Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals S Mathieu named NFC Defensive Player of the Week

Published Sep. 30, 2015 12:25 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Arizona Cardinals delivered a quick knockout blow to the San Francisco Giants in Week 3 by returning two interceptions for a touchdown within the opening minutes.

Safety Tyrann Mathieu, who brought back the second one and later picked off another pass in Arizona's 47-7 romp, helped set an NFL record as the Cardinals became the first team in NFL history with a pair of interception returns for scores in the first six minutes of a game.

Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) is 1st Cardinal to win Defensive Player of Week since Patrick Peterson (Week 10, 2014) pic.twitter.com/qX1DwYdSLL
— Randall Liu (@RLiuNFL) September 30, 2015

The @AZCardinals are the 1st @NFL team since 2011 Packers (11/6/11) with 2 INT-TDs in the 1st quarter of a game
— Randall Liu (@RLiuNFL) September 27, 2015

The performance, which also included five tackles and a pass breakup, earned Mathieu NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

It was the first weekly award for Mathiew, who is the first Cardinals player to claim the honor since Patrick Peterson in 2014.

The @AZCardinals are the 1st @NFL team in 70 years (1945 Green Bay) to have 2 INT-TDs, a safety & score 40+ points in a game
— Randall Liu (@RLiuNFL) September 27, 2015

Mathieu has 17 tackles and three passes defensed through three games for Arizona, which became the first team in 70 years to have two pick-sixes and a safety in a game while scoring at least 40 points.