FLOWERY BRANCH — Atlanta Falcons linebacker Deion Jones was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday for his performance in their 28-22 overtime win over Tampa Bay.
Jones closed the 2019 season with a walk-off pick six in overtime, intercepting Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston and racing 27-yards to the end zone to lift Atlanta to the win. He also recovered a fumble that was forced by Jacob Tuioti-Mariner on the Buccaneers’ opening possession that led to a 27-yard Younghoe Koo field goal. The pick-six was the fourth of Jones’ career and he is the only player in the NFL with four interception touchdowns since 2016. Jones is the seventh player with a game-winning interception return for a touchdown in overtime since 2002 and the first since 2015.
Jones anchored a Falcons defense that held Winston to 201 yards on 13-of-24 passing (54.2 percent) and a 75.2 passer rating. The Bucs quarterback entered Sunday’s season finale averaging a league-high 327.2 yards per game.
In 2019, the four-year pro registered 110 tackles, marking his third season of 100+ tackles, four QB hits and five passes defensed.
