(SportsRadio 610) - The NFL has named Houston Texans DB Tavierre Thomas the AFC Defensive Player of the Week following his performance in the team’s 41-29 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16. This marks the first Player of the Week award of his NFL career and the team’s first Defensive award since Week 2 of 2019.
In Week 15, Thomas finished with eight tackles (six solo), one pass defensed and one interception that he returned 48 yards for his first career touchdown. He was just one-of-two players in the AFC to register a touchdown on defense in Week 16 and just one of four to do so overall in the NFL for the weekend’s slate of games.
“Very well deserving," head coach David Culley said Wednesday. "Not only did he get the pick-six, but he played very well defensively for us. He led our team in tackles, he was around the ball. He’s been playing that way all year long. For him to go in and do that, I tell you what, he was well deserving of the award."
That timely interception came in the midst of an 11-point game late in the fourth quarter that helped the club seal a victory. His 48-yard return also amounted to be the most interception return yards of the week and most by an AFC defender since Week 13.
Thomas was also the only player in the AFC with at least eight tackles and one interception. He excelled in coverage throughout the game, allowing just a 37.5 passer rating on five total targets, the third-best mark in the AFC in Week 16 per NFL Next Gen Stats.
This marks the 51st time a Texan has been named Player of the Week in franchise history and the second week in a row after DB Tremon Smith earned Special Teams Player of the Week honors in Week 15. It is also the 18th time Houston has won the AFC Defensive Player of the Week award in team history.