EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Terence Newman made his biggest impact Sunday by taking from others.
By Wednesday, when he was named **NFC Defensive Player of the Week*** *for Week 10, the 37-year-old was giving credit.
Newman had two interceptions of Derek Carr in Oakland, including one in the end zone with 2:03 remaining in the game. Newman took a knee for a touchback, and Adrian Peterson followed with an 80-yard touchdown run on which he **blazed a trail** across the short blades of grass.
"Winning the Defensive Player of the Week award is nice, but I think it's a collective deal," Newman said. "I wouldn't have been able to get the accolades if it wasn't for my teammates putting pressure on the quarterback and being in the right positions. I got the credit, but I have to give the credit to those guys because they helped me."
Newman became the second 37-year-old to record two interceptions in one game while playing cornerback (Hall of Famer and former teammate with the Cowboys Deion Sanders did it in 2004). Newman alertly jumped a route in the first quarter, then the "5-foot-12-ish" [5-10-real-ish] boxed out 6-4 receiver Andre Holmes, tipped the ball to himself and secured it.
"He was in great position and made a play on the ball," cornerback Xavier Rhodes said.
Newman, who signed as a free agent this offseason, became the second Viking to win the weekly award in as many weeks, following up Linval Joseph's **monster game** against the Rams.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was asked about Newman during a conference call with Twin Cities media members Wednesday.
"He's a great player. I've played against him a few times over the years and have always had a ton of respect for him and his game," Rodgers said. "He's a willing tackler, a solid cover guy, trusts his instincts, has good short- and long-range speed, obviously excellent ball skills as you saw last week, tipping the ball to himself, a big interception there. He's a talented guy."
Newman was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week in 2003 after picking off Washington quarterback Tim Hasselbeck three times in Newman's rookie season in Dallas.
In six previous games against the Packers, Newman has recorded 31 tackles, two interceptions (one of Brett Favre, one of Rodgers) and returned a fumble 58 yards for a touchdown. Newman's 39 career interceptions rank third among active players.
