Dion Lewis Named AFC Offensive Player of the Week After Big Day vs. Bills
Dion Lewis is the AFC Offensive Player of the Week after the Patriots running back delivered a monster game in a 37-16 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Lewis rushed 24 times for 129 yards and a touchdown and added five catches for 24 yards and a receiving touchdown in the win over the Bills. He’s averaging 5.2 yards attempt on the season, and is on pace to become just the fifth player in Patriots franchise history with at least 100 carries to top five yards per rush.
This is the second time in Lewis’ career that he earned a Player of the Week honor from the NFL. The first win came in Week 10 against the Denver Broncos, when Lewis won AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Dion Lewis with a TD reception pic.twitter.com/8OeRDG7wko
— Ian Valentino (@NFLDraftStudy) December 24, 2017
Dion Lewis: By The Numbers
Lewis has been excellent from Week 10 onward. He has 593 scrimmage yards and four total touchdowns (two rushing, two receiving) in his last six games. His 5.2 yards per carry is the third-best average in the NFL, and ranks behind only Saints running back Alvin Kamara (6.2) and Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (5.4).
But when you factor in his return yardage, Lewis ranks eighth in the league in all-purpose yards with 1,547. He’s right behind the Bills’ LeSean McCoy (1,554) in that department, while Rams running back Todd Gurley leads the league with 2,093 yards.
Dion Lewis of the New England Patriots evades a tackle against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on Dec. 24, 2017. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
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The 2017 season represents a great bounce-back for Lewis. He lagged out of the gate in 2016 as he recovered from ACL surgery and never really got things going. But now, he’s back to looking like the same electric runner that came out of nowhere in 2015. He’s settling in as the Patriots’ No. 2 offensive option behind Rob Gronkowski and looks like a key weapon for Tom Brady entering the playoffs.
LISTEN BELOW: Dion Lewis joins Christian Arcand and Tim McKone
— By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff.
