Giants' Derrick Ward leads top NFC players

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- New York Giants running Derrick Ward is the NFC offensive player of the week after gaining 215 yards on 15 carries in their 34-28 overtime win over Carolina.

The yardage represented a career-high for the Ottawa University product.

While earning his first POW honor, Ward is the first Giant to be named offensive player of the week since former star running back Tiki Barber in Week 17 of the 2006 season.

Other NFC honorees were Seattle cornerback Josh Wilson (defense) and Washington punter Ryan Plackemeier (special teams).

Wilson had five tackles, two interceptions and his first career sack in the Seahawks' 13-3 victory over the New York Jets.

He doubled his season-total with the two interceptions.

Plackemeier, a three-year veteran and the Ray Guy Award at Wake Forest as the nation's best punter, placed five of his eight kicks at or inside the 10-yard line and allowed only seven return yards in the Redskins' 10-3 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.