Tag: AFC Defensive Player of the Week

Reigning AFC Defensive Player of the Week Maxx Crosby already ‘flushed the game’ and moved on

Reigning AFC Defensive Player of the Week Maxx Crosby already ‘flushed the game’ and moved on

The fans are probably not ready to stop celebrating the Raiders’ big win over the Ravens in the opener. It hasn’t even been 48 hours since the insane overtime thriller.

Just this morning Maxx Crosby was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his dominant pass rushing performance Monday Night. That’s great and all, but the Raiders are on a short week to face the Steelers and Crosby has already moved on.

“The rollercoaster ride Derek’s talks about, everybody talks about, not getting too high, not getting too low, so for me I already flushed the game,” Crosby said of Monday night’s win over the Ravens. “I’m already worried, I watched the Steelers first game against Buffalo yesterday, been locked in on that because it’s a week-by-week basis, and a week-by-week league. You never know how things are going to turn out, so you really have to stay locked in. There’s always going to be ups and downs, but you try to stay even keeled and just take it day-by-day and one day at a time. That’s really all you can do.”

Normal weeks in which teams play on Sunday offer the players at least a day to take a breath to think about the previous game and a couple days off before the next practice. Playing Monday Night means one less day, especially when the next week’s game is on the road, which means a travel day must be built in as well.

Crosby had a monster game and the Raiders pulled out a miraculous win in their first Las Vegas home game in front of fans. But the season continues quickly and Pittsburgh awaits. The celebration for Monday night’s win seems to have ended Monday night.

Colts’ DeForest Buckner named AFC Defensive Player of the Week

DeForest Buckner gets some recognition.

Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in the 27-20 win over the Houston Texans.

Despite being limited to a season-low 51% of snaps, Buckner found several ways to ruin the day for the Texans. He finished with 3.0 sacks, four quarterback hits and two tackles for loss while leading the defense with five total pressures.

Buckner’s presence has been incredible this season, and he’s been the biggest reason the entire defense has taken a leap into the elite category. Despite this, he was snubbed for a Pro Bowl selection.

Bucker is currently second among all interior defenders with 7.5 sacks and 24 quarterback hits while he’s eighth in pressures.

Buckner has been enjoying a monster season, one that could consider him for an All-Pro spot at the end of the season given both his direct and indirect impact on the Colts this season.

Buckner is the fifth Colts player to earn a weekly award this season. Cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes (Week 3) and Kenny Moore (Week 14) were the Defensive Players of the Week while linebacker E.J. Speed (Week 10) and kicker Rodrigo Blankenship (Week 11) earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Buckner is finally getting some of the national recognition he deserves during this incredible season, and it’s starting in thanks to his big performance against a divisional foe in Week 15.

Ravens Calais Campbell wins AFC Defensive Player of the Week after 3-sack performance vs. Eagles

The Baltimore Ravens clearly got what they were hoping for when they traded for Calais Campbell this offseason, seeing him earn the DPOW

The Baltimore Ravens traded for Calais Campbell this offseason in the hopes he’d help transform the run defense and offer some pass rush from the interior. While Campbell has been good through the first five weeks, he showed up in a big way in Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Campbell finished the game with three sacks of Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, in addition to posting five total tackles, four tackles for a loss, and four quarterback hits. That dominant performance earned Campbell the AFC’s Defensive Player of the Week award.

Campbell’s four sacks lead everyone on the Ravens’ roster by at least 1.5 sacks, while his 10 quarterback hits come in second behind outside linebacker Matthew Judon’s 11. In an interesting turn of events, Campbell is actually second on the team with five passes defended, falling just behind Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey’s six.

Baltimore currently boasts the top defense in total points allowed and 10th in total yards allowed.

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

Watt was recognized by the league as DPOTW for his Week 2 performance versus the Denver Broncos.

T.J. Watt had himself a game on Sunday versus the Denver Broncos. And, for that, he was recognized by the NFL as AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

Watt was harassing backup quarterback Jeff Driskel all day. He registered 2.5 sacks, four tackles (two for loss) and a QB hurry. He currently leads the league with a 32 percent pass-rush win rate.

The fourth-year linebacker is automatically in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation every season because he flat-out dominates.

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Chargers CB Casey Hayward named AFC Defensive Player of the Week

Chargers cornerback Casey Hayward was dominant in the season opener.

Chargers cornerback Casey Hayward has been named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the 16-13 win over the Bengals.

Hayward led the team in tackles (12) while adding two passes defensed, and was covering wide receiver A.J. Green in the end zone late in the fourth-quarter when it was wiped out due to an offensive pass interference.

This marks the first time that Hayward has earned this honor during his nine years in the league.

Hayward will have a more difficult task this upcoming Sunday as he is set to go up against an elite Chiefs offense, which features receivers wideouts Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman and Sammy Watkins.

Broncos DL Dre’Mont Jones named AFC Defensive Player of the Week

Broncos defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones has been named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

Denver Broncos rookie defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after his standout performance against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, the league announced Friday.

Jones has been battling an ankle injury and was a game-time decision for last week’s game. He played through the injury and totaled five tackles and 2.5 sacks in a 27-17 win.

“I was pleasantly surprised,” Broncos coach Vic Fangio said of Jones winning the award. “I was happy for him. Again, he was the guy that had the workout before the game.

“We didn’t really know if he was going to play or not. If you were a betting man during the week you would have bet that he wouldn’t have. He really wanted to play and it was nice to see him get rewarded.”

Jones (6-3, 281 pounds) was selected by Denver in the third round of April’s draft out of Ohio State. He has recorded 14 tackles, 3.5 sacks and one interception this year. Jones has also broken up two passes.

Jones is just the third Broncos rookie in franchise history to win a Defensive Player of the Week Award and the first since Von Miller in 2011.

“It [means] a lot to me, especially because of the history behind it and being the third rookie to do it,” the defensive lineman said Friday.

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Broncos DB Kareem Jackson named AFC Defensive Player of the Week

Broncos safety Kareem Jackson has been named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week by NFL.com.

Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson has been named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week, the NFL announced Wednesday. Jackson had a standout performance in Denver’s 38-24 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday.

Facing the team he spent the first nine years of his career with, Jackson totaled 11 tackles, one interception and three pass breakouts. He also returned a fumble 70 yards for a touchdown. He became the first defender with at least 10 tackles, a fumble returned for a score and an interception in the same game since former Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher in 2011.

On the year, Jackson has totaled 69 tackles, eight pass breakups, two interceptions and one forced fumble. His 11 tackles on Sunday tied a career high.

This marks the first time a Broncos defender has taken home a conference award since outside linebacker Von Miller won in Week 11 last season. Jackson is the 34th Denver defender to take home the award since 1984.

Jets S Jamal Adams named AFC Defensive Player of the Week

Following a lackluster performance, Jamal Adams silenced critics and played well enough to be named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

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Jamal Adams was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week following his impressive performance against the New York Giants on Sunday.

After struggling against the Dolphins amid frustrations with the Jets’ consistent losing and trade rumors, Adams silenced critics with arguably the best game of his career.

Adams finished with a team-high nine tackles and two sacks in the 34-27 win over the Giants, including a strip-sack in which he pick-pocketed the ball out of Daniel Jones’ hands and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown. It was his second touchdown of the season.

“Before the game, he told us, ‘Match my intensity today,'” linebacker Brandon Copeland said. “And he delivered. Not too many players you see can say something like that and deliver.”

Adams’ intensity on Sunday helped lead the Jets out of a three-game losing streak.

In nine games played this season, Adams has 43 solo tackles, five for a loss, five quarterback hits, three sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception.