Tag: afc defensive player of the month

Ravens ILB Roquan Smith named AFC Defensive Player of the Month

Ravens inside linebacker Roquan Smith has been named the AFC Player of the Month for December/January

Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Roquan Smith has been in the news quite a bit over the course of the last week. He has had plenty happen to him, and on Thursday a massive announcement pertaining to the inside linebacker was made to honor his incredible performance in both December and January.

The NFL announced that Smith has won Defensive Player of the Month for December and January, putting a cap on a phenomenal on-field display. He has transformed the Baltimore defense, and was a key staple for the team over the last few months of the regular season.

Smith’s numbers were off the charts in the month of December and January.  He racked up 66 total tackles, six tackles for loss, and an interception. Since he was traded to the Ravens, he’s also brought leadership and made the defense one of the best in the league.

This has been a great week for Smith.  First, he signed a massive five-year extension to avoid free agency and stay with the Ravens and is now being named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month.  Smith is already fired up about playing the Cincinnati Bengals again so it’s likely he’s even more motivated to knock them out of the playoffs on Sunday night.

Jerome Baker shares his reaction to winning Defensive Player of the Month

He’s glad his defense is getting the recognition.

The Miami Dolphins’ Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee, linebacker Jerome Baker, received another honor this week, as he was named the AFC’s Defensive Player of the Month for December.

During his Thursday media availability, Baker shared how he found out about the award and how he felt receiving it.

“I was happy,” Baker said. “I was in meetings, and I was just sitting there and my phone kept buzzing and buzzing and buzzing. I think Duke reposted it, and I clicked his notification, and that’s when I found out. I was definitely happy.”

The moment has to be a great feeling, but the reaction from those around you has to be even better. When Baker was asked who had the best reaction, the answer was pretty obvious.

“Yeah, it’s definitely my mom and my dad,” Baker explained. “They might’ve texted me like a million times about it. They text me, they call me, they DM me on social media. It’s like, they just keep saying it, so I know they’re proud… happy just to get an award and bring attention to our defense. We’ve definitely been doing our thing this past month.”

Miami’s defense has been rolling since they started their winning streak, and the individual players are finally getting that recognition.

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Jerome Baker named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for December

This is the linebacker’s player of the month honor.

The Miami Dolphins have successfully turned their season around due in large part to the efforts of their defense.

Throughout this seven-game winning streak, they rank first in sacks, red zone defense, opponent passer rating, yards allowed per play, scoring defense, third-down defense, and total defense. One of the biggest reasons for these impressive rankings is the emergence of linebacker Jerome Baker.

The former Buckeye has been so good, that he was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for December. In Miami’s three games in the month, Baker recorded 16 tackles, six quarterback hits, and 3.5 sacks to help the Dolphins win all three games.

On the season, Baker has 79 total tackles, 14 quarterback hits, 4.5 sacks, three passes defended, one interception, and a forced fumble.

Baker is the first Dolphins player to earn this honor since Cameron Wake won it in 2012.

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Broncos OLB Von Miller named AFC Defensive Player of the Month

Von Miller’s first month back from an ankle injury: 6 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, six QB hits, four sacks. He’s BACK!

Von Miller is officially back!

After missing all of the 2020 season with an ankle injury, Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller has returned in style to begin the 2021 campaign.

Through the first three games of the season, Miller has totaled eight tackles, six quarterback hits, six tackles behind the line of scrimmage (tied for the most in the NFL) and four sacks (second-most in the AFC).

Those impressive totals earned Miller AFC Defensive Player of the Month honors for September, the league announced Thursday. This marks the fourth time in his career that Miller has earned DPOM recognition.

For the Broncos overall, this marks the 12th time one of their defenders has received DPOM honors. Denver’s last non-Miller players to earn the recognition were DeMarcus Ware (Sept. 2015) and Champ Bailey (Oct. 2006, Nov. 2005).

Miller has now totaled 110 sacks in his career, which ranks 23rd on the NFL’s all-time sack list. Miller needs 28 more sacks to join Ware in the Top 10 on the league’s all-time list.

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T.J. Watt named AFC Defensive Player of the Month

The honor of AFC DPOM goes to none other than T.J. Watt.

September’s Defensive Player of the Month belongs to Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt. And deservedly so. With his command of opposing offenses, Watt has racked up 3.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hits, nine tackles, three tackles for a loss, two pass defenses, and a pick through three games.

For his 2.5-sack performance versus the Denver Broncos in Week 2, T.J. was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week. He also logged four quarterback hits and four tackles.

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“I think he’s still writing that story,” Mike Tomlin told Teresa Varley of Steelers.com. “He was pretty awesome a year ago, to be quite honest with you. I know he has the intention of being continually better, so he’s still writing that story. His talents are just a part of the equation. His hyper-focus, his attention to detail, his awareness I think all add up to big playmaking ability and splash plays for us.”

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Steelers LB T.J. Watt named AFC Defensive Player of the Month

T.J. Watt had a huge November and the NFL recognized it.

It’s been a huge month for Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt. Heck, it’s been a huge season. But for November, Watt was truly elite and his efforts got him the AFC Defensive Player of the Month honors.

During the four games in November, Watt racked up 6.5 sacks, nine quarterback hits, forced a pair of fumbles and had 16 total tackles.

Watt has plenty of competition for the best defensive player in the league, some of them are on his own team. Watt’s huge season has been coupled with fellow outside linebacker Bud Dupree and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. The three of them have been all-but unstoppable this season.

If Watt continues on his current pace, he will finish with 16.5 sacks for the season which would be a single-season Steelers record.

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