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Xavier Rhodes Named NFC Defensive Player Of The Week

The fourth-year cornerback won the award for the first time in his career.

Arizona Cardinals v Minnesota Vikings Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images

As if being the runaway winner of our game ball for his Week 11 performance isn’t enough, Minnesota Vikings’ cornerback Xavier Rhodes has a slightly more significant honor to add to his mantle.

It was just announced that the fourth-year cornerback has been named the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Vikings’ 30-24 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

Rhodes made the play that really shifted things in Minnesota’s favor when he intercepted a Carson Palmer pass at the goal line in the second quarter and took it back 100 yards for a score. That return is the longest interception return for a score in Minnesota Vikings’ history. He later added a second interception on a brilliant diving grab after Palmer overthrew Malcolm Floyd.

Rhodes currently has four interceptions on the season for the purple, which is twice as many as he grabbed in his first three NFL seasons combined.

Congratulations to Xavier Rhodes on winning his first ever NFC Defensive Player of the Week award!