BENGALS QB JOE BURROW, TEXANS DB TAVIERRE THOMAS &
JETS WR BRAXTON BERRIOS NAMED AFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 16
Quarterback JOE BURROW of the Cincinnati Bengals, defensive back TAVIERRE THOMAS of the Houston Texans and wide receiver BRAXTON BERRIOS of the New York Jets are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 16 (December 23, 25-27).
OFFENSE: QB JOE BURROW, CINCINNATI BENGALS
- Burrow completed 37 of 46 pass attempts (80.4 percent) for a career-high 525 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions for a 143.2 rating in Cincinnati’s 41-21 win over Baltimore. His 525 passing yards are the fourth-most in a single game all-time and his 143.2 rating is the highest by an AFC quarterback in a single game (minimum 15 attempts) this season.
- This marked Burrow’s third career game with at least 400 yards passing and three touchdowns, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino as the only quarterbacks with three such games in their first two career seasons all-time.
- This is Burrow’s second career Offensive Player of the Week award (Week 4) and he is the first Bengals player to win the award twice in one season since Andy Dalton in 2013 (Weeks 6, 14).
- He is the third former player from LSU to win Offensive Player of the Week multiple times, joining Joseph Addai and Dalton Hilliard.
DEFENSE: DB TAVIERRE THOMAS, HOUSTON TEXANS
- Thomas recorded eight tackles and 48-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Texans’ 41-29 win over the Chargers. He was the only AFC player with at least eight tackles and a defensive touchdown in Week 16.
- This is the first Defensive Player of the Week award for Thomas. He is the first Houston player to win the award since Whitney Mercilus (Week 2, 2019).
- Thomas is the first player from Ferris State to win the award.
SPECIAL TEAMS: WR BRAXTON BERRIOS, NEW YORK JETS
- Berrios returned three kickoffs for 138 yards, including a 102-yard kick return for a touchdown, in the Jets’ 26-21 win over Jacksonville. He also returned one punt for 12 yards. His 102-yard return for a touchdown is tied for the longest kickoff return this season.
- This is the first Special Teams Player of the Week award for Berrios and he is the first Jets player to win the award since Jason Myers (Week 6, 2018).
- He is the second former Miami Hurricane player to win Special Teams Player of the Week this season, joining Seattle’s Travis Homer (Week 13).
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 14Wk 15Wk 16 | 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. ChargersTE Travis Kelce, Kansas CityQB Joe Burrow, Cincinnati | DE/LB Josh Allen, JacksonvilleCB Xavien Howard, MiamiDT Chris Jones, Kansas CityCB Pat Surtain II, DenverLB T.J. Watt, PittsburghCB Mike Hughes, Kansas CityLB Darius Leonard, IndianapolisDB Tavierre Thomas, Houston | P Tommy Townsend, Kansas CityLB E.J. Speed, IndianapolisK Evan McPherson, CincinnatiK Daniel Carlson, Las VegasP Michael Palardy, MiamiK Brandon McManus, DenverDB Tremon Smith, HoustonWR Braxton Berrios, N.Y. Jets |
