Cardinals S Mathieu named NFC Defensive Player of the Month

While the Arizona Cardinals feature the league's top scoring offense, safety Tyrann Mathieu made a statement for the other side of the ball when he was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month for November on Thursday.

Mathieu helped the NFC West-leading Cardinals run their winning streak to five by registering 27 tackles and a pair of interceptions in four games. Mathieu also had six passes defensed in winning his first monthly honor.

The 23-year-old Mathieu, in his third NFL season, capped November with a career-best 13 tackles along with an interception in a 19-13 victory at San Francisco lst weekend. He's the only player in the league with at least 70 tackles and four interceptions.

Mathieu and the Cardinals (9-2) will look to avenge one of their two defeats when they visit the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.