Week 9: Dante Fowler Jr., Washington Commanders

Washington Commanders linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Week for the second time this season after another strong defensive performance led the host Commanders to a 27-22 victory over the New York Giants.

Fowler, who has made quite an impact after singing as a free agent this past offseason, finished with six tackles and two sacks, forced one fumble and had two quarterback hits, leading the Commanders to their third consecutive win.

Fowler delivered perhaps the biggest play of the game midway through the first quarter. After New York had driven from its own 8-yard line to a first down at the Commanders’ 29, Fowler rushed the quarterback and knocked the ball loose just before Giants quarterback released a pass. While game officials initially ruled the play an incomplete pass, the Commanders challenged and the call was reversed, with the fumble being recovered by Washington’s Bobby Wagner at the New York 31.

Five plays later, the Commanders finished their short touchdown drive with Jayden Daniels’ one-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin. The Giants had been in position to score the game’s first points, but Fowler’s play swung the momentum and Washington had a 7-0 lead and never trailed.

Fowler has now a team-leading 6 ½ sacks this season and is on pace to break his career-high of 11 ½.

Week 8: Chad Ryland, Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland, who played at the University of Maryland, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Week after kicking a career-long field goal and later booting a third game-winning kick in four games to lift the Cardinals to a 28-27 win over the Miami Dolphins this past Sunday.

Out of football when the season started, Ryland was signed by the Cardinals to their practice squad on Oct. 2, as kicker Matt Prater dealt with an injury. Ryland subsequently was added to the active roster and in his season debut made a 35-yard field goal with 1 minute 40 seconds left, giving Arizona a 24-23 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

Two weeks later, Ryland made a 32-yard field goal on the game’s final play as the Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Rams, 17-15, on Monday Night Football.

This week, after making a 57-yard field goal in the third quarter, Ryland again closed things out, nailing a 34-yard field goal as time expired to give Arizona a 28-27 win over the Miami Dolphins.

“Prime time player,” Cardinals Coach Jonathan Gannon said. “He does it in practice. We try to rattle him in practice and he’s got ice water in his veins right now.”

Gannon said that confidence has allowed the Cardinals to dictate the way they want to play in late-game situations, comfortable that Ryland will make any needed kicks.

It’s a great feeling for Ryland, who played as a graduate transfer at Maryland in 2022. He was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft and was 16 of 25 on field goal attempts as a rookie, before getting cut at the end of training camp prior to this season.

Ryland then tried to stay in shape in case an opportunity arose, including spending a week working out at Maryland.

Week 7: Dante Fowler Jr., Washington Commanders

photo courtesy washington commanders

Washington Commanders defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Week after his outstanding defensive performance led the host Commanders to a resounding 40-7 victory over the Carolina Panthers this past Sunday.

Fowler, signed as a free agent this past offseason, has come on strong in recent weeks and leads the team in sacks as they near the midseason mark.

But it was his first career interception and subsequent 67-yard return for a touchdown that suddenly turned the game in the Commanders’ favor. Carolina had taken the opening kickoff and quickly moved down the field. Fowler, though, corraled an errant screen pass, made a nimble move around quarterback Andy Dalton and raced the rest of the way for his first-ever pick six.

The Commanders never again were threatened as they built a 27-0 halftime lead and took a shutout into the fourth quarter.

“Dante’s touchdown was really the thing that set it off,” Commanders Coach Dan Quinn said, “To create momentum for us.”

Fowler, who previously played for Quinn with the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys, added two tackles, including stuffing a fourth-down run for a loss and a sack.

“That was my first pick-six in my life. I feel a little bit different than before," Fowler told reporters following the game. "Man, that was so cool. That was my first interception -- just be able to return it for a touchdown -- man, that was like I was in a dream.”

Week 6: Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who attended Gonzaga College High School in Northwest Washington, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Week after throwing a career-high four touchdowns and leading the Bears to their third consecutive win, 35-16 over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday in London.

Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner who was the No. 1 overall pick in this past spring’s NFL Draft, completed 23 of 29 passes for 226 yards and also rushed for 56 yards as he continues to improve on a weekly basis.

Only six games into the season, Williams is well on his way to setting franchise rookie records for passing yardage and touchdowns and has stabilized the quarterback position for Chicago, leading the Bears to a 4-2 start.

“Throughout this whole process of these past couple games we’ve had, I’ve been seeing it well,” said Williams, who was named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Player of the Year after his sensational 2022 season at USC. “That starts throughout the whole week: watching film, getting there in practice, talking to the coaches and players, things like that. The comfort level of getting back to playing football, where I need to be, where my eyes need to be … and having that feel for the game. “

On Sunday, Williams was upset with himself for an early interception, but quickly rebounded with two touchdown passes to tight end Cole Kmet and two to wide receiver Keenan Allen.

“He took a step in the right direction and our team took a step in the right direction,” Bears Coach Matt Eberflus said. “He knows he’s always working and improving and growing. This year is a big year for him to be able to learn the game up here. He’s always been good enough in terms of talent, but he’s learning the game and learning our offense and learning our skillsets and what they can do.”

Week 5: Frankie Luvu, Washington Commanders

Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Week after his strong defensive performance led the Commanders to their fourth consecutive victory, 34-13 over the visiting Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

A free agent who signed a three-year, $36 million contract this offseason, Luvu was all over the field Sunday. He made six tackles with 2 ½ sacks and two tackles for loss and recovered a fumble as the Commanders held the Browns without a touchdown until the latter part of the fourth quarter.

“He brings energy to our team and unbelievable support, his ability to create disruptive plays and the physicality,” Commanders Coach Dan Quinn said. “Today, I felt his presence more rushing the passer. He brings a lot to our team – it’s the energy and the standards, the substance to him. It’s awesome to have him as the ying to Bobby Wagner’s yang. Bobby is the coolest cucumber and next to him is Frankie, who is wound up as wild and fun as you can get. It’s nice to have the balance of both of them doing their thing.”

A native of American Samoa, where he also played for the under-17 soccer team, Luvu played football at Washington State University. He made the New York Jets roster as an undrafted free agent and played three seasons there before joining the Carolina Panthers for three seasons.

He signed with the Commanders this past offseason. While the team’s defense started slowly this season, it has improved on a weekly basis. On Sunday, Washington held Cleveland to 1 of 13 on third down conversions and limited quarterback Deshaun Watson 125 yards passing.

“We put the work in all week and to see our fruition come to life, that’s the moment we’re having fun,” Luvu said. “When the plays are there to be made, I’m going to try to capitalize on them.”

Week 4: Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Week for the second consecutive week after leading the visiting Commanders to a 42-14 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

One week after setting an NFL rookie record for completion percentage in a single game, Daniels was incredibly accurate once again. He completed 26 of 30 passes for 233 yards and one touchdown, while also rushing eight times for 47 yards and another score.

On the opening possession of the second half, with the Commanders leading 17-7, another passing attempt resulted in a 47-yard pass interference penalty. Daniels scored on a nine-yard keeper on the following play as Washington began the break things open en route to its first 3-1 start since 2011.

“It feels good that we’re able to execute the game plan, but we still have room to grow from there,” Daniels said. “We’re not a finished product at all.”

The trip was a return to where Daniels began his college career, with the Commanders spending the week in the Phoenix area and practicing at Arizona State University. While there were a few extra interviews to talk about being back in a familiar place, Daniels remained focused. Commanders Coach Dan Quinn said he noticed Daniels and the team’s other quarterbacks spending many late nights in their meeting room, just down the hotel hall from Quinn’s temporary office.

“I was really proud of him,” Quinn said. “I knew there would be extra stories with being back at Arizona State, but you never would have known that [watching him this week]. … He stayed steady all the way through.”

Week 3: Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who set an NFL rookie passing accuracy record by completing 21 of 23 passes in his Monday Night Football debut, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Week after leading the visiting Commanders to a 38-33 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Daniels passed for 254 yards and two touchdowns and ran for one more score as Washington scored points on all of its possessions except for when it took a knee at the end of the first half.

“We were just executing at a high level,” said Daniels, who was selected No. 2 overall in this past spring’s NFL Draft. “Give credit to my o-line, my receivers and my running backs, and most importantly give credit to God.”

One week after the Commanders failed to score on six trips to the red zone, they were incredibly efficient, scoring on all three trips and finishing with five touchdowns and one field goal. It was the second consecutive week that Washington did not punt.

Daniels’ 55-yard pass to Terry McLaurin set up his own four-yard keeper midway through the second quarter, putting the Commanders in front, 21-10. Daniels started the third quarter with his first career NFL touchdown pass – a one-yarder to tackle-eligible Trent Scott for a 28-13 lead. Late in the fourth quarter, with the Commanders holding a precarious 31-26 lead and facing third-and-7, Daniels connected with McLaurin for a 27-yard touchdown.

“I knew I was going to take a hit, but I trust my players out there and trust my guy to make a play,” Daniels said.

“It was a really good ball and good catch by Terry, too,” Commanders Coach Dan Quinn said. “It was a really strong performance by [Daniels] tonight.”

Week 2: Austin Seibert, Washington Commanders

photo courtesy washington commanders

Washington Commanders kicker Austin Seibert, who set a franchise record with seven field goals in his debut with the team, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Week after booting the Commanders to a 21-18 win over the New York Giants this past Sunday.

Out of work one week ago and practicing on a vacant lot next door to his house, aiming at a pine tree, Seibert was signed last Monday and in his first game saved the Commanders. He made all seven of his attempts, including the game-winner from 30 yards out as time expired, prompting his teammates to carry him off the field in celebration.

“I guess that’s a great way to welcome myself to the team and win a football game,” Seibert said during a postgame news conference that concluded with him sharing the pronunciation of his last name. “So I’m happy with it.”

Coming out of the University of Oklahoma in 2019, Seibert was drafted in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns. He later spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions and New York Jets. It was during a preseason joint practice with the Jets last month that the Commanders noticed Seibert’s success. So when Cade York missed two field goals in the season opener and was cut, the Commanders did not even hold a tryout and quickly moved to sign Seibert.

We noticed him “in the rain hitting some big ones,” Commanders Coach Dan Quinn said. “On the other field they were making them, and on the field we were on, didn’t have the best day.”

As in the past, Seibert had done his best to stay ready in case a call came. After being cut by the Jets, he would practice a few days each week, kicking 25 to 30 balls as he aimed at a pine tree on the lot next to his house, with his wife filming and daughter watching.

“It is a family event,” he said.

The stakes were much higher Sunday, but Seibert simply told himself just to focus and imagine a pine tree off in the distance, between the uprights.

“This staff brought me in for a reason and they believe in me to do that,” Seibert said. “Just have to go out and execute it and not make it bigger than it is.

“Pretty much everyone knows there were some kickers here before me. I can’t think about that – that’s their story and that’s what they’re doing. At the end of the day, I’m writing my own story.”

Week 1: Ja'Whaun Bentley, New England Patriots

New England Patriots linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley, who starred at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville and was the 2024 DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Year, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Week after leading the Patriots to a season-opening, 16-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals this past Sunday.

Bentley, who has led New England in tackles each of the past three seasons (with more than 100 tackles each season), posted a team-high 12 tackles and had half a sack as the Patriots held the Bengals to just one touchdown and 224 yards of total offense.

“It felt great,” said Bentley, who also was the Touchdown Club Maryland High School Player of the Year as a high school senior. “Just watching all that hard work and what we put in throughout the week and throughout the offseason and reaping the benefits.

“Staying true to what we’ve been coached throughout the week. Obviously, Cincinnati has a dynamic group of players all across the board. Nobody even talks about their offensive line. Everybody talks about their skill players but they have a dynamic offensive line. We came into the game and we had our rules that we wanted to get done, certain looks we wanted to show them. We wanted to make it hard on them.”