Larry Johnson heads monthly AFC honorees

NEW YORK, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Running back Larry Johnson of Kansas City Thursday was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for December/January.

Johnson was named AFC Player of the Week for the last week of the regular season on Wednesday after rushing for 201 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries in the Chiefs' 37-3 rout of Cincinnati. He finished the season with nine consecutive 100-yard games.

For the year, Johnson -- a first-round pick by Kansas City out of Penn State in 2003 -- had 1,750 yards and 20 touchdowns on 336 carries, breaking the Chiefs' single season rushing total of 1,615, set by Priest Holmes in 2002. Johnson -- who scored a game-winning touchdown against Denver on Dec. 4 -- was joined by Jacksonville linebacker Mike Peterson (defense) and punter Hunter Smith of Indianapolis (special teams) on the Player of the Month roll.

In five games, Peterson made 58 tackles while Smith averaged 45.3 yards on 19 punts.