Want to know who gets more excited than Panini America and NFL collectors about NFL Rookie performances each week during the season? Pepsi with its NFL Rookie of the Weekinitiative. So it comes as no surprise after months of behind-the-scenes work that Panini America and Pepsi would come together to help promote Pepsi Rookie of the Weekvoting and Panini America NFL Rookie trading cards.
The payoff for collectors and NFL fans everywhere are some pretty sweet virtual cards that will be highlighted on NFL.com each week in a special Pepsi Rookie of the Week gallery, across social media platforms and the NFL.com rookies voting page. Each week Panini will feature the five Pepsi Rookie of the Week Nominees in a different Panini football card design – stay tuned to the Knights Lance, our Panini America Facebook page and hobby shops to find out about new Panini designs and what weeks they will be incorporated into Pepsi Rookie of the Week Nominees during the NFL regular season.
Now for the fun stuff . . .
Vote for the NFL Pepsi Rookie of the Week each week during the NFL regular season. Then share the image of the Pepsi Rookie of the Week Nominee you voted for on your Facebook page. In addition, post the image on the Panini America Facebook page (after you “like†us if you haven’t already) or simply comment with the nominee you voted for. On Twitter, use the hashtag #PepsiROW and mention @PaniniAmerica to Tweet out the card image of the rookie you voted for. For doing those things, you’ll be eligible to win prizes throughout the season. Oh, and there just might be a special payoff at the end of the season.
Now for your Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week nominees for Week 13:
Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston had seven tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble and one pass defensed in the Chiefs’ 10-3 victory over the Chicago Bears.
Tennessee Titans middle linebacker Colin McCarthy tallied nine tackles, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one pass defensed in the Titans’ 23-17 win over the Buffalo Bills.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton completed 12 of 21 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown, and rushed 14 times for 54 yards and three touchdowns in the Panthers’ 38-19 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His three rushing scores give him 13 on the year, which breaks the NFL record for most rushing touchdowns in a season by a quarterback.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian*Ponder completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 381 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in the Vikings’ 35-32 loss to the Denver Broncos.
Houston Texans quarterback T.J. Yates converted 12 of 25 pass attempts for 188 yards and a touchdown in the Texans’ 17-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons. It was Yates’ first start.