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ENGLEWOOD, Colo.** — For the first time in his six-season career, safety T.J. Ward has been named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Denver's 23-20 win over the Minnesota Vikings.
Against the Vikings, Ward totaled six solo tackles, a career-high two sacks (18 yds.) and one forced fumble. His strip-sack of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater with 0:35 remaining led to a Broncos recovery and sealed Denver's fourth consecutive win.
Ward joined safety John Lynch (at S.D., 12/31/05) as the only defensive backs in Broncos history to record two sacks and a forced fumble in the same game. He also became just the third NFL safety in the last five years to accomplish that feat.
This marks the 29th time a Broncos player has taken home AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors since the award was initiated by the NFL in 1984. In Week 1, cornerback Aqib Talib was selected with the same honor.
