Quarterback Matt Ryanof the Atlanta Falcons and linebacker Jerod Mayo of the New England Patriots are the NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Month for October, the NFL announced today.
OFFENSE: QB MATT RYAN, ATLANTA FALCONS
- A first-round pick (No. 3 overall) from Boston College, Ryan started all three games in the month for the Falcons and led the team to a 2-1 record. He completed 61 of 100 passes (61.0 percent) for 772 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions for an 89.3 passer rating. Ryan opened the month by passing for two touchdowns and posting a 94.1 passer rating as he led Atlanta to a 27-24 victory at Green Bay. The next week, the young quarterback completed 73.3 percent of his passes (22 of 30) for a career-best 301 yards along with one touchdown and no interceptions for a 116.1 passer rating. Ryan guided a comeback with 11 seconds remaining to set up the game-winning field goal in the Falcons' 22-20 win over Chicago. The rookie finished the month by passing for 277 yards and tying a career-high with two touchdowns against Philadelphia.
Ryan is the first Falcons player to earn Rookie of the Month honors. He is the second Atlanta player to be honored by the league this year joining running back Michael Turner, who was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week in Weeks 1 and 3.
DEFENSE: LB JEROD MAYO, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Mayo, a first-round selection (No. 10 overall) from Tennessee, led the team with 24 tackles in the month as the Patriots posted a 3-1 (.750) record in October. The first linebacker selected by the Patriots in the first-round in the NFL Draft under head coach Bill Belichick (2000-present), Mayo has started all seven games at inside linebacker this season. The rookie leads the team with 55 tackles and has also added one fumble recovery. Mayo posted his best performance of the month in his first appearance on Monday Night Football against Denver (10/20), registering 11 tackles.
Mayo is the first Patriots player to earn Rookie of the Month honors since wide receiver Deion Branch (Offense) in September of 2002, and he is the first New England player to win Defensive Rookie of the Month since the league started the award in 1996.
