NFL teams in 2024 have combined to establish three one-possession records through four weeks in a season: Most contests decided by six points (32), seven points (38) and eight points (39). The Chiefs and Falcons have accounted for several of those close games and, especially in their tight Week 4 victories, they’ve leaned on defensive tackle Chris Jones and linebacker Troy Andersen. Those individuals are the respective AFC and NFC Defensive Players of the Week, the NFL announced Wednesday.
Helping a Chiefs team that lost one of its key offensive players, Jones recorded two sacks in Kansas City’s 17-10 road win over the Chargers on Sunday. In a one-score game with 4:01 remaining in the fourth quarter, Jones sacked Justin Herbert on third-and-11 to end the Chargers’ last possession. He also sacked Herbert to end a Chargers possession late in the first half on third-and-17.
With a third career weekly honor, Jones surpassed Neil Smith and Art Still for the most ever by a defensive lineman in Kansas City franchise history. He also joined Dak Prescott and Darius Slay (both five-time honorees) as the only former Mississippi State players to garner the award at least three times.
Before Jones lined up against Los Angeles, Andersen helped to spark the Falcons to a team win on Sunday, 26-24 over New Orleans. In addition to an NFL-leading 16 tackles in Week 4, Andersen returned a Derek Carr interception 47 yards for a go-ahead second-quarter touchdown. That score proved pivotal because the Saints kept Atlanta’s offense out of the end zone. Since 2011, NFL teams had been 349-3 when scoring 17-or-more points and allowing zero offensive touchdowns.
Following in the footsteps of teammate Jessie Bates (Week 2), Andersen helped the Falcons to become the first NFL team this season with multiple Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Andersen, Bates and the Falcons (2-2) have a short week, hosting Tampa Bay (3-1) on Thursday Night Football (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video). Then, to conclude Week 5, Jones and the Chiefs (4-0) host New Orleans (2-2) on Monday Night Football (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN).