Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. delivered a performance to remember in Week 16, earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after a game that underscored his reputation as one of the NFL’s premier defensive playmakers.

Stingley wasted no time making his presence felt against the Las Vegas Raiders.

On the third play from scrimmage, he jumped a pass and returned the interception 31 yards for a touchdown, igniting the Texans early and setting the tone for the rest of the game.

The score marked Houston’s first interception return for a touchdown this season and the first of Stingley’s NFL career.

He added two tackles and a forced fumble, finishing as the only AFC player to record a pick-six in Week 16.

He became just the third player in the NFL this season to tally both a forced fumble and an interception return for a touchdown in the same game.

Stingley’s season-long impact has been just as impressive.

He has totaled 32 tackles, 13 passes defensed, four interceptions, and one forced fumble while starting all 15 games for a Texans defense that leads the league in yards allowed per game (272.3) and points allowed per game (16.6). 

This award marks the two-time Pro Bowler’s third AFC Defensive Player of the Week honor, all earned in December.