Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Alex Anzalone earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording two interceptions and six tackles in Sunday's 16-0 shutout of the Atlanta Falcons. It is the first weekly award of his 10-year NFL career.
According to the NFL's Week 8 announcement, Anzalone became the second linebacker since 2000 to intercept two passes in the first quarter, joining Seattle's Lofa Tatupu, who did it in 2007.
Both interceptions came against Michael Penix Jr. on Atlanta's second and third possessions. Anzalone's first takeaway gave Tampa Bay possession at the Falcons' 33-yard line, while his second put the offense at the 19. He also recorded one tackle for loss and two passes defensed.
Anzalone's performance helped the Buccaneers
produce the NFL's first shutout of the season. Tampa Bay held Atlanta to 224 total yards, intercepted Penix four times, and prevented the Falcons from converting any of their 12 third-down attempts.
The veteran linebacker became Tampa Bay's first Player of the Week recipient this season and its first NFC Defensive Player of the Week winner since Anthony Nelson in Week 8 of 2025. He is also the first Buccaneers off-ball linebacker to earn the honor since Devin White in 2022.
Anzalone, who signed with Tampa Bay in March after five seasons with Detroit, has 42 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, three interceptions, and three passes defensed through eight games. His three interceptions lead all NFL linebackers and are tied for second among all defenders.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Buccaneers' Alex Anzalone named NFC Defensive Player of the Week
