Red-Hot Esiason again Wins NFC Honor

NEW YORK (Reuter) - Boomer Esiason of the Arizona Cardinals, who has enjoyed an amazing three-game streak that has brought his team into the thick of the playoff race, Wednesday was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety John Lynch was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week while San Francisco 49ers kicker Jeff Wilkins captured the conference's special teams honor. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Carl Pickers was named Offensive Player of the Week in the AFC, while Buffalo Bills safety Kurt Schulz and Jacksonville Jaguars punter Bryan Barker were the winner on defense and special teams.

Esiason, who won the award three weeks ago, was 24-of-43 for 367 yards and three touchdowns, including a 24-yarder to Marcus Dowdell with 14 seconds left that gave the Cardinals a 36-30 victory in a wild shootout with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Esiason has thrown for 1,149 yards in the last three weeks, the third-most prolific three-game span in NFL history. Joe Montana threw for 1,192 yards during the 1990 season and Dan Fouts passed for 1,177 in 1982.

Lynch registered five tackles, had an interception, forced a fumble and had a fumble revovery as the Buccaneers managed a 13-7 win over the New Orleans Saints. It is the first time he has won Player of the Week.

Wilkins, who was honored for the second time in his career, made four of his five field goal attempts, including the game-winning 38-yarder in overtime that gave the 49ers a 19-16 win over the Washington Redskins. The victory kept the 49ers a game ahead of the Carolina Panthers in the NFC West.

Pickens matched a career high with 11 catches and added 176 yards and three touchdowns as the Bengals outscored the Atlanta Falcons, 41-31. His scoring catches covered 61, seven and 14 yards.

Schulz led the Bills with 10 tackles and picked off a pair of passes in Buffalo's 35-10 rout of the New York Jets. He had two interceptions against the Bengals the week before, making him the first Bill since Charley Warner in 1965 to have multiple interceptions in back-to-back games.

Barker punted four times for an average of 50.8 yards to help the Jaguars to a 28-25 overtime win over the Baltimore Ravens. Two of his punts went for 56 yards and another for 57 that was downed at the Baltimore 6-yard line late in regulation.

All AFC honorees were first-time winners.