Five sacks are going to get attention, and its certainly going to win someone a Defensive Player of the Week award.
So Chandler Jones winning the NFC's honor Wednesday morning -- after taking a wrecking ball to the Titans' offense in the Cardinals' 38-13 win -- was not a surprise.
"I had seen what he was doing in practice each and every day," safety Budda Baker said. "He's a technician. He's professional when it comes to pass rushing. He has that down. He knows what to do. Just to see that (Sunday) bought smiles to my face for sure."
Jones was credited with six tackles -- four for loss -- two forced fumbles and six QB hits while tying the franchise record for sacks in a game and setting his personal best. He tied Reggie White all-time with his third game with at least four sacks. Only Leslie O'Neal and Derrick Thomas, with four, have done it more often in NFL history. (Sacks became an official stat in 1982.)
Jones, with 66 sacks as a Cardinal, needs just one to surpass Freddie Joe Nunn (66.5) as the franchise's all-time leader.
It is the fifth time the linebacker has won a Player of the Week award, four of them being with the Cardinals, The last time was Week 16 of 2019 -- he also won in Week 7 of that season -- when he had a four-sack game in Seattle against the Seahawks.
Jones ties current Cardinals vice president of pro personnel Adrian Wilson with the most DPOW awards in franchise history with four.
The Cardinals won a Defensive POW nod twice last season, when linebacker Haason Reddick's five sacks against the Giants Week 14 earned one, as did Baker's big game against the Cowboys in Week 6. Kyler Murray also won it three times last season on offense, as did wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
Murray, with four touchdowns passing and one rushing against the Titans, had a case for NFC Offensive Player of the Week. But the league usually only gives one player of the week award to a team, and Jones' big day couldn't be ignored.
Murray chuckled when asked if he felt he should have won the award.
"I definitely feel like I did, but it is what it is," Murray said.
