The NFL announced Wednesday that Chargers linebacker Donald Butler received AFC defensive player of the week honors for making six tackles, a half-sack, and returning an interception for a touchdown in San Diego’s Week Four win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
The best defensive player from the American Football Conference in Week Four was factually Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake, who registered 4.5 sacks of Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb as Miami came up just short of unseating undefeated Arizona, 24-21.
Although the name of the weekly award suggests it’s an individual honor, the voters apparently decided Butler’s team getting the win was more important. And this isn’t taking anything away from Butler, who had a very nice game. But Wake was more dominant than him on the football field in Week Four and should have been recognized as defender of the week.