The NFL handed out offensive, defensive, and special teams player-of-the-month awards for December/January in their respective conferences on Monday.
Brees broke Dan Marino’s 27-year-old season passing mark (5,084 yards) on Dec. 26. He finished the season with 5,476, while leading the Saints to a 5–0 record since the end of November.
Brady’s 1,608 yards passing over the final five games paced the AFC and matched Brees with a 5–0 mark for his Patriots.
Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs had five sacks, four forced fumbles, and defended two passes from his linebackers’ position. Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul recorded six sacks, a safety, a forced fumble, a blocked field goal, and two passes defended. Their accomplishments earned them defensive player-of-the-month awards in their respective conferences.
Kickers Matt Prater, who had two game-winning field goals, and David Akers, who led the NFL in points with 58, were named special teams players of the month.
