CHARGERS QB JUSTIN HERBERT, CHIEFS CB MIKE HUGHES & BRONCOS K BRANDON MCMANUS NAMED AFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 14
Quarterback JUSTIN HERBERT of the Los Angeles Chargers, cornerback MIKE HUGHES of the Kansas City Chiefs and kicker BRANDON MCMANUS of the Denver Broncos are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 14 (December 9, 12-13).
OFFENSE: QB JUSTIN HERBERT, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
- Herbert completed 23 of 31 pass attempts (74.2 percent) for 275 yards and three touchdowns with a season-high 133.1 rating in the Chargers’ 37-21 win over the Giants. Herbert’s three touchdowns were tied for the most in the conference in Week 14 and his rating was the second-highest in the AFC.
- Herbert is third in the league with 30 touchdown passes and is the first quarterback in league history to throw for at least 30 touchdowns in each of his first two seasons.
- This is Herbert’s third Offensive Player of the Week award, with all three coming this season (Weeks 9, 13-14). He is the first quarterback to win the award in consecutive weeks since Lamar Jackson (Weeks 9-10, 2019).
- He joins Pro Football Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson (2005 and 2006) as the only Chargers to win the award at least three times in a single season.
DEFENSE: CB MIKE HUGHES, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
- Hughes recorded nine tackles, two forced fumbles and a 23-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown in the Chiefs’ 48-9 win over the Raiders. Hughes’ nine tackles led the Chiefs in Week 14.
- He is the first player in the league this season to register two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in a single game.
- This is the first Defensive Player of the Week award for Hughes. He is the second Chiefs player to earn the award this season (Chris Jones, Week 11) and is the first Kansas City cornerback to earn the honor since Marcus Peters (Week 15, 2017).
- Hughes is the first former Central Florida player to win Defensive Player of the Week since A.J. Bouye (Week 10, 2017).
SPECIAL TEAMS: K BRANDON MCMANUS, DENVER BRONCOS
- McManus converted a 52-yard field goal and connected on all five point after attempts in Denver’s 38-10 win over Detroit. His five made extra points were the second-most in the conference in Week 14.
- This is the third Special Teams Player of the Week award for McManus and first this season:
- 2020: Weeks 4, 6
- 2021: Week 14
- He joins Jason Elam (five-time winner) and Matt Prater (five-time winner) as the only Broncos players to win the award at least three times.
2021 AFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
| Offense | Defense | Special Teams | |
| Wk 1 | QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City | DE Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas | K Evan McPherson, Cincinnati |
| Wk 2 | RB Derrick Henry, Tennessee | LB Odafe Oweh, Baltimore | K Daniel Carlson, Las Vegas |
| Wk 3 | QB Josh Allen, Buffalo | DE Myles Garrett, Cleveland | K Justin Tucker, Baltimore |
| Wk 4 | QB Joe Burrow, Cincinnati | LB Tremaine Edmunds, Buffalo | P Rigoberto Sanchez, Indianapolis |
| Wk 5 | QB Lamar Jackson, Baltimore | DE Greg Rousseau, Buffalo | K Nick Folk, New England |
| Wk 6 | RB Derrick Henry, Tennessee | LB T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh | K Matthew Wright, Jacksonville |
| Wk 7 | WR Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati | DE Yannick Ngakoue, Las Vegas | P Rigoberto Sanchez, Indianapolis |
| Wk 8 | QB Mike White, N.Y. Jets | DB Adrian Phillips, New England | K Randy Bullock, Tennessee |
| Wk 9Wk 10Wk 11Wk 12Wk 13Wk 14 | QB Justin Herbert, L.A. ChargersQB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas CityRB Jonathan Taylor, IndianapolisRB Joe Mixon, CincinnatiQB Justin Herbert, L.A. ChargersQB Justin Herbert, L.A. Chargers | DE/LB Josh Allen, JacksonvilleCB Xavien Howard, MiamiDT Chris Jones, Kansas CityCB Pat Surtain II, DenverLB T.J. Watt, PittsburghCB Mike Hughes, Kansas City | P Tommy Townsend, Kansas CityLB E.J. Speed, IndianapolisK Evan McPherson, CincinnatiK Daniel Carlson, Las VegasP Michael Palardy, MiamiK Brandon McManus, Denver |
