ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – After a career-best performance in which he re-wrote the Broncos' record books, wide receiver Eric Decker was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week, the NFL announced on Wednesday.
Decker set a franchise record with four touchdown catches and finished with a career-best 174 yards on eight catches in Denver's 35-28 win at Kansas City on Sunday.
"Once you start getting into a rhythm, you build some confidence," Decker said after the game. "For me,
it's getting into that rhythm. Have fun and just remembering that it's football – that's what I got back to today was just playing, letting things come to me, not forcing things."
Decker started his high-scoring day with a 41-yard touchdown catch that tied the score 7-7. He nearly scored again on a 42-yard catch later in the second quarter when he was brought down at the Kansas City 3-yard line.
Manning and Decker connected on a 37-yard strike on the opening drive of the second half that tied the game 21-21.
"We were able to get down the field, protection held up and allowed us to get down the field and Eric was awesome," said quarterback Peyton Manning, who finished with five touchdown passes in the win. "Really, hats off to him the way he played today."
Decker's third touchdown came on a 15-yard snag on the Broncos' next drive that gave Denver a 28-21 lead. He capped his historic outing with a fourth and final touchdown – a 1-yard pass to the corner of end zone, which proved to be difference in the win.
"Eric had a great day today, four touchdowns," Interim Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Jack Del Rio said Sunday night. "And we needed all of them so it's great to see it."
Decker's recognition brings the Broncos' total conference player of the week awards up to six on the season. Quarterback Peyton Manning was named the Offensive Player of the Week in Weeks 1 and 3 and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas earned the same accolade in Week 10. Wide receiver Trindon Holliday was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Weke 2 and Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie won the AFC Defensive Player of the Week Award in Week 8.
The weekly award is the first such honor of Decker's NFL career, and is the 52nd such honor in team history since the award was initiated in 1984.
