Adrian Clayborn wins NFC Defensive Player of the Week

After putting together a dominant six sack performance that helped the Falcons hold the Dallas Cowboys to a meek seven points, Adrian Clayborn has gotten the recognition he so richly deserves.

Simply put, this was one of the best performances ever by a Falcons defender, even if you consider that Chaz Green was clearly not up to the task of stopping him. His six sacks are a franchise record, tied for the second highest total in NFL history for a single game, and it catapulted him to a career-high eight sacks for the season. His previous high was 7.5, and he still has seven games in which to build on that total.

Clayborn almost surely doesn’t have another six sack effort in him the rest of the way, but I’m hopeful this was a huge lightbulb moment and Clayborn will continue to build on his production the rest of the way. If Clayborn, Vic Beasley, Takkarist McKinley, and the rest of the gang can generate consistent pass rush, this defense is going to be as genuinely good as it looked Sunday against Dallas.

Congratulations, Adrian Clayborn!