Greg Rousseau had a career-high three sacks and forced a turning-point fumble, and Tyrique Stevenson returned an interception 43 yards for a go-ahead touchdown on Sunday. Those efforts helped Rousseau and Stevenson earn the respective AFC and NFC Defensive Player of the Week awards, the NFL announced Wednesday afternoon.
With 5:32 remaining in the third quarter of a tie game in Buffalo, Rousseau strip-sacked Kyler Murray. Dorian Williams’ recovery at Arizona’s 21-yard line set up Josh Allen’s 11-yard pass to Khalil Shakir, giving the Bills a critical second-half score. It’s the second career weekly award for Rousseau, who also earned the honor as a rookie in 2021. He’s one of four Bills defensive linemen to earn multiple weekly awards, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Bruce Smith (eight times), Aaron Schobel (two) and Mario Williams (two).
Stevenson, meanwhile, delivered the go-ahead points with 7:45 left in the fourth quarter. With Chicago trailing at home against Tennessee, 17-16, his interception return gave Chicago its first lead in a historic win without an offensive touchdown. Stevenson, who also won the weekly honor as rookie in 2023, is the fourth Bears defensive back to win it multiple times, joining Charles “Peanut” Tillman (three awards), Mike Brown (two) and Eddie Jackson (two).