Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons

Beasley named NFC defensive player of the week

Falcons outside linebacker Vic Beasley Jr. against the Rams (Getty Images).
Falcons outside linebacker Vic Beasley Jr. against the Rams (Getty Images).
By
Dec 14, 2016

Falcons linebacker Vic Beasley Jr. was named the NFC’s defensive player of the week on Wednesday.

Beasley Jr. had three sacks and scored his first career touchdown in Atlanta’s 42-14 win over Los Angeles.

He is the first Falcon and 10th NFL player with three sacks and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.

Beasley is tied for the league lead with 13.5 sacks. He leads the league in forced fumbles with six.

Beasley’s sack-to-pressure ratio this season is off the charts.

League-wide this season edge rushers convert pressure into sacks about 15 percent of the time, while Beasley has converted pressure into a sack 28.6 percent of the time, according to profootballfocus.com.

Against the Rams he had six total pressures, but three of them were sacks, and one was the perfect pass-rushing trifecta of a sack, forced fumble and recovery for a touchdown.

This year there have been few pass-rushers to make as many impact plays as Beasley.

About the Author

Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.

Follow D. Orlando Ledbetter on facebookFollow D. Orlando Ledbetter on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Atlanta Falcons' left guard Matthew Bergeron sustained an ankle injury in a game against the New England Patriots. He is unlikely to play against the Colts in Berlin. (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2023)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Matthew Bergeron unlikely to play against Colts

The Falcons will be without Bergeron as the team tries to ignite its running game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in Berlin.

OPINION

Falcons’ third kicker of season trying to be what the first two weren’t

As the Falcons prepare to travel to play in Berlin, the team is hoping Zane Gonzalez can rid them of their baggage when it comes to kicking game problems this season.

Germany welcomes Falcons with a deep link to American football

Falcons vs. Colts figures to be a festive event, with a knowledgeable crowd at Olympic Stadium.

The Latest

Atlanta Falcons' left guard Matthew Bergeron sustained an ankle injury in a game against the New England Patriots. He is unlikely to play against the Colts in Berlin. (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2023)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Matthew Bergeron unlikely to play against Colts

Germany welcomes Falcons with a deep link to American football

OPINION

Falcons’ third kicker of season trying to be what the first two weren’t

Featured

Public Service Commission candidate Peter Hubbard gets a hug from Brionté McCorkle, executive director of Georgia Conservation Voters, during an election-night party in Southwest Atlanta on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025.  (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Gray for the AJC

‘Landslide’ PSC sweep jolts Georgia Democrats ahead of 2026 midterms

Georgia Democrats put Republicans 'on notice' ahead of 2026 midterms with Public Service Commission wins.

Atlanta traffic patterns are changing, report says. How it impacts your drive.

A recent study from Texas A&M University backs up what we're all seeing: Roads are clogged all day long, and by some metrics, traffic is busier than in 2019.

Mrs. America isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty

From beauty queen to cricket farmer to grief coach, Buford resident Paige Ewing keeps it real. She is the 2025 Mrs. America, and in January she will compete for Mrs. World.