Chris Jones’s monster day against Cowboys earns him DPOW honors for Week 11

The Kansas City Chiefs have another winner for an AFC Player of the Week for the second consecutive week with the news that defensive tackle Chris Jones won for the Week 11 Defensive Player of the Week in the conference.

For Week 10, Patrick Mahomes took home the award for Offensive Player of the Week after throwing five touchdown passes against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Last week, the Chiefs took out the Dallas Cowboys in a dominant 19-9 showing at home. Jones was the centerpiece of the defense’s tremendous day against Dak Prescott and a celebrated offensive line, and he finished the day with 3.5 sacks, 3 quarterback hits, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and an important pass deflection.

Defensive tackle Chris Jones was named the AFC’s Defensive Player of the Week for Week 11.

After Sunday’s win, Jones more than doubled his season sack total after numerous close calls in recent weeks—moving from 3 sacks in 2021 to 6.5. He’s also on a midseason surge that will likely have him finish on a tear. He began the year with a wrist injury that cost him both playing time and production, and the same was true for his rushing mate Frank Clark. Together, they lacked their typical push against the opposing pocket and the defense suffered because of it.

Through the first seven weeks of the season, Jones only had 4 quarterback hits to his name. He has 8 more in the last four weeks to go alongside his sack total.

Jones was the Chiefs second round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and has blossomed into the league’s most punishing defensive tackle not named Aaron Donald. He came in at No. 34 overall in the NFL’s Top 100 Players vote in the preseason and if he can finish well, he’s likely headed to his third straight Pro Bowl game. He’s already a three-time All-Pro.