NFL 2024: Week 18 AFC & NFC Players of the Week

NEW YORK — Jan. 8, 2024 — Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Yaya Diaby and Chicago Bears defensive back Josh Blackwell are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for Week 18 (January 4-5).

OFFENSE: RB JAHMYR GIBBS, DETROIT LIONS

• Gibbs recorded 170 scrimmage yards (139 rushing, 31 receiving) and a league-high four touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving) in Detroit’s 31-9 victory over Minnesota on Sunday Night Football. He was the only player in Week 18 to record three-or-more scrimmage touchdowns, helping Detroit clinch the NFC North division title and the NFC’s number one seed.
  
• This is the first-career Offensive Player of the Week award for Gibbs, joining Kevin Smith (Week 11, 2011) and Jamaal Williams (Week 18, 2022) as the only Lions running backs to win the award since 2000.
  
• Gibbs becomes the fourth former Alabama running back to win an Offensive Player of the Week award in the past 10 seasons (2015-24), joining Derrick Henry (nine-time winner), Mark Ingram (two) and Josh Jacobs.

DEFENSE: LB YAYA DIABY, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

• Diaby recorded five tackles, including four tackles for loss and a sack, in Tampa Bay’s 27-19 victory over New Orleans. Diaby was the only player in Week 18 to record four-or-more tackles for loss and a sack, helping the Buccaneers clinch the NFC South division title for the fourth consecutive season.
  
• This is the first Defensive Player of the Week award for Diaby, joining Shaquil Barrett (two-time winner) and Devin White (three-time winner) as the only Buccaneers linebackers to win the award in the past five seasons (2020-24).
  
• Diaby becomes the fourth former University of Louisville linebacker to win Defensive Player of the Week, joining Otis Wilson (Week 11, 1985 & Week 16, 1986), Preston Brown (Week 3, 2015) and Elvis Dumervil (Week 15, 2014).

SPECIAL TEAMS: DB JOSH BLACKWELL, CHICAGO BEARS

• Blackwell recorded a 94-yard punt-return touchdown in the Bears’ 24-22 victory at Green Bay, one of eight games in Week 18 decided by seven or fewer points, the most in the final week of the season since nine in 2015. Blackwell’s touchdown marked the only punt-return touchdown in the NFL in Week 18 and the longest punt-return by an NFC player this season.
  
• This is the first-career Special Teams Player of the Week award for Blackwell, becoming the third Bears non-kicker/punter to win Special Teams Player of the Week since 2020, joining Jackson Grant (Week 14, 2021) and Cole Kmet (Week 6, 2024).
  
• Blackwell becomes the first former Duke defensive back to win Special Teams Player of the Week.

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson and Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for Week 18 (January 4-5).

OFFENSE: QB BO NIX, DENVER BRONCOS

• Nix completed 26 of 29 pass attempts (89.7 percent) for 321 passing yards and four touchdowns with a league-best 152.4 passer rating in the Broncos’ 38-0 win against the Chiefs to help Denver secure their first postseason berth since 2015. Nix began Week 18 by completing each of his first 18 pass attempts, the most consecutive completions to begin a game by a rookie since at least 1978. His 89.7 completion percentage in Week 18 is the highest single-game completion percentage by a rookie quarterback with a minimum of 25 pass attempts in NFL history, surpassing Dak Prescott (88.9 percent (32 of 36) on Dec. 18, 2016 with Dallas).
• This is the second-career Offensive Player of the Week award for Nix, also earning the honor in Week 11. He also won Rookie of the Month in October (Weeks 5-8). Nix is the first-ever Broncos rookie quarterback to win Offensive Player of the Week.
• Nix becomes the fourth rookie quarterback to win Offensive Player of the Week multiple times, joining Robert Griffin III (two times in 2012), Marcus Mariota (two in 2015) and C.J. Stroud (two in 2023).

DEFENSE: DE TREY HENDRICKSON, CINCINNATI BENGALS

• Hendrickson recorded five tackles, 3.5 sacks and one pass defensed in Cincinnati’s 19-17 win at Pittsburgh, one of eight games in Week 18 decided by seven or fewer points, the most in the final week of the season since nine in 2015. Hendrickson’s 3.5 sacks were the most by any player in Week 18 and put his season total to 17.5 sacks, the most in the NFL in 2024 and his second-consecutive season with 17.5 sacks.
• This is Hendrickson’s third-career Defensive Player of the Week award and second this season. Hendrickson becomes the third Bengals player to win multiple Defensive Player of the Week awards in the same season, joining Carlos Dunlap (two awards in 2019) and David Fulcher (three in 1989).
  • 2022: Week 3
  • 2024: Weeks 9, 18
• Hendrickson becomes the first former Florida Atlantic player to win three-or-more Player of the Week awards.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K CAMERON DICKER, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

• Dicker converted four of his field goal attempts, including a 49-yard field goal, and both of his point-after attempts in the Chargers’ 34-20 win at Las Vegas. His 14 points scored were tied for the most among all kickers in Week 18.
• This is the fourth-career Special Teams Player of the Week award and second this season for Dicker, becoming the second Chargers player to win Player of the Week multiple times in the same season since 2020, joining Justin Herbert (three awards in 2021).
  • 2022: Weeks 5 (Eagles), 9 (Chargers)
  • 2024: Weeks 17, 18 (Chargers)
• Dicker becomes the fourth former University of Texas player to earn four-or-more Special Teams Player of the Week awards, joining Justin Tucker (11-time winner), Phil Dawson (six) and Eric Metcalf (four).

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