NEW YORK – Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James and Miami Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders are the AFC Players of the Month for games played in the months of December and January.
OFFENSE: QB JOE BURROW, CINCINNATI BENGALS
- Burrow completed 186 of 244 pass attempts (76.2 percent) for 1,890 yards and 16 touchdowns for a 111.2 passer rating and added 50 rushing yards with one touchdown in six games during December and January, leading the Bengals to a 5-1 record in that span. He led the AFC in passing yards per game (315) and touchdown passes (16), with at least 250 passing yards in each game and three-or-more touchdown passes in five of the six games.
- This is Burrow’s second-career Player of the Month award and second this season, also earning the honor in November. He is the second Bengals player to win Offensive Player of the Month twice, joining Andy Dalton (October, 2013 & October, 2015).
- Burrow becomes the third former LSU Tiger to win multiple Player of the Month awards, joining Justin Jefferson (two Offensive Player of the Month awards) and Tyrann Mathieu (two Defensive Player of the Month awards).
DEFENSE: S DERWIN JAMES, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
- James recorded 28 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks, two passes defensed, one interception and a fumble recovery in six games during December and January. He was the only defensive back to have at least five tackles for loss and three sacks in that span.
- This is James’ second-career Player of the Month award, also earning the honor in November, 2022. He is the first Chargers player to win multiple Defensive Player of the Month awards.
- James joins Pro Football Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks as the only former Florida State players to win multiple Defensive Player of the Month awards.
SPECIAL TEAMS: K JASON SANDERS, MIAMI DOLPHINS
- Sanders had 51 points and was the only kicker in the AFC to make all of his field goals (minimum of 10 attempts) in five games during December and January. His 15 made field goals included five from 50-or-more yards, the most in the NFL.
- This marks the fifth-career Player of the Month award for Sanders, tied for the second-most ever by a kicker.
- 2019: December
- 2020: October & November
- 2024: November & December-January
- Sanders’ five Player of the Month awards are tied with Justin Tucker (five Player of the Month awards) for the most by a kicker in the past 10 seasons (2015-24).
