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OAKLAND, CA - AUGUST 13: Safety Michael Huff #24 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after making an interception against the Dallas Cowboys during the preseason game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on August 13, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
The Oakland Raiders should not expect honors and congratulations on weeks after their defense has given up 431 yards passing to Philip Rivers and 506 overall yards to the San Diego Chargers.
But this week, it's mazel tov to the Raiders defense nonetheless. Raiders.com announced that safety Michael Huff has been named AFC Defensive Player of the Week.
The Bay Area's other Huff Daddy Michael Huff had a monster game in the Raiders' 35-27 win over the Chargers. Huff had 11 tackles, nine of them solo, a sack, and forced the game-clinching fumble.
In the 2007 season, Huff had one sack and one fumble recovery for the whole year. He'd previously been considered a bust and was nearly cut last year in Raiders training camp.
They say it's not a good thing for an NFL defense when a safety leads the team in tackles. But the Raiders won the game, people. Save your energy for complaining about the heat.
Joe Kukura is a freelance writer who hopes to be recovering from a literary reading when the Raiders play the 49ers Sunday.
