Jackson, Dawkins, Hester nab NFC monthly awards

Jan 4, 2007, 21:10 GMT

New York, NY - St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles safety Brian Dawkins and Chicago Bears kick and punt returner Devin Hester were named the NFC's top players for the month of December.

Jackson became only the fourth player in NFL history to score 10 touchdowns in December, picking up 849 total yards from scrimmage. In five games, he rushed for 596 yards with seven TDs and also hauled in 27 passes for 253 yards and three scores.

The All-Star back started the month with 165 scrimmage yards against Arizona on December 3rd, then followed up the effort with 139 yards and two touchdowns against the Chicago Bears. On December 17 against Oakland, he tacked on 127 yards and twice found the end zone as the Rams shut out the Raiders 20-0. The next weekend he once again had two touchdowns and became the first player in team history with 100 yards rushing (150) and 100 yards receiving (102) in the same game on his way to earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week accolades. He finished out the month with four TDs and 142 yards on the ground as the Rams defeated Minnesota.

The third-year player finished the season with 1,528 yards and 90 catches, joining La Dainian Tomlinson as the only players in NFL history with 1,500 yards and 90 catches in one season.

Dawkins racked up 48 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, six passes defensed, two quarterback hurries and one sack, garnering his first Player of the Month Award.

The Eagles went 5-0 and captured the NFC East during the stretch, and Dawkins was also named to the Pro Bowl for the sixth time in his 11-year career.

Hester picked up the special teams award en route to scoring three touchdowns and setting an NFL record with six return TDs in a single season.

The rookie from Miami was named to the Pro Bowl Team and also earned two NFC Special Teams Players of the Week Awards for the month. He started off with a 45-yard touchdown return in a win over Minnesota, then had kickoff-return touchdowns of 94 and 96 yards against the Rams on December 11th.

Hester averaged 12.4 yards per punt return and 27.6 yards per kickoff return in December as the Bears won four of 5 and clinched homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

© 2007 The Sports Network