NFL Names Week 13 Players of the Week

The NFL announced its Week 13 Players of the Week on Wednesday, recognizing standout performances across both conferences. The honorees include a rookie quarterback shining in primetime, a historic defensive outing, and several clutch special teams efforts that shaped key matchups.

AFC Players of the Week

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 30: Christian Benford #47 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates after his interception against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third quarter of a game at Acrisure Stadium on November 30, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Offense: Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye earned his first AFC Offensive Player of the Week award after leading a 33-15 win over the New York Giants on Monday Night Football. Maye completed 24 of 31 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns and posted a 126.0 passer rating. He was the only AFC quarterback in Week 13 to complete at least 75 percent of his passes while throwing for 260 or more yards.

Maye is the first Patriots quarterback to receive the honor since Tom Brady in Week 11 of the 2017 season. He also joins Mitchell Trubisky as the only former North Carolina quarterbacks to win the award.

Defense: Christian Benford, CB, Buffalo Bills

Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford secured his first Defensive Player of the Week award after a multi-impact performance in a 26-7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Benford recorded two tackles, a tackle for loss, an interception and a 17-yard fumble return for a touchdown.

He is the first player since Kareem Jackson in 2019 to produce a tackle for loss, an interception and a fumble-return touchdown in the same game. Benford becomes the fifth Bills cornerback in the past 10 seasons to earn the award and the first Villanova defensive player to win a Player of the Week honor.

Special Teams: Evan McPherson, K, Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after converting all six of his field-goal attempts and both extra points in a 32-14 win over the Baltimore Ravens. His 20 points and six made field goals are the most by any kicker in a game this season.

This is McPherson’s fourth career weekly honor, tying Doug Pelfrey for the most Special Teams awards in Bengals history. He also joins Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith and Eddy Piñeiro as the only former Florida players to win at least four weekly awards.

NFC Players of the Week

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – NOVEMBER 30: Ernest Jones IV #13 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with fans after returning an interception for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter of a game at Lumen Field on November 30, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jane Gershovich/Getty Images)

Offense: Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love earned his fourth career NFC Offensive Player of the Week award after throwing four touchdowns with no interceptions in a 31-24 Thanksgiving win over the Detroit Lions. Love completed 18 of 30 passes for 234 yards and was the only NFC quarterback to record four touchdown passes without a turnover in Week 13.

Love, who also won the award in Week 8, becomes the third Packers quarterback with at least four Player of the Week selections, joining Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre. He is also the only former Utah State player to win the award four times.

Defense: Ernest Jones, LB, Seattle Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones delivered one of the strongest defensive outings of the season during a 26-0 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Jones finished with 12 tackles, two interceptions and an 85-yard interception return for a touchdown.

He is the third player since 2000 to record at least 12 tackles, two interceptions and a defensive touchdown in the same game, joining Donnie Edwards (2004) and Rayshawn Jenkins (2022). Jones is the fourth Seahawks linebacker in the past decade to win Defensive Player of the Week and the first South Carolina linebacker to receive the honor since John Abraham in 2013.

Special Teams: Riley Dixon, P, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers punter Riley Dixon earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after placing three of his five punts inside the 20-yard line, including two inside the 10, during a 20-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Dixon also posted a 46.8-yard net average, which ranked second among punters with at least five attempts.

With two minutes left and Tampa Bay protecting a three-point lead, Dixon flipped the field with a 59-yard punt that pinned the Cardinals at their own 9-yard line. He is the seventh Buccaneers punter to win the award and the second former Syracuse punter to be recognized, joining Pat O’Neill in 1994.