There are awards aplenty in Foxboro this week.
Tom Brady was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week on Wednesday for his three-touchdown performance against Denver, and, soon after, defensive end Chandler Jones won an award of his own.
Jones, who is in just his second NFL season, was named the AFC’s Defensive Player of the Month on Wednesday, winning the award for the first time in his young career. He is the first Patriots defender to win the award since safety Eugene Wilson in September 2004.
Jones was a monster throughout the entire month of November, recording 16 tackles and four sacks in just three games during the month. He managed a sack in each of the three games against three of the NFL’s best quarterbacks in Ben Roethlisberger (two sacks), Cam Newton and Peyton Manning.
After being selected in the first round by the Patriots last year, Jones enjoyed a breakout season that included 45 tackles, six sacks and three forced fumbles in just 14 games. He has already bested those totals through 11 games in 2013, managing 61 tackles and 10 1/2 sacks (fifth-best in the NFL) so far this season.
While Jones is the first New England player to win the Defensive Player of the Month award in nearly a decade, he isn’t the only Patriots player to be recognized for his feats in a single month this season. Kicker Stephen Gostkowski was awarded the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month honor in October after going a perfect 9-for-9 on field goals.
Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.
