Bills LB Terrel Bernard has been named the Week 11 AFC Defensive Player of the Week after his performance against the Kansas City Chiefs.
This is Bernard’s second Player of the Week Award in his career. He won his first in Week 3 of the 2023 season.
In addition to quarterback Josh Allen’s game-sealing touchdown run, Bernard intercepted QB Patrick Mahomes on the Chiefs’ final play of the game.
Bernard also led the Bills defense with a team-high eight tackles and one sack; he was the only player in the NFL this week with an interception and a sack.
“He’s a great middle linebacker, one of the best in the league,” CB Taron Johnson said of Bernard. “Just to have a guy like that, who’s a great leader, who’s talking consistently throughout the entire game, I feel like it helps us a ton.”
Bernard was not able to play against the Chiefs in the playoffs in January but was able to make the most of his opportunity, sacking Mahomes on an early third down play that forced a Kansas City punt.
“It was awesome,” Bernard said. “To have the opportunity to go out there and do it today. It was fun… Look forward to keeping it going.”
On the Chiefs’ final offensive play on fourth-and-13, Mahomes scrambled to his right and threw the ball to TE Travis Kelce. Bernard jumped the pass and intercepted the ball to end the Chiefs’ hopes of a comeback.
“He’s just a playmaker,” DB Cam Lewis said. “He’s the captain of, our defense, and makes everything go with the communication… he just makes plays time and time again. That’s what he does, and he shows that every time he’s on the field.”