Brandon Carr named NFC Defensive Player of the Week

Brandon Carr has picked a good time to start picking off passes. Two of his three interceptions in his first season with the Dallas Cowboys have come in the past two weeks. His interception of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in overtime last week set up the Cowboys' game-winning field goal, and on Wednesday Carr was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week.

Carr also had four solo tackles and three pass breakups in the Cowboys' win over the Steelers, which along with the Giants' loss pulled Dallas into a first-place tie in the NFC East with two games remaining.

The cornerback's interceptions have started to come at a good time for Dallas. Carr also picked off Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton in Week 14, which set up a game-tying touchdown. The Cowboys would go on to win that game as well, part of a stretch in which Dallas (8-6) has won five of six in a season that once seemed lost.

The Cowboys signed Carr as a free agent in the offseason after four productive years with the Kansas City Chiefs.