Tag: AFC Defensive Player of the Week

Nik Bonitto snubbed for weekly award despite matching J.J. Watt’s impressive stat

Nik Bonitto is the NFL’s first player since J.J. Watt (2014) with double-digit sacks and multiple TDs in a season. Watt won DPOY in 2014.

Denver Broncos outside linebacker Nik Bonitto was not named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week following his impressive performance against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

The NFL instead gave that honor to Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley after he totaled five tackles, two interceptions and two pass breakups in Week 15.

Bonitto was snubbed after recording five tackles (including one behind the line of scrimmage), one quarterback hit, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, a half-sack and a 50-yard fumble-six.

Bonitto now has 11.5 sacks on the season, tied for third overall and just one sack away from Trey Hendrickson’s league-leading 12.5 sacks.

Before his fumble-six against the Colts, Bonitto had a 71-yard pick-six against the Cleveland Browns in Denver’s previous game, making him the first player in NFL history to post 50-plus-yard defensive touchdowns in consecutive games.

Bonitto is also the first player to record double-digit sacks and multiple touchdowns since J.J. Watt accomplished that feat in 2014. Watt ended that season with 20.5 sacks and he was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Bonitto would probably need to lead the league in sacks to have a shot of winning DPOY this season. The 25-year-old pass rusher has three games remaining to build on his career-high 11.5 sacks in 2024.

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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

Dolphins lineman earns AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors

A couple of timely fourth quarter sacks helped the Dolphins pull off a comeback Sunday.

Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Zach Sieler earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career, the NFL announced Wednesday.

Sieler, 29, recorded two sacks and three quarterback hits in the Dolphins’ 32-26 overtime win against the New York Jets. Both of his timely sacks of Aaron Rodgers came in the fourth quarter and effectively ended a pair of Jets drives.

The first came on a third down deep in Miami territory, forcing New York to punt for the first time Sunday.

His second sack came with just over a minute left in the fourth quarter, pinning the Jets into a third-and-21 situation they were unable to convert.

“Man, he played a game. He had a day today,” Dolphins defensive lineman Calais Campbell said after the game. “So many close plays early. So many close plays early, but just bringing that energy, bringing that leadership, bringing that passion and then the dam broke in that fourth quarter. He went off and made big plays that essentially called game for us or at least gave us a shot for the offense to call game.”

Sieler is the Dolphins’ first AFC Defensive Player of the Week honoree of the season and the team’s first since Bradley Chubb earned the distinction for recording three sacks against the Jets in a 2023 game

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Chargers CB Tarheeb Still named AFC Defensive Player of the Week

Chargers cornerback Tarheeb Still was recognized for his efforts in the win over the Falcons.

Chargers cornerback Tarheeb Still was recognized for his efforts in the victory over the Falcons, as he was named the Week 13 AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

Still the fifth-round pick out of Maryland, was lights out in coverage. The rookie picked off quarterback Kirk Cousins twice, including one he returned for a 61-yard touchdown.

“I got the award, but it’s a testament to who we are as a team,” Still said on receiving the award, per the team’s editorial director Eric Smith.

According to ESPN’s Seth Walder, Still now has allowed -31 EPA as the nearest defender this season, per NFL Next Gen Stats, which is best among all cornerbacks.

On the season, Still has 36 tackles, eight passes defended and three interceptions.

Myles Garrett adds another award to his ever-growing trophy case

Myles Garrett has been named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his three-sack performance against the Steelers

Cleveland Browns All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett has been named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 12.

This honorable award comes after his incredible performance on Thursday Night Football against the Pittsburgh Steelers as he grows his case to repeat as NFL Defensive Player of the Year. In this game, Garrett managed to collect three sacks and a forced fumble on opposing quarterback, Russell Wilson.

He was without a doubt the difference-maker for the Cleveland Browns in this contest. Not only was it one of his best performances of the year, but arguably his most notable against the Browns AFC North rival.

Garrett put up this impressive Stat line after revisiting criticism regarding his Defensive Player of the Year award. after the game on Thursday night, his odds of keeping that award went up drastically. The odds for the Browns to make the playoffs may be slim to none, but there’s still plenty to achieve with the remaining time in the 2024 season.

We’ll see if Garrett can put up similar numbers against the Denver Broncos and yet another primetime showing.

We have yet another Player of the Week come out of matchup with Raiders

Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson is the latest to earn Player of the Week honors from teeing off on the Raiders.

It seems like an almost weekly occurrence now. Player who face the Raiders this season having their best games and being named Player of the Week because of it. The latest is this week’s AFC Defensive Player of the Week Trey Hendrickson.

Hendrickson put up a career-high four sacks along with a pass breakup and forced fumble in the Bengals’ 41-24 win over the Raiders on Sunday. He took full advantage of the Raiders’ injury issues at left tackle, getting his first sack while facing primary backup Andrus Peat and the other three while lining up across from third stringer Thayer Munford.

A couple of Hendrickson’s rushes again Munford made the rounds on social media. One in which he was run around flat footed and the other where he was knocked onto his back.

This is the third time in the past five weeks a Player of the Week came out of a matchup with the Raiders.

The first time was Week 5 AFC Defensive Player of the Week CB Patrick Surtain who had two interceptions, including a pick six in the Broncos’ 34-18 win over the Raiders.

The other time was  Week 7 NFC Defensive Player of the Week Cobie Durant who had and interception, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble that was returned for a touchdown in a 20-15 win over the Raiders.

This is getting to be a real theme for the Raiders this season. They’ve often been called the cure for what ails you, but lately they’ve been the gift that keeps on giving.

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.

Steelers’ T.J. Watt named AFC Defensive Player of the Week

T.J. Watt conquered the Giants on Monday Night Football in Week 8. He was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his elite play.

T.J. Watt is inevitable.  Opposing quarterbacks can hope and pray to contain him, but there is no stopping the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year.  QB Daniel Jones found this out the hard way when he was on the receiving end of two-sacks and a forced fumble from Watt in Week 8.

For his efforts in the Steelers’ victory over the Giants—compiling seven tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery—Watt has been named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week. Pittsburgh fans have enjoyed a plethora of elite pass-rushers in the Steel City, but T.J. personifies a hard-working attitude both on and off the field, arguably more than any Steelers player before him. 

In earning what is now his eighth-AFC Defensive Player of the Week award, Watt’s accomplishments continue to further cement his place among the all-time great defenders to ever play in the NFL.

While Watt is playing at an elite level, his pursuit of another D.P.O.Y award in 2024 is not his ultimate goal, but is instead to bring his team their seventh Super Bowl championship.

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Broncos LB Cody Barton named AFC Defensive Player of the Week

Congrats to Broncos linebacker Cody Barton for being named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against the Saints!

In Week 7, the Denver Broncos defense stuffed the New Orleans Saints to only 10 points on Thursday Night Football, and the player with the biggest impact was linebacker Cody Barton.

Barton finished Thursday’s game with eight tackles (six solo), one sack, one quarterback hit, one pass defended and a 52-yard fumble return for a touchdown. Following that impressive performance, Barton was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

Head coach Sean Payton spoke about Barton’s achievement on Wednesday. “I’m proud of (Barton),” said Payton. “Certainly, when you look at the game, he was one of the guys on defense that got a game ball. It was a real good game for him.”

Barton also had the opportunity to address the media about the weekly award. “It was an honor getting that award,” Barton said. “It makes me feel good, but also it makes me happy for my teammates as well. I know there’s a lot of plays that I couldn’t have made — like the touchdown at the end — if my teammates aren’t in the backfield making plays. As shiny as it was individually getting an award, I attribute it to my teammates.”

The Broncos defense limited the Saints to 271 total yards and forced two turnovers. Barton has been filling in for injured Denver linebacker Alex Singleton as the defense’s signal-caller.

“The good thing about this defense and something I love about this defense is everyone eats,” Barton said. “You don’t know who’s day it is going to be. In this defense, everyone makes plays and everyone has the chance to eat. It’s a lot of fun.”

The Broncos will look to have another stellar defensive performance on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

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Raiders help another opponent win Defensive Player of the Week award

For the second time in three games, we have a Defensive Player of the Week winner after facing the Raiders. This time Rams CB Cobie Durant.

It’s long been said that facing the Raiders is the cure for what ails you. In some cases this season, it has led to awards. We are now at two times in the past three weeks it has happened.

This week’s NFC Defensive Player of the Week is Rams CB Cobie Durant.

Two weeks ago it was Broncos’ Pat Surtain who won it after he had two interceptions against the Raiders including a 100-yard pick six.

Just like Surtain, Durant was either responsible or the recipient on two of the Raiders turnovers in Sunday’s loss. On leading to a defensive touchdown.

Durant’s first play was breaking up a pass for Brock Bowers to end the Raiders first scoring drive and they settled for a field goal.

Later in the second quarter, he made the first interception of the game, giving the Rams the ball at the Vegas 47 and leading to the first touchdown.

Not four minutes later, he shot up the middle unblocked on the blitz and hit Gardner Minshew as he attempted to throw, knocking the ball out. It was then picked up by Kam Curl and returned for the second touchdown of the game.

And suddenly what was a 3-0 Raiders lead, was not a 14-3 Rams lead.