Voters on NFL.com have made their choice. Linebacker Clay Matthews of the Green Bay Packers is the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week for games played between Nov. 12-16, the NFL announced Friday.
Matthews had one sack and recovered two fumbles, including one that set up the game-sealing touchdown in the Packers' 17-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
Matthews was selected from among five finalists through fan votes on NFL.com/rookies. The other finalists were wide receiver Jeremy Maclin of the Philadelphia Eagles, linebacker Brian Orakpo of the Washington Redskins, running back Bernard Scott of the Cincinnati Bengals and running back Beanie Wells of the Arizona Cardinals.
After the regular season, five players will be nominated for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year honors. Fans can vote for the winner on NFL.com/rookies throughout the month of January. The winner will be announced at a press conference at Super Bowl XLIV in South Florida.
This is Pepsi's eighth year as the official soft drink sponsor of the NFL and the fifth year that Pepsi will present the NFL Rookie of the Week and NFL Rookie of the Year awards.
Maclin made six catches for 76 yards and one touchdown in the Eagles' 31-23 loss to the San Diego Chargers.
Matthews had one sack and recovered two fumbles, including one that set up the clinching touchdown, in the Packers' 17-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
Orakpo recorded five tackles and 1.5 sacks in the Redskins' 27-17 win over the Denver Broncos.
Scott rushed 13 times for 33 yards, added 21 receiving yards and returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown in the Bengals' 18-12 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Wells rushed 16 times for 85 yards and two touchdowns and added 32 receiving yards in the Cardinals' 31-20 win over the Seattle Seahawks.
