PHILADELPHIA - Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was named NFL Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in a 41-7 rout over Dallas that clinched the NF

Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson put the Birds up 7-0 with a 70 yard pick six off Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush

Philadelphia Eagles' defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson undercuts a short throw from Dallas Cowboys' quarterback Cooper Rush, intercepts it and takes it 69 yards to the end zone for his first NFL touchdown.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson, shall we say, is known for being emotional. That got the best of him vs. the Washington Commanders in Week 16, leading to his ejection ( and another emotional outburst ). He was fined $45,022 as a result, but how about that bounce-back versus the Dallas Cowboys? It appears Birds fans aren't the only people who noticed.

The NFL fined Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson $45022 for his two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against the Commanders last week. A second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty is an automatic ejection, and thus Gardner-Johnson was sent to the locker room early in the third quarter.

After his untimely ejection in last week's loss helped spoil a chance to capture the division, Gardner-Johnson made up for it against the Cowboys.

On the Cowboys' opening possession, quarterback Cooper Rush completed a seven-yard pass and a 16-yard pass against Philadelphia’s secondary, moving Dallas to the Eagles' 35-yard line. Dallas' promising drive ended when Gardner-Johnson intercepted Rush on third-and-3 and returned it for a 69-yard touchdown, giving the Eagles a 7-0 lead.

Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson earns his first NFC Defensive Player of the Week honor after a dominant two-interception performance, including a game-changing pick-six, in Philadelphia's blowout win over Dallas.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson is the engine that makes the Eagles’ defense go, and he ended a seven-play, 35-yard Cowboys drive that ate up 3:17 on the clock with a dazzling 70-yard interception for a huge touchdown. After the pick-six, Dallas reeled off a 12-play 70-yard drive touchdown drive and had over 100 yards early in the first quarter.

Gardner-Johnson jumped a Cooper Rush pass intended for receiver Brandin Cooks, secured the pick and then raced down the right sideline for the score to put Philadelphia up 7-0. It marked Philadelphia's first defensive touchdown of the season.

Eagles defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson missed most of the second half last week after his ejection for two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. The Commanders rallied for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to win. He already has made his presence known today.

Dec. 28—C.J. Gardner-Johnson doesn't overcomplicate things.