Tampa Bay’s defense had the kind of day that turns heads across the league, and Alex Anzalone was right in the middle of it.
The Buccaneers linebacker was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week after piling up two interceptions and six tackles in Sunday’s 16-0 shutout of the Atlanta Falcons. For Anzalone, it marked the first weekly award of his 10-year NFL career.
His biggest damage came early. Both picks were against Michael Penix Jr. on Atlanta’s second and third possessions, and the NFL’s Week 8 announcement noted that Anzalone became the second linebacker since 2000 to intercept two passes in the first quarter, joining Seattle’s Lofa Tatupu, who did it in 2007.
The first interception handed Tampa Bay the ball at the Falcons’ 33-yard line. The second set the offense up at the 19. Anzalone also added one tackle for loss and two passes defensed as the Buccaneers authored the NFL’s first shutout of the season.
Tampa Bay’s defense kept Atlanta under control all afternoon, allowing just 224 total yards, picking off Penix four times and stopping the Falcons on all 12 of their third-down tries.
The honor was Tampa Bay’s first Player of the Week award this season, and its first NFC Defensive Player of the Week selection since Anthony Nelson in Week 8 of 2025. Anzalone is also the first Buccaneers off-ball linebacker to win the award since Devin White in 2022.
Since signing with Tampa Bay in March after five seasons with Detroit, Anzalone has put together a strong start through eight games. He has 42 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, three interceptions and three passes defensed. His three picks lead all NFL linebackers and are tied for second among all defenders.
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Alex Anzalone Is Becoming A Much Bigger Deal For This Bucs Defense
Alex Anzalones rise has become one of the more notable developments for Tampa Bays defense, and Week 8 only sharpened that picture. The inside linebacker was recognized as the NFC Defensive Player of the Week after a standout outing that included two interceptions, six combined tackles, a tackle for loss and two passes defensed, a performance that fit right into a Buccaneers defense that led the league in takeaways and interceptions during the week.
Anzalones three interceptions on the season have him tied for second in the NFL, a strong marker for a player who has steadily become more central to what Tampa Bay is doing on that side of the ball. The honor also carries some added weight for the Buccaneers, since it is the first weekly award of his career and the first time a Tampa Bay player has earned the distinction this season. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Defense Just Earned National Praise After Shutting Down Atlanta
The Buccaneers defense got a little national shine this week after its shutout of Atlanta landed two of its standouts on Pro Football Focus NFL Team of the Week. In Tampa Bays 16-0 win in Week 8, linebacker Alex Anzalone and cornerback Jacob Parrish were both recognized for the kind of disruptive, mistake-free football that can swing a game before the offense ever finds its rhythm.
Anzalone was especially active, piling up seven tackles and a pair of interceptions while grading out well in coverage, a notable milestone for a player who has spent plenty of time around the football but not always finished the play. Parrish also made his mark with seven tackles, an interception and two passes defended, helping the Buccaneers force four turnovers and turn a division game into one of their cleanest defensive outings of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Doug Williams Just Put A Buccaneers Legacy Debate Back In Focus
Doug Williams latest Hall of Fame nod has a way of pulling the Buccaneers back into one of the franchises most enduring legacy conversations. The first Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl has been nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fames 2027 class, putting his name alongside other notable contributors such as Robert Kraft, Virginia McCaskey, Ralph Hay and John Wooten. For Tampa Bay fans, it is another reminder of how much of the leagues history still runs through Williams trailblazing career.
The nomination also arrives at a time when the Buccaneers are juggling more immediate football matters, with linebacker Alex Anzalone earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors and receiver Emeka Egbuka plus outside linebacker Yaya Diaby working back from injuries. Still, Williams case has a different kind of weight because it speaks to the broader story of the game, not just the week-to-week grind. The next step in that Hall of Fame process will determine how far this latest push goes, and for now it keeps a familiar Buccaneers figure in the center of a debate that has never really gone away. [Read more 🡒]