The Harrington Family Foundation

By Mike O'Hara / The Detroit News

ALLEN PARK -- Joey Harrington is spreading the credit for winning his first major award as quarterback of the Lions -- the same way he spread the ball around in the opening victory over Arizona.

Harrington was named NFC offensive player of the week for throwing four touchdown passes against the Cardinals. Two went to rookie Charles Rogers. Cory Schlesinger and Bill Schroeder each caught one.

Harrington ranks first in the NFC with a passer-efficiency rating of 116. He accepted the award in stride Wednesday.

"Honestly, this sounds kind of cliched, but I didn't get sacked, I didn't get pressured, guys were making plays," Harrington said. "It was a team thing this week."

The Lions did not have a turnover in the game. Harrington would like to have a repeat performance at Green Bay on Sunday, but he stressed there is a difference between playing smart football and simply being careful. He'll take his shots when the opportunity is there.

"I didn't say 'careful' with the football," Harrington said. "You have to stay aggressive. You have to go after it, because if you sit back and you play careful football, you're going to get run over -- especially at someone else's place.

"You can't play careful. You have to play aggressive, but you have to play smart."

The last time a Lion won the offensive award was receiver Germane Crowell in 1999. Kicker Jason Hanson won the special-teams player award in Week 9 -- and the Lions' eighth game -- last year.