2012 POD Awards: Defensive Player of the Year

As part of our season wrap-up series, the 2012 POD Awards roll on. Next up is the category for the Detroit Lions' Defensive Player of the Year. Here are the nominees:

DE Cliff Avril

Avril led the Lions with 9.5 sacks in 2012. He had 35 total tackles and 2 forced fumbles.

DT Ndamukong Suh

Suh also had 35 tackles, although he didn't have any forced fumbles. He came in just behind Avril with 8.0 sacks on the season.

DT Nick Fairley

In only 13 games, Fairley had 34 tackles and 5.5 sacks. Like Avril, he had 2 forced fumbles in 2012.

LB Stephen Tulloch

Tulloch led the Lions in total tackles in 2012 with 112. He had 0.5 sacks, 6 pass defenses, 1 forced fumble and 2 fumble recoveries as well.

CB Chris Houston

Houston had 56 tackles and 11 pass defenses in 14 games for the Lions. He also had 2 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles.

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