ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — If you catch AND throw a touchdown, you win AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
That's how it worked this week for Emmanuel Sanders, at least.
Following his Week 7 performance against the Arizona Cardinals, Sanders received the award for the first time in his career.
He is the first Broncos receiver to win the award since Demaryius Thomas got the nod in Week 5 of 2014.
Wide receivers Eric Decker (2013, Week 13), Brandon Marshall (2009, Week 14), Rod Smith (2005, Week 15), Anthony Miller (1995, Week 7) and Vance Johnson (1989, Week 12) have also won the award.
Against Arizona, Sanders totaled six receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown and also threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton.
His "Thursday Night Football" performance marked his third 100-yard receiving game this season, and he also became the first Broncos player to throw and catch a touchdown in the same game since John Elway did it in 1986.
Sanders also scored a rushing touchdown in Week 3, which made him the first wide receiver since 1970 to record a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown in the same season. He's tallied 46 receptions for 603 yards and three touchdown receptions through seven games this season.
Sanders becomes the first Broncos player to win AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors since Trevor Siemian took home the award in Week 3 of 2016.
