Odell Beckham earned a fake engagement on Sunday because of his 222-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Baltimore Ravens. On Wednesday, he earned something a little more tangible for his efforts.
The New York Giants star receiver picked up NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his eight-catch demolition of the Ravens' secondary. He scored a 75-yard touchdown early in the second half, and on fourth-and-1 with less than two minutes remaining in the tilt, Beckham took a slant pass 66 yards for the winning score. Afterward, he proposed to the kicking net he's had infamous run-ins with over the last month.
On the AFC side of things, Jay Ajayi's surprise day against the Pittsburgh Steelers earned him AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. The Miami Dolphins' second-year back finally had his breakout game, picking up a whopping 204 yards and two scores on 25 carries. He added three yards on one catch in the 30-15 victory as well.
Taking home the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award was Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman David Irving. A relatively unknown name before Sunday, Irving was a huge reason why the Cowboys kept the gas pedal down on the Green Bay Packers. His three forced fumbles, including one he stripped and recovered on Aaron Rodgers late in the third quarter at the goal line, were a career high. He added four tackles and a sack on the afternoon, helping lift the Cowboys to a 30-16 win.
Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower scored AFC Player of the Week honors for his 13-tackle day against the Cincinnati Bengals. It was a safety, though, that really earned him the award this week. With the Pats down 14-10 in the third quarter, Hightower's sack of Andy Dalton in the end zone kickstarted New England, which went on to win the game 35-17. It was Hightower's second safety of the season.
A punter and kicker took home the special teams awards. New Orleans Saints kicker Wil Lutz landed NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after he kicked five extra points and two field goals, including the winning 52-yarder with no time left on the clock to extinguish the Panthers, 41-38. San Diego Chargers punter Drew Kaser, meanwhile, bounced back from bobbling a potentially game-tying field goal snap against the Raiders to take home AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors against the Broncos. The punter had five punts for an average of 44.0 yards on Thursday night, pinning four inside the 20-yard line. His field-position turning kicks helped lead the Chargers to a 21-13 win over the Broncos.
