Category: Awards

Danielle Hunter wins NFC Defensive Player of the Month

Hunter terrorized opposing defenses all season long leading to his award

After terrorizing defenses in the month of October, Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Danielle Hunter won NFC Defensive Player of the Month.

The sack leader in the National Football League with 10.0 sacks, Hunter dominated opposing offenses in October. He recorded the third-most sacks in October with 5.0 and led the NFC with two forced fumbles. Hunter also notched 18 tackles with 5.0 tackles for loss.

Hunter was the catalyst of a Vikings defense that led the NFL in forced fumbles (7), third in yards per play (4.6) and yards per game (287).

After being a potential trade piece at the trade deadline, Hunter stayed with the Vikings and will be a really important piece moving forward.

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Vikings earn second-consecutive NFC Defensive Player of the Week

The award went to a Vikings player for the second-consecutive week

The Minnesota Vikings secured their second-consecutive Defensive Player of the Week award as safety Camryn Bynum wins the award for his week seven performance against the San Francisco 49ers.

Bynum was the catalyst for the Vikings win on Monday night. He had nine tackles (seven solo) and two passes defended, but forcing three takeaways (forced fumble, two interceptions) was the major key in the Vikings victory.

After the Vikings threw an interception on their third play, Bynum forced a Christian McCaffrey fumble five plays later and the Vikings scored on the ensuing drive.

He also picked off Brock Purdy twice in the fourth quarter. The first one was a mistimed double move that Bynum had gift-wrapped. The second was much more impressive.

The Vikings played drop-eight coverage with a cover three base and Bynum drops as a robber. He leaps up and snatches the ball out of the air to seal the game for the Vikings.

This is the second player of the week award for the Vikings, as Jordan Hicks won the award the previous week.

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Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie on Ben Simmons, Cam Thomas, Cam Johnson, Kevin Durant, James Harden, free agency

Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie discussed the Kenny Atkinson and Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden eras, All-NBA expectations for Ben Simmons,  All-Star expectations for Mikal Bridges, why Nic Claxton will get a $100 million contract, why Cam Thomas could win Sixth Man of the Year, Dinwiddie’s free agency, and more with host Michael Scotto on the latest HoopsHype podcast episode.

Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie discussed the Kenny Atkinson and Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden eras, All-NBA expectations for Ben Simmons,  All-Star expectations for Mikal Bridges, why Nic Claxton will get a $100 million contract, why Cam Thomas could win Sixth Man of the Year, Dinwiddie’s free agency, and more with host Michael Scotto on the latest HoopsHype podcast episode.

For more interviews with players, coaches, and media members, be sure to like and subscribe to the HoopsHype podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Listen to the podcast above or check out some snippets of the conversation in a transcribed version below.

Jared Goff adds to his awards with the FedEx Air Player of the Week

Goff also won the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for Detroit’s big win in Tampa Bay

The honors keep pouring in for Lions quarterback Jared Goff. For his outstanding performance in Detroit’s Week 6 road win in Tampa Bay, Goff earned the FedEx Air Player of the Week honor.

Goff earlier won the NFC Offensive Player of the Week, which is decided by the league. The FedEx award comes via fan voting, and the fans made a great choice with Goff.

It’s the fourth time Goff has won the award since joining the Lions in 2021 and first this season. From the press release,

By winning the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week Award, FedEx will make a $2,000 donation in Goff’s name to a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), which will be applied towards needs-based scholarships to deserving HBCU students.

Congrats to Goff!

Jared Goff wins the NFC Offensive Player of the Week

Jared Goff wins the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his great Week 6 performance in Detroit’s win in Tampa Bay

A very deserving Jared Goff has been named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in Detroit’s 20-6 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. No other NFC offensive player was better than the Lions quarterback in Week 6.

Goff had a fantastic game in the road win, completing 30 of his 44 pass attempts for a league-high 353 yards and two touchdowns. His QB Rating of 107.5 was the 2nd-highest of any qualifying NFC passer, and Goff’s mistake-free day helped him capture the honor.

He’s the first Lions player to win any of the weekly awards in 2023.

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Jordan Hicks wins NFC defensive player of the week

Hicks was phenomenal against the Bears on Sunday and was rewarded for it

After a fantastic performance against the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings inside linebacker Jordan Hicks won NFC defensive player of the week.

It was a great game for the veteran linebacker from Texas, who notched both an interception and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. He also added 10 total tackles and a pass defended.

His scoop-and-score ended up being the game-winner for the Vikings on Sunday.

Hicks has been a standout for the Vikings defense all season. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has relied upon Hicks to be the one constant on the second level, including playing every snap in multiple games this season.

This is the first player of the week award won by a Vikings player in 2023 after winning four of them in 2022.

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Jared Goff nominated for FedEx Air player of the week

Lions QB Jared Goff nominated for FedEx Air player of the week for Week 6 win over the Buccaneers

Jared Goff was delivering great throws all over Raymond James Stadium in Sunday’s matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. For his clutch play and prolific passing, Goff is one of three nominees for the FedEx Air Player of the Week for Week 6.

The Lions quarterback had an outstanding game in the win. Goff completed 30 of his 44 pass attempts for 353 yards, 2 touchdowns and a 107.5 QB rating. Goff is up against Derek Carr of the Saints and Tua Tagovailoa of the Dolphins.

If Goff wins, it will the first time this year a Lions player captured one of the FedEx weekly honors.

 

4 Lions earn spots on PFF’s Team of the Week for Week 5

The Lions play in the trenches earned a lot of acclaim from PFF in Week 5

The Detroit Lions exhibited a dominant physical presence in the trenches in the 42-24 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. The fantastic play by the lines on both sides of the ball earned some nice recognition from Pro Football Focus.

Four different Lions earned a place on PFF’s “Team of the Week” for Week 5. All four play along the lines, with two from offense and two on defense.

Right guard Graham Glasgow

Right tackle Penei Sewell

Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson

Defensive tackle Alim McNeill

Both Hutchinson and McNeill earned overall game grades over 90 on defense, which also earned Hutchinson the defensive player of the week honors. Detroit’s offensive line captured the weekly OL honor too,

The Lions’ offensive line had another nice outing in their win over the Panthers, with their starting five linemen combining to allow six pressures. Center Frank Ragnow and right tackle Penei Sewell each surrendered zero pressures. Detroit had a strong day running the ball, with 3.2 of the offense’s 5.3 yards-per-carry average coming before contact.

The impressive play in the trenches helped the Lions roll the Panthers right out of Ford Field and keep the visitors winless on the season.

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David Montgomery nominated for FedEx Ground Player of the Week

Montgomery ran for 121 yards and 3 TDs in Green Bay

For a player who was officially questionable for the matchup, Lions running back David Montgomery sure looked great in Detroit’s Week 4 win over the Green Bay Packers. Montgomery earned a nomination for the FedEx Ground Player of the Week for his gritty performance on Thursday Night Football.

Montgomery fought through a painful thigh bruise that had sidelined him in Week 3 and gashed the Green Bay defense for 121 yards on 32 carries. He scored touchdowns on three of those runs, making him a very worthy nominee for this week’s FedEx Ground award.

He’s up against Christian McCaffrey of the 49ers and Derrick Henry of the Titans.

The honor is decided by fan voting. From the press release from FedEx:

Voting is open until Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. ET at NFL.com/FedEx each week of the season. Fans can also vote on Twitter via the @NFL published polls and on the NFL Mobile App. 

Frank Ragnow honored by the NFLPA for his community service

Ragnow was recognized for his charitable work involving grieving families

It’s always cool to see the Detroit Lions players be more than just guys who strap on pads and play football. The players are very involved in giving back to the local communities, both in Detroit and their hometowns. One Lions player was honored for his selfless charitable acts.

Center Frank Ragnow was named the NFLPA’s Community MVP for Week 4 by the player’s union. The Pro Bowl center was recognized for taking eight families suffering from recent losses of loved ones out on a fishing trip in Lake St. Clair near Detroit, in conjunction with a local hospice center.

Ragnow, an avid angler and outdoorsman, also gave personal fishing lessons and equipment to the 16 kids on the trip.

“Thank you to the NFLPA for recognizing me as the Week 4 Community MVP,” Ragnow said via the NFLPA. “It’s a great honor to be recognized for the work I have been doing with my nonprofit, The Rags Remembered Foundation.”