Safety ROMAN HARPER of the Carolina Panthers was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for games played the 17th week of the 2014 season (December 28), the NFL announced today.
DEFENSE: S ROMAN HARPER, CAROLINA PANTHERS
Harper had six tackles and a 31-yard interception-return touchdown in the Panthers’ 34-3 win at Atlanta. With the
victory, Carolina won the NFC South for the second consecutive season.
With the Panthers leading 10-3 in the second quarter, Harper extended the team’s advantage by picking off a
pass and returning it 31 yards for a touchdown to give Carolina a 17-3 lead with 4:18 remaining in the first half.
Harper was part of a defensive unit that limited the Falcons to three points and 288 total net yards.
Carolina’s secondary recorded two interception-return touchdowns as Harper (31 yards) and rookie TRE
BOSTON (84) each scored for the Panthers. It marked the first time in franchise history the team returned two
interceptions for touchdowns in a game.
In his ninth year from Alabama, this is Harper’s third career Player of the Week Award and first with the Panthers.
He previously was honored in Weeks 2 and 10 in 2011 with the New Orleans Saints.
Harper is the third safety in franchise history to be named Defensive Player of the Week, joining PAT TERRELL
(Week 11, 1996) and DEON GRANT (Week 3, 2002).
