Eden Prairie, MN (October 29, 2014) – Vikings LB Anthony Barr has been named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week after his performance in the Vikings 19-13 overtime victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Barr recorded eight tackles, 1.0 sack, one pass defensed, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one fumble return touchdown in the win. On the first play of the overtime period, he forced a fumble, recovered it and returned it 27 yards for the game-winning touchdown. This play marked the fourth time in NFL history that a player has returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown in overtime. It was the first overtime defensive touchdown in Vikings history.
He becomes the first Vikings defensive player to win the award since Antoine Winfield in 2010 (Week 16 at Philadelphia) and the first Vikings rookie defensive player to win it since Cedric Griffin in 2006 (Week 14 at Detroit).
Barr, the ninth overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft, currently leads all NFL rookies with 3.0 sacks and is tied for the NFL lead with 3 fumble recoveries.
ROOKIE LBS TO WIN NFC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK SINCE 2005
2005
DeMarcus Ware, DAL
Week 16
2009
Clay Matthews, GB
Week 13
2009
Brian Orakpo, WAS
Week 14
2010
Sean Lee, DAL
Week 13
2012
Luke Kuechly, CAR
Week 14
2014
Anthony Barr, MIN
Week 8
