Clemons, Dawkins honored by NFL

DEFENSE: DE CHRIS CLEMONS, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

• Clemons tied a career-high with two sacks, forced a fumble and had a 73-yard fumble-return touchdown in the Eagles’ 44-6 win over Dallas. With the victory, Philadelphia claimed the final NFC playoff berth and will face the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday in an NFC Wild Card game. In the third quarter, Eagles safety BRIAN DAWKINS forced the fumble that led to Clemons’ 73-yard fumble-return touchdown, the first score of his career. On the next drive, Dawkins forced another fumble that JOSELIO HANSON picked up and returned 96 yards for a touchdown. It marked the first time in NFL history that a team had two fumble-return touchdowns of at least 70 yards in the same quarter. The last time a team had two fumble-return touchdowns of at least 70 yards in the same game was September 25, 1938 when the Eagles accomplished the feat against the New York Giants (JOE CARTER, 92 yards and BOB PYLMAN, 88 yards).

In his fifth year from Georgia, this is Clemons’ first career Player of the Week Award. He is the eighth Eagles defensive end to be honored and the first since TRENT COLE (Week 8, 2007). Clemons is the second Eagle to be named Defensive Player of the Week this season (Dawkins, Week 3).

DEFENSE: S BRIAN DAWKINS, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

• Dawkins led a defense that allowed the fewest points (40) in December as the Eagles won three of four games to clinch the final playoff spot in the NFC. Dawkins, who was named to his seventh Pro Bowl, had 36 tackles, one sack, two passes defensed and forced two fumbles which were both returned for touchdowns. During the month, the Eagles allowed an NFC-low 238.5 yards per game. In Week 17 against Dallas, in a game that would decide the final playoff team, Dawkins had nine tackles, a sack and two forced fumbles. Both forced fumbles were returned for touchdowns (CHRIS CLEMONS, 73 yards and JOSELIO HANSON, 96 yards) as the Eagles became the first team in NFL history to have two fumble-return touchdowns of at least 70 yards in the same quarter. Dawkins’ seven Pro Bowl selections are tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer REGGIE WHITE for the second-most by an Eagle (Pro Football Hall of Famer CHUCK BEDNARIK, eight).

In his 13th year from Clemson, this is Dawkins’ second career Player of the Month Award (December 2006). He is tied with defensive ends WILLIAM FULLER (December 1995 and December 1996) and HUGH DOUGLAS (October 1998 and September 2000) for the most Defensive Player of the Month Awards in franchise history.