Week 4: Deonte Banks, New York Giants

New York Giants cornerback Deonte Banks, who starred at the University of Maryland, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Player of the Week after his first interception in three years clinched the Giants’ 36-24 victory over the visiting Arizona Cardinals this past Sunday.

Banks, who was selected by the Giants in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, stepped in front of the intended receiver, snagged Jacoby Brissett’s pass and returned it 98 yards for his first NFL touchdown with 11 seconds left to help the Giants improve to 3-1.

“I was praying, and I guess God came through,” Giants Coach John Harbaugh told reporters after the game. “And you know who else came through? Tae Banks! Tae Banks came through with a huge play after a crazy pass interference penalty. … But you know what? They didn’t bat an eye. Nobody flinched, nobody blinked, kept bringing the heat.”

Indeed, as the Cardinals trailed 30-24 and drove for a potential game-winning score, Banks had been called for a controversial pass interference penalty that moved the ball to the 4-yard line. After two incompletions, Banks broke up Brissett’s pass on third down, setting up the decisive play.

It was Banks’ first interception since his rookie season in 2023. The fourth-year pro has had a roller coaster of a career, making an impact as a rookie but then losing his starting position and then having the Giants decline the fifth-year option on his contract for 2027. He will be a free agent after this season.

Banks earned his starting job back with a strong preseason and now he’s hoping a solid showing will give his career another boost.

Week 3: Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders

photo courtesy washington commanders

Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota, making his first start of the season, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Player of the Week after throwing three touchdown passes and then rushing for the game-clinching first down as the Commanders defeated the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, 33-31, for their first victory of the season this past Sunday.

Mariota, filling in for an injured Jayden Daniels, completed 19 of 31 passes for 183 yards. He rushed five times for 11 yards, none more important than his nine-yard scamper on third-and-7 late in the game, which allowed the Commanders to run out the clock and celebrate an improbable win.

“It’s hard when you’re 0-2, it’s so easy to cave in this early on in the year,” Mariota said in a postgame interview. “But the guys believed in each other and came out and played unbelievable today.”

Daniels was injured the previous week in a loss to Dallas, dislocating his left elbow, the same injury that sidelined him for most of last season.

Mariota, now in his third season with Washington, started the scoring with a six-yard touchdown pass to Rachaad White five minutes into the game. His 11-yard touchdown pass to Treylon Burks in the second quarter made it 14-7 and a 30-yarder to Terry McLaurin in the third quarter made it 24-10.

“Marcus does a great job of just getting us in the right plays,” McLaurin told reporters after the game. “He did a great job adjusting with what they were giving us. We’re going to continue to build on that.”

Week 2: Trey Smack, Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers kicker Trey Smack, who played at Severna Park High School near Annapolis, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Player of the Week after booting the first game-winning kick of his nascent professional career.

Smack, who was selected in the sixth round of this past NFL Draft, made both of his field goal attempts this past Sunday, including a 26-yarder in overtime, as the visiting Packers rallied from a 10-point deficit to beat the New York Jets, 20-17.

While there was plenty of pressure on the decisive play, Smack said it felt like a routine extra-point try.

“Normal kick,” he said. “I’m excited for now. We have another game coming up Thursday.”

Smack, a third-team All-SEC honoree last season at the University of Florida, is off to a strong rookie season. He has made all five of his field goal attempts, including a 59-yarder in Week 1 that was the second-longest in franchise history and the longest ever by a kicker in his first NFL game.

Week 1: Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, who starred at Gonzaga College High School in Northwest Washington, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Player of the Week after his sensational performance led the Bears to a record-setting win.

Williams, now in his third professional season, completed 21 of 29 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 10 times for 65 yards and two more scores as the Bears set a new franchise record for most points scored in a season opener, going on the road and beating the Carolina Panthers, 59-37.

"It's how we want to look each week," Williams told reporters after the game. "And that doesn't just happen. It happens over time. It happens through training camp, OTAs. It happens through the week of preparation that we have. It happens with having open communication throughout the week about what works, what doesn't work."

Williams got the Bears on the scoreboard with a nine-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter. He then threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to tight end Cole Kmet and scored on a 29-yard scramble late in the first half as Chicago led 31-24 at halftime. His one-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jahdae Walker made it 52-31 midway through the fourth quarter.