HOUSTON – For the fifth time in his career, Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt has been named AFC Defensive Player of the Month.
Watt was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after his performance against the New York Jets on Nov. 2, and now he has been named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for November.
Watt recorded an NFL-best 7.5 sacks, 26 quarterback hits and nine tackles for loss in the month.
Watt continues to impress this season by becoming the second-fastest player in NFL history to reach 70 career sacks, with a sack in five straight games. He is now tied for the third-longest streak in Texans history and tied for the longest active streak in the NFL.
Watt's defensive efforts helped the Texans win four straight games, ranking the team's defense No. 1 in the NFL in points allowed per game in the month of November.
Watt played a big part in the win against the Saints, snapping Drew Brees' 45-game streak of games with a touchdown. Watt had seven quarterback hits and two sacks in the 24-6 win.
So far for the season, Watt has an NFL-best 13.5 sacks, 42 quarterback hits and 23 tackles for loss. Plus, for the first 11 games this season, Watt has recorded more tackles, sacks, quarterback hits and tackles for loss than he did through his first 11 games in 2014. That year, Watt was named the first unanimous Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year in NFL history.
In the 2014 season, Watt was named to the Pro Bowl, The Associated Press All-Pro First Team and the PFWA All-NFL Team for the third consecutive year after what many were calling his best season. He also became the first player in NFL history with a receiving touchdown, a safety, a fumble return for a touchdown and an interception return for a touchdown in a single season. Watt also has the second-most career sacks in a player's first five season in NFL history with 68.5 since 2011.
The Texans take on the Buffalo Bills Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium at noon. The Texans are tied for first place in the AFC South with the Indianapolis Colts at 6-5.