacks, 0 INTs, 2 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles
Jeremy Mincey (2004-2005) Jaguars
Week 17 — 5 tackles (4 solo), 2.5 sacks
Season — 16 starts, 57 tackles (4o solo), 8 sacks, 1 INT, 1 pass deflection, 2 forced fumbles
Jarvis Moss (2004-2006) Raiders
Week 17 — 2 solo tackles
Season — 14 games (1 start), 16 tackles (11 solo), 1.5 sacks, 0 INTs, 1 pass deflection
Mike Peterson (1995-1998) Falcons
Season — 14 games (3 starts), 20 tackles (14 solo), 0 sacks, 1 INT, 3 pass deflections (out for season with torn triceps)
Brandon Siler (2004-2006) Chiefs
Season — 0 games, 0 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 INTs (out for season with torn Achilles)
Brandon Spikes (2006-2009) Patriots
Week 17 — 3 tackles
Season — 8 games (6 starts), 47 tackles (32 solo), 0 sacks, 0 INTs, 1 pass deflection
Marcus Thomas (2004-2006) Broncos
Week 17 — 3 tackles (2 solo)
Season — 12 games (11 starts), 43 tackles (29 solo), 0 sacks, 0 INTs, 1 pass deflection
Justin Trattou (2007-2010) Giants
Week 17 — inactive
Season — 6 games, 1 tackle, 0 sacks, 0 INTs
Gerard Warren (1998-2000) Patriots
Week 17 — active
Season — 12 games, 12 tackles (8 solo), 1 sack, o INTs
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Ahmad Black (2007-2010) Buccaneers
Week 17 — 3 tackles (1 solo)
Season — 4 games, 5 tackles (3 solo), 0 INTs, 0 pass deflections
Joe Haden (2007-2009) Browns
Week 17 — 4 tackles (3 solo)
Season — 15 starts, 65 tackles (53 solo), 0 INTs, 19 pass deflections, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble
Reggie Nelson (2005-2006) Bengals
Week 17 — 2 solo tackles
Season — 16 starts, 85 tackles (59 solo), 4 INTs, 12 pass deflections, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles
Lito Sheppard (1999-2001)
Week 17 — 5 solo tackles
Season — 9 games (7 starts), 43 tackles (40 solo), 0 INTs, 4 pass deflections, 1 sack
Major Wright (2007-2009) Bears
Week 17 — 9 tackles (4 solo), 1 pass deflection
Season — 12 games (11 starts), 57 tackles (41 solo), 3 INTs, 6 pass deflections
SPECIAL TEAMS
Percy Harvin (2006-2008) Vikings — 16 kick returns, 520 yards (32.5 avg.), 1 TD
Chas Henry (2007-2009) Eagles — 66 punts for 2,83o yards (42.9 avg., long of 60)
