NFL reveals AFC, NFC Players of the Month

The NFL unveiled its September award winners for the AFC and NFC on Thursday ahead of Week 4 games. The Players of the Month come from the Dolphins, Steelers, 49ers, Cowboys, Bills, Bucs, Texans and Patriots.

Of the Players of the Month, there are two quarterbacks, Tua Tagovailoa for the AFC and C.J. Stroud, earning his first POM award of his career.

Leading the Dolphins to a 3-0 start, Tagovailoa is second in the league in total passing yardage through three weeks. He has 1,024 yards, just 51 yards shy of yardage leader Kirk Cousins. He also has the fifth-best completion percentage through Week 3 at 71.3%. Tagovailoa has thrown eight touchdowns and two picks so far this season.

For the Texans, C.J. Stroud has won just one game – a Week 3 matchup against Jacksonville – but he’s thrown for 906 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in the month of September. He’s leading his fellow rookie QBs in completion percentage at 64.5% compared to Bryce Young‘s 59.2% and Anthony Richardson‘s 63.8%.

The third offensive award went to San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey. The former Panthers RB has had 60 carries in three games, amassing 353 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He also has 70 receiving yards on 11 catches.

Check out the rest of the NFL’s Players of the Month:

AFC Awards

Offense: Tua Tagovailoa
Defense: TJ Watt
Special Teams: Tyler Bass

NFC Awards

Offense: Christian McCaffrey
Defense: Micah Parsons
Special Teams: Jake Camarda

Rookies of the Month

Offense: C.J. Stroud
Defense: Christian Gonzalez

Defensive award winners T.J. Watt and Micah Parsons are currently in a heated race for the league’s defensive MVP award this season. Watt has already surpassed his 2022 sack total of five with six this season. He also has 11 tackles (five for loss), two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries (one for a touchdown).

Parsons trails Watt ever so slightly with 12 tackles, four sacks, five tackles for loss and eight quarterback hits, as well as a forced fumble and recovery.

Rookie defender Christian Gonzalez is turning heads for the Patriots. The first-round cornerback has a sack and interception, on top of 16 tackles, so far this season.

Meanwhile, on special teams, punter Jake Camarda is averaging a league-leading 54.9 yards per punt on 14 kicks. He’s dropped seven of those punts within the 20-yard line. Bills kicker Tyler Bass is currently perfect on the year, including 7-for-7 on FGs and 2-for-2 XPs.