Tampa Bay Buccaneers Outside Linebacker Yaya Diaby made history this season by becoming just the fourth player in the NFL to achieve an impressive feat: combining four quarterback hits with four tackles for loss in a single game. This remarkable performance earned him his first NFC Defensive Player of the Week award, a well-deserved recognition of his skills on the field.
The NFL recognized Yaya Diaby’s outstanding performance on Wednesday, naming him the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 18. The Buccaneers’ second-year outside linebacker wreaked havoc in the Saints’ backfield, tallying 1.0 sack, four quarterback hits, and four tackles for loss. His dominant display played a crucial role in Tampa Bay’s thrilling comeback victory, as the Buccaneers overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to win 27-19, holding the Saints to just three second-half points.
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Diaby’s Defensive Player of the Week award marks a milestone for the Buccaneers, as it is the team’s fifth POTW honor this season, but the first to be won by a defensive player. This achievement is part of a remarkable streak for the Buccaneers, who have secured four POTW awards in the last six weeks of the season. During this period, the team won six of their last seven games, ultimately claiming their fourth consecutive NFC South title. Notably, quarterback Baker Mayfield earned Offensive Player of the Week awards in Weeks 15 and 17, while running back Bucky Irving received the same honor in Week 13. Earlier in the season, running back Sean Tucker was named the NFC’s Offensive Player of the Week in Week 6.
Diaby’s achievement marks a notable milestone for the Buccaneers, as he becomes the first Tampa Bay player to win the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award since Antoine Winfield Jr. in Week 13 of the previous season. Additionally, Diaby is the team’s first outside linebacker to receive this honor since Shaquil Barrett in Week 3 of the 2020 season, highlighting his standout performance.
As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head into the playoffs with unfinished business, they can take momentum from their regular-season finale, where they secured the division title with a win over the New Orleans Saints. For Yaya Diaby, the game marked a thrilling conclusion to his NFL campaign, as he delivered one of his most impressive performances yet.
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