Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday for his play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, in the Steelers 2011 regular-season finale. This is the first time this season that Polamalu has won the AFC Defensive Player of the Week award, but it marks the fifth time he has won it in his career.
Against the Browns Polamalu had two tackles and three pass breakups along with an interception of a Seneca Wallace pass. It was his second interception of the season. Polamalu was originally awarded a sack of Wallace when he shot the A-gap in the first quarter right as the ball was snapped and dragged down Wallace. The sack was later changed to just a run tackle.
His interception was the 29th of his career and with it he passed Steelers linebacker Jack Lambert for the ninth-most in team history.