AFC Players of the Week – Week 7

BENGALS QB JOE BURROW, JETS CB SAUCE GARDNER &
TITANS K RANDY BULLOCK NAMED AFC PLAYERS OF WEEK 7

Quarterback JOE BURROW of the Cincinnati Bengals, cornerback SAUCE GARDNER of the New York Jets and kicker RANDY BULLOCK of the Tennessee Titans are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 7 (October 20, 23-24).

OFFENSE: QB JOE BURROW, CINCINNATI BENGALS

  • Burrow completed 34 of 42 pass attempts (81 percent) for 481 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions for a 138.2 rating and added a rushing touchdown in Cincinnati’s 35-17 victory over Atlanta. He became the third player in NFL history with at least 475 passing yards, three touchdown passes and one rushing touchdown in a single game, joining Norm Van Brocklin (September 28, 1951) and Billy Volek (December 19, 2004).
  • This is the third-career Offensive Player of the Week award for Burrow and first this season:
    • 2021: Weeks 4, 16
    • 2022: Week 7
  • Burrow ties Jeff Blake and Andy Dalton for the second-most Player of the Week awards ever by a Bengals quarterback. Only Boomer Esiason (nine-time winner) has more.  
  • He joins linebacker Deion Jones (three-time winner) and cornerback Patrick Peterson (five-time winner) as the only former LSU Tigers ever to win at least three Player of the Week awards.

DEFENSE: CB SAUCE GARDNER, NEW YORK JETS

  • Gardner recorded 10 tackles and three passes defensed, including one in the end zone on fourth down in the final minute of the game, in the Jets’ 16-9 victory over Denver. It marked the only AFC performance of at least 10 tackles and three passes defensed in Week 7.  
  • This marks the first-career Defensive Player of the Week award for Gardner and he becomes the third-ever Jets rookie to earn the honor, joining defensive backs Russell Carter (Week 15, 1984) and Dee Milliner (Week 17, 2013).
  • After defensive lineman Quinnen Williams won the award in Week 6, this is the first time ever that the Jets have had consecutive Defensive Players of the Week.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K RANDY BULLOCK, TENNESSEE TITANS

  • Bullock converted all four of his field goal attempts – from 27, 28, 38 and 48 yards – as well as his lone extra point attempt, in Tennessee’s 19-10 victory over Indianapolis. His four made field goals and 13 points led all AFC kickers in Week 7. 
  • This marks the third-career Special Teams Player of the Week award for Bullock and first this season:
    • 2014: Week 16 (with Houston)
    • 2021: Week 8 (with Tennessee)
    • 2022: Week 7 (with Tennessee)
  • Bullock becomes the fifth kicker in franchise history to earn the honor multiple times, joining Rob Bironas, Al Del Greco, Joe Nedney and Ryan Succop.  

2022 AFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

OffenseDefenseSpecial Teams
Wk 1Wk 2Wk 3Wk 4Wk 5Wk 6QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas CityQB Tua Tagovailoa, MiamiQB Trevor Lawrence, JacksonvilleQB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas CityQB Josh Allen, BuffaloQB Josh Allen, BuffaloS Minkah Fitzpatrick, PittsburghCB Jaylen Watson, Kansas CityDE Trey Hendrickson, CincinnatiS Jordan Poyer, BuffaloLB Matthew Judon, New EnglandDL Quinnen Williams, N.Y. JetsK Cade York, ClevelandP Braden Mann, N.Y. JetsP Corliss Waitman, DenverK Evan McPherson, CincinnatiK Chase McLaughlin, IndianapolisK Dustin Hopkins, L.A. Chargers
Wk 7QB Joe Burrow, CincinnatiCB Sauce Gardner, N.Y. JetsK Randy Bullock, Tennessee