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(PHOTO: Jan 1, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger (23) runs for a touchdown after intercepting the ball during the second half of agame against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports) For the fifth time this season, a New England Patriot has earned an AFC Player of the Week honor.
Kyle Dugger was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Patriots’ 23-21 victory over the Miami Dolphins. It is Dugger’s first career AFC Defensive Player of the Week honor.
Trailing 14-10 with three minutes left in the third quarter, Dugger returned an interception 39 yards for a touchdown to give the Patriots a 16-14 lead. The pick-six made Dugger the first New England Patriots player in the Super Bowl era with three defensive touchdowns in a single season.
Previously, Dugger had a 59-yard fumble returned for a touchdown vs. the Detroit Lions and a 16-yard interception return for a touchdown at the Las Vegas Raiders.
“Just Cover 2 dropping as the middle player,” Dugger said postgame. “Got some odd drops, saw my threat was eliminated, so I was able to get my eyes back to the quarterback and get around to the backside vertical. Once I got my hands on the ball, I knew I needed to score. It helped the team greatly. That was the goal.”
Dugger, who recorded his first career sack earlier this season, ranks second on New England with 72 tackles and tied for second with three interceptions. While starting each of his 14 games, he has stayed in for 694 snaps on defense and 115 snaps on special teams.
In addition to Dugger, linebacker Matthew Judon was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 5, and linebacker Josh Uche was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 14.
Lastly, kicker Nick Folk earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 8 and defensive back Marcus Jones earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 11 vs. the New York Jets. The five AFC Player of the Week honors are the most by a Patriots team in a single season since they had five recipients in 2017.
.@Patriots take the lead on a pick-6!
📺: #MIAvsNE on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/b9AODMuLy1 pic.twitter.com/XZGMmfPCGj— NFL (@NFL) January 1, 2023
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