Atlanta Falcons Safety Jessie Bates, playing in his Falcons debut, had an opener for the ages with two interceptions and a forced fumble in the Week 1 win over the Carolina Panthers and he has been rewarded for his efforts by the league, being named NFC Defensive Player of the Week.
All three of the turnovers forced by Jessie Bates, the two interceptions along with the fumble he forced that was recovered by Lorenzo Carter, led to Falcons points, a big determining factor in the victory.
Jessie Bates is the first member of the Falcons defense to win NFC Defensive Player of the Week since LB Deion Jones did so in Week 7 of the 2021 season.
The Falcons still have a long way to go to match the 2017 season in which THREE different players were named Defensive Player of the Week when Deion Jones, Adrian Clayborn, and Desmond Trufant all won the awards that year.