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          NFL Nation

          Everson Griffen named NFC Defensive Player of the Week

          • Ben Goessling, ESPN Staff WriterSep 28, 2016, 01:10 PM ET
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            • Previously covered Vikings for St. Paul Pioneer Press
            • Also covered Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Wild and Washington Nationals
            • Twin Cities native and University of Minnesota graduate
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          MINNEAPOLIS -- After he shook off an illness to post three of the Minnesota Vikings' eight sacks of Cam Newton in the team's 22-10 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, defensive end Everson Griffen claimed NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second time in his career.

          It is the second time in three weeks a Vikings player has won the award this season, following Eric Kendricks' honor in Week 1, and it's the second time in Griffen's last four regular-season games he's claimed the award. He won it after the Viking' Week 17 win at Lambeau Field last January, during which Griffen got the better of Josh Sitton and sacked Aaron Rodgers twice.

          Between Kendricks, Griffen and Stefon Diggs -- who was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week after his big night against the Packers in Week 2 -- a Vikings player has won a weekly honor each week of the regular season.