Safety Landon Collins has been named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time:
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Landon Collins today became the first Giants player to win player of the week awards in consecutive games.
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The team's strong safety was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his outstanding performance in Sunday's 28-23 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles in MetLife Stadium – just as he was for his dominant outing in the Giants' triumph over the Los Angeles Rams in London two weeks before.
Collins is the first defensive player to win player of the week awards in consecutive games since Chicago cornerback Charles Tillman in 2012, and the first safety since Pittsburgh's Troy Polamalu in 2010.
Against the Eagles, Collins led the Giants with 12 tackles (six solo) and recorded his third interception in two games when he picked off a Carson Wentz pass intended for Nelson Agholor on the second play of the game. Two plays later, Eli Manning and Odell Beckham, Jr. hooked up for the Giants' first touchdown, giving the Giants a lead they never lost.
In addition to his interception, Collins sacked Wentz for a 12-yard loss on the final play of the first half. He is the first Giants player with an interception and a sack in the same game since defensive end Kerry Wynn did it at St. Louis on Dec. 21, 2014, and the first defensive back to do it since safety Antrel Rolle on Oct. 27, 2013, at Philadelphia. On the season, Collins leads the Giants in tackles (69), sacks (3.0) and interceptions (3). He is the only player in the NFL to lead his team in all three categories in this season.
Collins has three interceptions in the last two games after getting one in his first 22 games.
His terrific performance vs. Philadelphia came on the heels of a similar game vs. the Rams – and after the Giants' bye.
In Twickenham Stadium, the second-year pro had two interceptions that directly led to 14 points, returning one pick for a touchdown and setting up the game-winning score with the other. Collins also contributed a game-high eight solo tackles in the Giants' 17-10 victory over Los Angeles.
Collins scored the Giants' first defensive touchdown of the season when he intercepted a Case Keenum pass that was tipped by Tavon Austin and reversed field on a spectacular 44-yard run for the score with 7:10 remaining in the second quarter. Collins intercepted another Keenum pass and returned it 18 yards to the Rams' 35-yard line with 12:06 remaining in the fourth quarter. Six plays later, Rashad Jennings scored the game-winning touchdown on a 1-yard run.
Collins is the first Giants defensive player to win two player of the week awards in a season since safety Stevie Brown in 2012. Quarterback Eli Manning won the offensive award twice in 2015.
This is the fourth player of the week award won by the Giants this season. Janoris Jenkins won the special teams award in a Week 2 victory against New Orleans, and Odell Beckham, Jr. earned the Offensive Player of the Week Award in a Week 6 victory over Baltimore.
