The accolades keep rolling in for Jason Pierre-Paul.
One day after being named to his first NFC Pro Bowl team, Pierre-Paul today was selected as the NFC Defensive Player of the Week – for the second time in three weeks.
The second-year defensive end from South Florida was the dominant defensive player in the Giants' 29-14 victory Saturday over the Jets. Pierre-Paul had five tackles (four solo), including two sacks for losses of 14 yards and three quarterback hits. His first sack, with two seconds to go in the second quarter, resulted in a seven-yard loss and forced the Jets to attempt a 44-yard field goal, which was wide right. His second sack was on the final series and all but ended the Jets' chance for a miracle comeback. Pierre-Paul had a third sack - and a forced fumble – overturned on a replay review. Pierre-Paul has 15.5 sacks, the most by a Giant since Michael Strahan had 18.5 in 2003.
Pierre-Paul also won the award for his outstanding performance in the Giants' 37-34 victory in Dallas on Dec. 11, when he led the team with eight tackles (six solo), including two sacks of Tony Romo. The first resulted in a safety for the Giants' first points. The second sack was on a third down in the third quarter and forced the Cowboys to punt from their own 43-yard line. Pierre-Paul also forced a Felix Jones fumble that was recovered by Deon Grant and led to a field goal. He secured the victory by blocking Dan Bailey's 47-yard field goal attempt with one second left in the game. If good, the kick would have tied the score and sent the game into overtime.
Pierre-Paul is the first NFC defensive player to win the award twice in three weeks since New Orleans safety Malcolm Jenkins was honored in Weeks 12 and 14 of the 2010 season. He is the first Giant to be cited twice in one season since Osi Umenyiora was named Player of the Week in Weeks 4 and 7 of the 2007 season.
This is the fourth Player of the Week award won by a Giant this season (all after the Giants won games as the visiting team). Mathias Kiwanuka was Defensive Player of the Week in Week 9 at New England and Eli Manning won the Offensive Player of the Week award in Week 3 at Philadelphia.
Pierre-Paul is the first NFC defensive player to win the award twice in three weeks since New Orleans safety Malcolm Jenkins was honored in Weeks 12 and 14 of the 2010 season. He is the first Giant to be cited twice in one season since Osi Umenyiora was named Player of the Week in Weeks 4 and 7 of the 2007 season. Pierre-Paul is the first Giant to be named Defensive Player of the Week two times in a three-week span of a season since Michael Strahan in 2001 (Weeks 3 and 5).
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