Jason Pierre-Paul of the New York Giants continues to pile up the honors. Tuesday he was named to his first Pro Bowl. Today, he was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in the last three weeks.
The second-year defensive end from South Florida was the dominant defensive player in the Giants’ 29-14 victory Saturday over the Jets. Pierre-Paul had five tackles (four solo), including two sacks and three quarterback hits. His first sack, with two seconds to go in the second quarter, resulted in a seven-yard loss and forced the Jets to attempt a 44-yard field goal, which wasmissed His second sack was on the final series and all but ended the Jets’ chance for a miracle comeback. Pierre-Paul had a third sack – and a forced fumble – overturned on a replay review. Pierre-Paul has 15.5 sacks, the most by a Giant since Michael Strahan had 18.5 in 2003.
Pierre-Paul also won the award for his outstanding performance in the Giants’ 37-34 victory in Dallas on Dec. 11, when he led the team with eight tackles (six solo), including two sacks of Tony Romo. The first resulted in a safety for the Giants’ first points. The second sack was on a third down in the third quarter and forced the Cowboys to punt from their own 43-yard line. Pierre-Paul also forced a Felix Jones fumble that was recovered by Deon Grant and led to a field goal. He secured the victory by blocking Dan Bailey’s 47-yard field goal attempt with one second left in the game.