Vikings' Tarvaris Jackson top NFC player

NEW YORK, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Minnesota Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson is the NFC offensive player of the week after his career-high four touchdown passes against Arizona.

In the Vikings' 35-14 win over the Cardinals, the three-year veteran from Alabama State completed 11-of-17 passes for 163 yards and a 135.5 passer rating.

His first career player-of-the-week honor recognizes his performance in his first start since being benched for lackluster outings in two season-opening losses.

Others named in the NFC were Dallas end Marcus Ware (defense) and Chicago kick returner Daniel Manning (special teams).

Ware equaled career-high with three of the eight overall sacks in the Cowboys' 20-8 win over the New York Giants.

Manning returned five kickoffs for 179 yards, including an 83-yard touchdown on the game's opening kickoff in the Bears' 27-24 overtime win over the New Orleans Saints.

Manning, in his third season from Abilene Christian, is the third member of the Bears' defense to earn weekly honors this season.

The others were end Adewale Ogunleye (defense, week one) and safety Zackary Bowman (special teams, week seven).