Quarterback Tom Brady of the New England Patriots, defensive end Jared Allen of the Kansas City Chiefs, and kicker Rob Bironas of the Tennessee Titans are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Month for October, the NFL announced today.

OFFENSE: QB TOM BRADY, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Led by veteran signal caller Tom Brady, the Patriots posted a 5-0 record in October and are off to their best start in franchise history (8-0). For the NFL's top ranked passing offense and total offense, Brady tossed 20 touchdown passes in October, which set a league record for most touchdown passes in a month. Brady completed 128 of 179 passes (71.5 percent) for 1,544 yards with 22 touchdowns (20 passing, 2 rushing) and a 132.5 passer rating in the month. He posted 11 of his 20 touchdown passes for the month in Weeks 6 and 7. In a 48-27 win at Dallas (10/14), Brady set a career-high with five touchdowns passes, while completing 31 of 46 passes (67.4) for 388 yards and a 129.6 passer rating. One week later at Miami (10/21), he eclipsed the feat with six TD passes, while completing 21 of 25 passes (84.0 percent) for 354 yards and a perfect passer rating of 158.3. Brady leads the league in completions (198), completion percentage (74.2), passing yards (2,431), touchdown passes (30) and passer rating (136.2) through Week 8. Brady has already surpassed his previous career-high of 28 touchdowns in 2002 and 2004. Brady also tied an NFL record with eight consecutive games with three or more touchdown passes last week (PEYTON MANNING, 8).

In his eighth season from Michigan, this is Brady's second consecutive Player of the Month Award this season (September) and second of his career.

DEFENSE: DE JARED ALLEN, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Counted on heavily for his edge rushing and run stopping skills, Jared Allen notched 16 tackles, six sacks and one forced fumble as the Chiefs posted a 2-1 (.667) record in October and earned a share of first place in the AFC West. Allen's six sacks led the NFL for the month and his eight sacks for the season lead the AFC and tie for second in the league. The fourth-year veteran registered 1.5 sacks or more in all three games in October. Allen began the month with four tackles and 1.5 sacks in a 17-7 loss to Jacksonville (10/7). In the Chiefs' 27-20 win over Cincinnati (10/14), Allen recorded 2.5 sacks and forced a fumble. Kansas City concluded the month with a 12-10 victory against the Raiders (10/21), and Allen collected nine tackles and two sacks for his ninth career multi-sack game.

In his fourth year from Idaho State, this is Allen's first Player of the Month Award.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K ROB BIRONAS, TENNESSEE TITANS

Tennessee's Bironas made 13 of 14 field goals (92.9 percent) and all six PATs as he helped the Titans earn a 3-1 (.750) record for the month. Bironas accounted for 45 of the team's 81 points in October and currently ranks second in the NFL in scoring with 67 points (STEPHEN GOSTKOWSKI, 73). In the Titans' three wins in October, the third-year kicker connected on 12 of 13 field goals, including an NFL-record eight field goals (52, 25, 21, 30, 28, 43, 29 and 29 yards) against Houston on Oct. 21. The previous NFL record was seven field goals in a game, which was accomplished by four players: JIM BAKKEN (9/24/67), RICH KARLIS (11/5/89), CHRIS BONIOL (11/18/96) and BILLY CUNDIFF (9/15/03).

In his third year from Georgia Southern, this is Bironas' first Player of the Month Award.