Bengals DT Atkins named AFC Defensive Player of the Week

Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins (97) is congratulated after a sack in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins (97) is congratulated after a sack in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Sports
By Jay Morrison
Dec 14, 2016
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Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins was having a fairly average game Sunday in Cleveland, until the fourth quarter when he sacked Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III on back-to-back plays.

That surge earned Atkins the AFC Defensive Player of the Week award.

Atkins, who finished with five tackles and four quarterback hits in the Bengals’ 23-10 victory, becomes the first defensive lineman in franchise history to win two player of the week awards. He also won the award in Week 16, 2012, for his performance in a 13-10 victory at Pittsburgh that clinched a playoff berth.

The last Bengals player to win an AFC weekly award was defensive end Carlos Dunlap, whose blocked field goal at San Francisco in Week 15 last year earned him the Special Teams Player of the Week.

Atkins leads the Bengals with 11 tackles for loss and is tied with Dunlap for the team lead in quarterback hits (21). His 6.5 sacks are a half sack shy of the NFL lead for interior linemen as well as half a sack behind Dunlap for the team lead.

The most recent Bengal to win Defensive Player of the Week was CB Leon Hall, in a 31-7 win over St. Louis in Week 12 of last season.

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About the Author

Jay Morrison