Colts LB Robert Mathis named AFC Defensive Player of the Month
From the Indianapolis Colts
The NFL has announced that Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Robert Mathis has been named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for October. This marks the third time Mathis has earned the award in his career.
In the month of October, Mathis compiled 11 tackles, 4.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass defensed as the Colts went 2-1. His 4.0 sacks in the month ranked tied for fourth in the AFC while the two forced fumbles ranked tied for second in the NFL.
In a Week 5 victory against Seattle (10/6), Mathis totaled 2.0 sacks and one forced fumble as he became the 30th player in NFL history to record 100.0 career sacks. His second sack in the third quarter marked the first time in his career that he totaled multiple sacks in four consecutive games (9/15/13 – 10/6/13). Two weeks later in the team’s victory over undefeated Denver (10/20), Mathis finished with five tackles, 2.0 sacks and one forced fumble, which led to a safety. He regained the current league lead in sacks with his second quarterback takedown of Peyton Manning while passing Jim Jeffcoat for 26th place on the NFL’s all-time sack list.
For the season, Mathis has recorded 33 tackles (29 solo), 11.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and one pass defensed. His sack total is tied for the fifth-most in a season in Colts history, while his five multi-sack games this year tie a franchise record.
Mathis was also the last Colts player to win AFC Player of the Month honors when he did so in September 2010.
