Tag: afc defensive player of the month

Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr. named AFC Defensive Player of the Week

Derek Stingley Jr. helped the Houston Texans win the AFC South and could be on his way to securing Defensive Player of the Month honors.

Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. proved on Sunday that he’s possibly the league’s top defensive back in man coverage.

The NFL tends to agree with that statement heading into Saturday’s showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Stingley was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week following his two-interception performance that helped the Houston Texans capture their second consecutive AFC South Division Championship.

This marks the second time Stingley has won the award since being drafted No. 3 overall in 2022.

“Stingley has been impactful throughout the entire year. I think for the past three wins, he’s been our defensive player of the game,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday. “So, when he’s making impact plays, it’s putting us in position to win football games.”

In Week 15’s 20-12 win over the Miami Dolphins, Stingley notched five tackles, including two for loss, two interceptions and two pass breakups. He also secured the victory with a game-sealing interception against Tua Tagovailoa while in man coverage against All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill.

Stingley led the NFL in interceptions for the week while his two tackles for loss also paced the league for defensive backs.

He became the first cornerback in NFL history to record two interceptions and two tackles for loss in a single game.

With his two interceptions, Stingley became one-of-two players in the NFL this season to record multiple interceptions in the fourth quarter of a game.

“All-Pro Sting,” safety Calen Bullock said following the game. “I’ve been calling him that since camp. And I think he’s gonna go get it.”

In 15 games, Stingley has tallied a career-high 46 tackles, four tackles for loss, five interceptions and 17 passes defended. He’s also recorded a franchise-record six interceptions in the month of December despite missing the entire month due to injury in his rookie campaign.

Derek Stingley Jr. helped the Houston Texans win the AFC South and could be on his way to securing Defensive Player of the Month honors.

The accolade marks the 61st time a Texan has been named Player of the Week and the 22nd time a defensive player claimed the award.


Stingley joins running back Joe Mixon, kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn and defensive end Will Anderson Jr, as Texans players to win Player of the Week honors in 2024.

Ryans, who handed him the game ball following Sunday’s performances, wants more from the league before the season ends.

“He better be the Defensive Player of the Month,” Ryans said to the locker room postgame

Broncos CB Pat Surtain named AFC Defensive Player of the Month

Congrats to Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain for being named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month!

Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for November, the NFL announced Thursday.

“In the month of November, Surtain played in 140 total coverage snaps, allowing just nine receptions for 55 yards on 17 targets, according to Next Gen Stats,” the team stated in a press release announcing the award. “(Surtain) also did not allow a single reception in Week 9 against Baltimore when facing wide receiver Zay Flowers and Week 11 against Atlanta while facing wide receiver Drake London and Darnell Mooney.”

Earlier this season, Surtain earned AFC Player of the Week honors following his two-interception performance against the Las Vegas Raiders in Denver.

Surtain became the first Denver player to earn AFC Player of the Month honors since former linebacker Von Miller did so in September 2021.

“Surtain has started all 12 games played this season for the Broncos, totaling 31 tackles (23 solo), three interceptions (128 yds., 1 TD) and nine passes defensed,” said the release. “According to NFL NextGen Stats, he ranks Top-5 among all cornerbacks this season with at least 325 coverage snaps in receiving yards allowed (1st, 207), tight window throws forced (1st, 35.9%), receptions (2nd, 24), targets (2nd, 39) and passer rating allowed (4th, 60.5).”

Surtain’s monthly award is just a small part of the tremendous push he’s made for NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2024.

Surtain and Co. have a bye this week before hosting the Indianapolis Colts at Empower Field at Mile High in Week 15.

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Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. named AFC Defensive Player of the Month

Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. made a case to win Defensive Player of the Year for his performance in the month of October.

Another week, another accolade for Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr.

The second year pass-rusher was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month Thursday, the league office announced prior to Houston’s matchup against the New York Jets.

This marks the first time Anderson has earned Player of the Month honors. The former No. 3 overall pick has been the defensive back toward a 3-1 record during the month of October and 6-2 overall, the team’s best start since 2012.

Entering Thursday’s game, Anderson recorded 17 tackles, including an NFL-leading seven for loss. He’s also accumulated five sacks, one pass defensed that resulted in an interception and one fumble recovery that sealed a victory.

His sacks led the AFC and ranked second in the NFL during October, while also recording 12 stops at or behind the line of scrimmage, the second-most in the NFL.

Drafted out of Alabama in 2023, Anderson  has recorded at least one sack in the last three contests, just one-of-eight players to do so across the league this year. His magic month is highlighted by a Week 6 performance that featured four tackles for loss, a career-high three sacks and a pass defensed that was deflected to his teammate for an interception.

Anderson’s career day concluded with him being honored as AFC Defensive Player of the Week after becoming just the 12th player in NFL history to record at least five tackles, four tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and one pass defensed in a game.

Through eight games, Anderson has a career-high 7.5 sacks and also leads the NFL with 11 tackles for loss.

This marks the 20th time a Texan has been honored as player of the month and the first time a defensive player has garnered the award since J.J. Watt claimed the nod in September of 2018.

The Texans return to NRG Stadium to take on the Detroit Lions on Nov. 10 as the primetime game on Sunday Night Football.

Ravens linebacker named AFC Defensive Player of the Month

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Kyle Van Noy named AFC Defensive Player of the Month after posting six sacks in the first four games

Kyle Van Noy returned to Baltimore on a two-year deal with the idea of being a consistent contributor, but one month through the 2024 NFL regular season, he’s played like the defensive player of the year.

Van Noy has been named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month after a dominating four-game stretch to the season.

Van Noy has logged six sacks, seven tackles for loss, nine quarterback hits, and one forced fumble this month.

According to PFF, Van Noy has an 88.0 overall grade, an 85.2 pass rush grade, four QB hurries, and 17 QB pressures.

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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