Sieler Getting His Due

The Miami Dolphins defensive tackle was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week

Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler (92) reaches for New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. / Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

The idea of Zach Sieler being an underrated defensive lineman was making the rounds on social media a little while back, but can we put this to rest already?

Fact: Zach Sieler is a very good defensive lineman. Period.

And it was nice to see him get some recognition Wednesday when he was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Miami Dolphins' 32-26 overtime victory against the New York Jets.

Sieler had two sacks, three QB hits and two tackles for loss, but more importantly came up big in the fourth quarter to help the Dolphins get to overtime.

His biggest play, of course, was a sack of Aaron Rodgers on a second-and-15 from the Miami 32-yard line as the Jets were trying to put the game away by running out the clock before attempting a game-winning field goal.

The sack put the Jets at their 38 and prompted a third-down pass that was completed but also stopped the clock when Kendall Fuller got wide receiver Davante Adams out of bounds, preserving a precious 40 seconds and allowing the Dolphins to send the game to overtime with Jason Sanders' last-second field goal.

This is the first AFC honor for Sieler and the first for a Dolphins defensive player since Bradley Chubb was recognized after Week 15 of the 2023 season for his performance also against the Jets at Hard Rock Stadium.

It's the third consecutive week a Dolphins player has won an NFL award. QB Tua Tagovailoa was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week two weeks ago before Sanders was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month last week.

Head coach Mike McDaniel spoke about Sieler at length Wednesday when he was asked about his Player of the Week nod and whether he deserves Pro Bowl consideration.

"I mean, I think I know the coaches that I talked to after games think so," McDaniel said. "I think Zach Sieler, he represents a lot of things that I firmly believe in. He's a player that far after he gets done playing, he will serve an example for the next 20 rookie classes of perseverance and what you can do if you just refuse to give up and attack adversity. I think there was a random stat that he was the first player to be cut to sign a contract at whatever level he signed it at, whatever that number was, and what has he done with that? Earned it every week and then some.

"I think week in, week out he finds ways to make plays, and he is a a monumental piece to our team. Every Sunday, a lot of his teammates are relying upon him, bringing what he has to offer for the team, and he never, ever backs down and loves the game of football, and is just one of the cooler players I've ever had the opportunity to coach, quite honestly. So yeah, he's very deserving of accolades, and I have a feeling it won't be the last."

ANOTHER STANDOUT SEASON FOR SIELER

The two sacks gave Sieler six on the season, despite missing two games because of the freakish eye injury he sustained in practice, and he now leads the team in that category.

He's also given himself a chance, with a strong finish, to reach double digits in sacks for a second consecutive year.

As it is, his 16 sacks since the start of the 2023 season are the most ever over a two-year period for a Dolphins interior defensive lineman.

As always, we can't forget this was a player the Dolphins claimed off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens back in 2019 who has developed into a Pro Bowl-caliber defensive lineman and a team captain.

Yeah, if he's still underrated and overlooked, he shouldn't be.