Dont'a Hightower named AFC Defensive Player of the Week

FOXBORO — Another week, and another Patriots player taking home some hardware.  Linebacker Dont’a Hightower was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Patriots’ 35-17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday.

It is the first time in his career Hightower has won the award, and the first time since 2014 a Patriots defensive player has won the award (Chandler Jones in Week 2 of 2014).

Hightower sacking Andy Dalton for a safety in the game, was a clear momentum altering play.  He finished the game with a team-high 13 total tackles, 1½ sacks.

It is the fifth time this season that a Patriots player has earned an NFL honor in 2016. K Stephen Gostkowski was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in the win at Arizona on Sept. 11, and P Ryan Allen was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance vs. Houston on Sept. 22. RB LeGarrette Blount was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for September and QB Tom Brady was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week following the Cleveland game on Oct. 9.

Cox Media Group