Coming off of an impressive performance in the Denver Broncos massive road win against the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football, inside linebacker Cody Barton took home the prestigious honor of being the AFC’s Defensive Player of the Week.

Denver Broncos LB Cody Barton named AFC Defensive Player of the Week

Thursday Night Football against the New Orleans Saints in Week 7 was a night to remember for inside linebacker Cody Barton. When you go back and watch the tape, you’ll see No. 55 all over the place as he helped energize the Denver Broncos defense with the short turnaround they faced coming off of Week 6’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Barton finished with a team-high eight tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, a defensive touchdown, and one pass defended en route to being named the AFC’s Defensive Player of the Week. Just two weeks ago, Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II took home the honors of AFC Defensive Player of the Week after his performance against the Las Vegas Raiders.

For Denver to have two defensive players win the award in a matter of weeks is a testament to the job defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and his staff have done.

“It was just one of those nights where it just comes to you and you just kind of feel it,” Barton said after Thursday’s win. “It was a great team win. It was just one of those games. It was a great team win on the road on a short week. I am happy for everyone.”

Barton would have had two defensive touchdowns in this game, but an offsides penalty on the Broncos defense negated that from being the case.

“Tonight I did. I was saying it all game,” Barton said. “‘It’s going to happen. I am going to get it back. I’m going to get it back.’ It ended up happening. You don’t know when it is going to happen. You just need to be ready when the opportunity presents itself. It happens quick.”