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Jason Pierre-Paul’s outstanding performance in the Giants’ victory Sunday night in Dallas has earned him the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award.

Pierre-Paul, the Giants’ second-year end, was the dominant defensive player in the Giants’ 37-34 victory. He led the team with eight tackles (six solo), including two sacks of Tony Romo. The first resulted in a safety for the Giants’ first points. The second sack was on a third down in the third quarter and forced the Cowboys to punt from their own 43-yard line. Pierre-Paul also forced a Felix Jones fumble that was recovered by Deon Grant and led to a field goal. He secured the victory by blocking Dan Bailey’s 47-yard field goal attempt with one second left in the game. If good, the kick would have tied the score and sent the game into overtime.

Pierre-Paul, the Giants’ first-round draft choice in 2010, has 12.5 sacks this season, the highest total by a Giant since Osi Umenyiora had 13.0 in 2007.  His field goal block was the first by a Giant since Terrell Thomas blocked a David Akers’ attempt at Philadelphia on Nov. 21, 2010.

Pierre-Paul is the second Giant to win the Defensive Player of the Week award this season. Mathias Kiwanuka won the honor after the Giants’ Week 9 victory in New England, where he had 12 tackles (six solo) and an interception. Pierre-Paul is the first Giants defensive end to win the award since Justin Tuck in Week 1 of the 2009 season.