Linebacker Wesley Woodyard’s first priority is the success of his team.

“I only care about winning and getting to the Super Bowl,” Woodyard said. “That’s the only thing that matters to me.”

With Sunday night’s 34-14 defeat of the New Orleans Saints giving the Broncos back-to-back victories, Woodyard was able to leave the stadium on a high note. When the NFL recognized Woodyard on Wednesday as AFC Defensive Player of the Week, he said the honor wasn’t his alone.

“First, thanks to my D-line,” Woodyard said. “They were in the right position and made me be able to run around and make plays. With great team play come awards like this.”

“It means a lot for my team — me and my team,” Woodyard added. “We just go out there and play hard.”

Sunday’s game marked the best statistical performance of Woodyard’s career, as he tallied a game-high 13 tackles, a sack, an interception, a forced fumble and a pass breakup.

“It was good for him,” Head Coach John Fox said. “He’s a guy that’s worked really hard. He’s always been a great guy in that locker room. He’s a fun player to be around. He was community guy of the year last year. It’s good to see good things happen to good people. Wesley’s definitely that.”

His big night was not only the best of his career, but was also one for the record books.

Since the NFL began tracking sacks in 1982, Woodyard became just the ninth player with 10 or more tackles, a sack, an interception and a forced fumble in a single game. He is also the first Bronco to record 50 tackles, multiple sacks and forced fumbles halfway through a season.

Woodyard’s strong performance Sunday night highlighted one of the defense’s best efforts of the season, as it limited the NFL’s top-ranked passing attack to just 213 yards through the air.

“We continue to buy in every week and get better,” Woodyard said. “That’s the thing, come out here every week and get better at practice ever week. Everybody is just continuing to buy in and just flying around and having fun. The D-linemen are doing what they have to do up front, the linebackers and the secondary, so it all goes hand-in-hand.”

Tags: AFC Defensive Player of the Week, Wesley Woodyard

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