Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Zach Sieler earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career, the NFL announced Wednesday.
Sieler, 29, recorded two sacks and three quarterback hits in the Dolphins’ 32-26 overtime win against the New York Jets. Both of his timely sacks of Aaron Rodgers came in the fourth quarter and effectively ended a pair of Jets drives.
The first came on a third down deep in Miami territory, forcing New York to punt for the first time Sunday.
Zach Sieler and Chop Robinson are absolutely carrying this Dolphins pass rush at the moment, this was a huge sack. pic.twitter.com/iblz6G7vNj
— FinsCentral (@finscentral) December 9, 2024
His second sack came with just over a minute left in the fourth quarter, pinning the Jets into a third-and-21 situation they were unable to convert.
“Man, he played a game. He had a day today,” Dolphins defensive lineman Calais Campbell said after the game. “So many close plays early. So many close plays early, but just bringing that energy, bringing that leadership, bringing that passion and then the dam broke in that fourth quarter. He went off and made big plays that essentially called game for us or at least gave us a shot for the offense to call game.”
Sieler is the Dolphins’ first AFC Defensive Player of the Week honoree of the season and the team’s first since Bradley Chubb earned the distinction for recording three sacks against the Jets in a 2023 game
