Manning, Rodgers receive NFL honors

NEW YORK, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- Quarterbacks Peyton Manning of Denver and Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay were named Thursday as the NFL's top offensive players for the month of October.

Manning, in his first season with the Broncos, captured the AFC honors by completing 77-of-104 passes for 951 yards and nine touchdowns in his three games during the month. He had only one interception. It is the fifth time in his career he has been named player of the month.

Rodgers captured the award in the NFC with a 14-touchdown performance in four games. He completed 96-of-141 throws for 1,101 yards. Rodgers has become the only quarterback in NFL history to throw for at least 20 touchdowns during the first half of the season two years in a row.

The other AFC awards went to Cameron Wake of Miami as the top defensive player and Oakland kicker Sebastian Janikowski as the leading special teams player.

Wade tied for the AFC lead with three sacks during the month from his defensive end position. Janikowski was good on 10-of-11 field goal attempts while scoring 36 points -- half of Oakland's total in October.

Chicago cornerback Charles Tillman was named top defensive player in the NFC thanks to his two interception returns for touchdowns and two forced fumbles.

Lawrence Tynes of the New York Giants kicked 13 field goals during the month to receive the NFC special teams honor.