Pennington earns AFC player honor

NEW YORK, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Miami quarterback Chad Pennington was the season's final AFC offensive player of the week Wednesday.

In his ninth season from Marshall, Pennington completed 22-of -30 passes for 200 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, leading the Dolphins' 24-17 win over the New York Jets, his former team.

His 20-yard fourth quarter touchdown pass to Anthony Fasano helped rally the Dolphins to their 13th AFC East title and first the since 2000 season.

Pennington's 113.2 passer rating marked the fourth straight week and eighth time this season that he recorded a rating of 100.0 or more.

He was joined in the AFC by Pittsburgh cornerback Tyrone Carter (defense) and New England punter Chris Hanson (special teams).

Carter made two interceptions, returning one for a fourth quarter touchdown, in the Steelers' 31-0 shutout of the Cleveland Browns.

Hanson punted three times for 135 yards into 35-50 mile per hour winds in the Patriots' 13-0 win at Buffalo.