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VIKINGS RB ADRIAN PETERSON, CARDINALS S TYRANN MATHIEU &

PANTHERS K GRAHAM GANO

NAMED NFC PLAYERS OF MONTH FOR NOVEMBER

​Running back ADRIAN PETERSON of the Minnesota Vikings, safety TYRANN MATHIEU of the Arizona Cardinals and kicker GRAHAM GANO of the Carolina Panthers are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Month for November, the NFL announced today.

OFFENSE: RB ADRIAN PETERSON, MINNESOTA VIKINGS

• Peterson led the NFL in rushing yards (634), rushing touchdowns (five), 100-yard rushing games (four) and scrimmage yards (716) as the Vikings went 4-1 during the month.
• He is one of five players in NFL history to rush for at least 600 yards and five touchdowns while averaging at least 5.0 yards per carry in November of a single season. He joins Pro Football Hall of Famers WALTER PAYTON (1977), ERIC DICKERSON (1984) and BARRY SANDERS (1997) and CHRIS JOHNSON (2009).
• Peterson rushed for at least 125 yards in three games during the month and became the sixth player in NFL history with at least 30 such games. The other five are all enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Sanders (46), JIM BROWN (41), Payton (38), Dickerson (36) and EMMITT SMITH (34). 
• He had two 150+ yard rushing games in November and has 18 such performances in his career. That is tied for the fourth-most all-time with Dickerson and Smith. Only Sanders (25), Brown (22) and Payton (20) have more.
• In Week 10, Peterson rushed for 203 yards, his sixth career 200-yard rushing game, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer O.J. SIMPSON for the most in NFL history.
• In his ninth season from Oklahoma, this is Peterson’s second career Player of the Month Award (December 2012).
• Peterson is the only running back in franchise history to win multiple Offensive Player of the Month Awards. 

DEFENSE: S TYRANN MATHIEU, ARIZONA CARDINALS

• Mathieu had 27 tackles, two interceptions and six passes defensed as the Cardinals went 4-0 during the month.
• He was the only defensive back in the NFL to have at least 25 tackles and two interceptions during November and just one of three players – linebackers LUKE KUECHLY and LAVONTE DAVID – to do so.
• Mathieu had an interception in both of Arizona’s division games during November. In four division games this season, he has 30 tackles, four interceptions, one touchdown, eight passes defensed and a forced fumble.
• He is the only player in the NFL this season with at least 70 tackles and four interceptions.

• In his third year from Louisiana State, this is Mathieu’s first career Player of the Month Award. 
• Mathieu is the second Cardinals player to be named Defensive Player of the Month (KWAMIE LASSITER, November 2001). 

SPECIAL TEAMS: K GRAHAM GANO, CAROLINA PANTHERS

• Gano led the NFL in scoring (62 points) and field goals (15) during November as the Panthers went 5-0.
• He made multiple field goals in all five games, including four games with at least three field goals.
• Gano was a perfect six-for-six on 48+ yard field-goal attempts in November and had at least one successful 48+ yard field goal in all five games.
• He converted both 50+ yard field-goal attempts, including the game-winning 52-yarder in Carolina’s Week 8 overtime win against Indianapolis.
• He also had 19 touchbacks on kickoffs, tied for the most during the month.
• In his sixth season from Florida State, this is Gano’s first career Player of the Month Award.
• Gano joins JOHN KASAY (two) as the only Panthers kickers to win Special Teams Player of the Month.
  
  

2015 NFC PLAYERS OF THE MONTH