Justin Tuck was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week after posting a career-high four sacks in a throwback performance in Sunday’s 24-17 victory over the Redskins at FedEx Field.
Tuck entered that game with only 2.5 sacks in his first 10 games this season and didn’t have any at halftime. He erupted in the second half, dropping Robert Griffin III four times, including three times in a four-play sequence.
For the first time this season, Tuck never left the field, playing all 69 defensive snaps — as did the other starting defensive end, Mathis Kiwanuka — with Jason Pierre-Paul missing the first game of his career because of a shoulder injury.
Just like that, Tuck now leads the team in sacks with 6.5.
This is the third time this season a Giants defensive player won the NFC weekly honor. Pierre-Paul and cornerback Terrell Thomas were honored previously.
It is the second NFC weekly award for Tuck, his first coming for his performance in the 2009 season opener, when he had five tackles and 1.5 sacks against the Redskins.