EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Deonte Banks has been named NFC Defensive Player of the Week after his game-saving interception for the New York Giants in Sunday’s 36-24 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
Banks intercepted Arizona quarterback Jacoby Brissett on fourth-and-goal at the 4-yard line, returning the ball 98 yards for a touchdown.
Banks said after the game that he had called his shot during the week.
“They was giving me a tight end and a receiver set all day. I’ve been thinking a slant all day and they
haven’t been giving it to me,” Banks said. “That time I just knew they were going to give it to me. It was just a matter of time because they kept running it.
“I knew I was going to take it. I’ve been calling it all week. I’m going to pick a slant this week.”
Banks also had four passes defensed, tied for the most in a game by any player this season.
A first-round pick in 2023, Banks had a promising rookie season. The last two seasons, though, have been difficult, and there were questions entering the season about what role Banks might have. He has, though, responded to the opportunity given to him by head coach John Harbaugh.
“We just taught the defense really and talked to him about playing technique the right way, and he was just really amenable to it,” Harbaugh said. “We didn’t really have any kind of an in-depth conversation about the past. You know, that really wasn’t part of it. Just said, ‘Hey, man, we know what you’re capable of, let’s go play some good football.’ And maybe that was just all it took, maybe that’s all that was really needed. I do think he felt the confidence. I think he felt happy about the opportunity, maybe. Maybe he was freed up a little bit from the past, whatever happened. I mean, he had a great year his first year. So, maybe he leaned into that a little bit more. I’m not really sure, but it just wasn’t something we thought too much about. We just made it about the football, probably, more than anything.”
