The Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive front delivered another defining moment in a gritty 13–12 road win over the Buffalo Bills, and this time, the spotlight belongs to Jalen Carter.
After returning to action on Sunday, Carter made his presence felt in the most critical way possible. With 5:15 remaining in the game, the second-year defensive lineman exploded through the line and blocked an extra-point attempt that ultimately proved to be the difference in Philadelphia’s narrow victory at Highmark Stadium.
That single play shifted the entire complexion of the game.
On Tuesday, the NFL officially recognized Carter’s impact, naming him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 17. He was one of three players league-wide credited with a blocked kick this week, but none came in a moment with higher stakes.
This marks the first Player of the Week award of Carter’s NFL career, and he becomes the second Eagles defensive lineman to earn Special Teams honors this season, joining Jordan Davis, who won the award back in Week 3.
Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis have been sensational on special teams this season
They single handedly won the Eagles 2 games against the Rams and Bills pic.twitter.com/8Gmkw9KtPf
— Real Talk With MJ (@RealTalkWithMJ1) December 29, 2025
For a team that leaned heavily on defense down the stretch, Carter’s play symbolized exactly what the Eagles have become: opportunistic, physical, and relentless in high-pressure moments.
After the game, Carter brushed off individual praise and instead pointed to the collective effort that made the play possible:
“That block wasn’t just me,” Carter said. “It’s everyone doing their job up front, trusting the timing, trusting the rush. I just tried to get my hands up and make a play for the team. That’s what matters.”
In a low-scoring battle decided by inches and seconds, Jalen Carter’s rise from dominant defensive presence to game-altering special teams contributor added another chapter to a rapidly growing résumé, and gave Eagles fans yet another reason to believe this defense can carry them deep into January.
