Josh Allen, Hezekiah Masses & Andre Szmyt Named Week 2 AFC Players of the Week

0
6
American Football Conference (AFC)

NEW YORK – Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Hezekiah Masses and Cleveland Browns kicker Andre Szmyt are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 2 (September 17, 20-21).

OFFENSE: QB JOSH ALLEN, BUFFALO BILLS

  • Allen completed 20 of 31 passes (64.5 percent) for 248 yards with three touchdown passes in Buffalo’s 41-31 win over Detroit. Allen also rushed 14 times for 69 yards and two touchdowns, tied for the most rushing yards among quarterbacks in Week 2. Allen has four career games with at least three touchdown passes and two rushing touchdowns, the most in NFL history.
  • He is the only quarterback in the 2026 season to record at least three touchdown passes and two rushing touchdowns in a single game.
  • This is Allen’s 19th-career Offensive Player of the Week award, the fourth most of any player in NFL history, trailing only Tom Brady (32-time winner) and Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning (27) and Drew Brees (25).
    •  2018: Week 17
    • 2019: Week 11
    • 2020: Weeks 2, 9, 13, 15
    • 2021: Week 3
    • 2022: Weeks 5, 6, 15
    • 2023: Weeks 2, 4
    • 2024: Weeks 3, 13, 15
    • 2025: Weeks 1, 11, 14
    • 2026: Week 2 

DEFENSE: CB HEZEKIAH MASSES, LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

  • Masses, a fifth-round selection (No. 175 overall) in the 2026 NFL Draft, recorded five tackles, two interceptions, and a tackle for loss in the Raiders 26-14 win over the Chargers. He is one of three players since 2000 to record at least five tackles and two interceptions in one of his first two career games, joining Kyle Fuller (Week 2, 2014 with Chicago) and Denzel Ward (Week 1, 2018 with Cleveland). 
  • This is Masses’s first-career Defensive Player of the Week Award, becoming the first Raiders cornerback to win since Phillip Buchanon (Week 11, 2003).
  • Masses is the second former California cornerback to win Defensive Player of the Week, joining Deltha O’Neal (two-time winner).

SPECIAL TEAMS: K ANDRE SZMYT, CLEVELAND BROWNS

  • Szmyt converted all three of his field goal attempts – from 34, 34 and 50 yards – and both of his extra point attempts, totaling 11 points in the Browns’s 23-19 win over the Buccaneers. Four of his five kickoffs that were returned landed within one yard of the goal line.
  • This is Szmyt’s second Special Teams Player of the Week award (Week 3, 2025). He is one of three kickers in Browns history to win multiple times, joining Phil Dawson (two-time winner) and Dustin Hopkins (two).
  • Szmyt is one of three former Syracuse kickers to win the Special Teams Player of the Week award, joining Gary Anderson (six-time winner) and Olindo Mare (three).
Previous articleNFL Week 3 NFL Preview & Capsules
Next articleBrock Purdy, Devin Lloyd & Isaiah Rodgers Named Week 2 NFC Players of the Week
NFL Editor
Profile: A dedicated NFL analyst with a deep understanding of the league’s strategic, cultural, and statistical landscape. This columnist provides weekly coverage that blends film‑study insight, advanced metrics, and league‑wide context, offering readers a clear view of how teams evolve across a long and demanding season. Background: With extensive experience covering professional football, the columnist has contributed to national sports platforms, digital media outlets, and radio segments focused on team dynamics, coaching trends, and roster construction. A background in sports journalism and analytics supports a methodical approach to evaluating performance, breaking news, and long‑term organizational strategy. Signature Coverage Areas: Game previews and tactical matchups Film‑based breakdowns of offensive and defensive schemes Player evaluation, draft analysis, and free‑agency movement League trends, coaching philosophies, and historical context Style & Approach: The writing emphasizes clarity, accuracy, and accessibility — translating complex schemes and statistical models into insights that resonate with both casual fans and seasoned bettors. Each column reflects a commitment to balanced reporting, thoughtful analysis, and a comprehensive understanding of the NFL’s fast‑shifting landscape.