INDIANAPOLIS – Defensive end Robert Mathis has been a destructive presence for Indianapolis from the outset of his career in 2003.
Mathis has been decorated through the years with honors as he has amassed 82.5 career sacks, the second-leading total in franchise history.
Today brought his latest honor when Mathis was named the AFC Defensive Player-of-the-Week for his outing last Thursday in a 19-16 victory over Houston. Mathis had three tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in the divisional win. Indianapolis yielded a touchdown one minute into the game, then kept the Texans out of the end zone the rest of the way. A final defensive stop forced a field goal that put Houston up, 16-12. It gave Indianapolis one more possession with 1:50 left, and the club drove 78 yards for the victory. The Colts limited Houston to one-of-10 third-down conversions.
Mathis produced his 19th career multiple-sack game last week. He leads the team with 8.5 sacks, one ahead of defensive end Dwight Freeney, the franchise's leader in sacks (101.5).
Mathis has produced four career double-digit sack seasons (2004-05, 08, 10). This is his third such weekly honor. Mathis earned the citation for an October 23, 2005 outing against Houston and a November 30, 2008 game at Cleveland. Twice Mathis has been selected AFC Defensive Player-of-the-Month, with those honors coming in 2009 (November) and 2010 (September).
