The Baltimore Ravens' Nnamdi Madubuike made three sacks on Joe Burrow in arguably the most dominant performance from a player of African descent in this NFL season.
Madubuike, who was born in Dallas, Texas to Nigerian parents, got this season off to a relatively slow start, but if he had any pent up frustration, then Burrow bore the brunt of it on Thursday night as Madubuike's performance was arguably the difference between victory and defeat.
Elsewhere in the league, there were strong performances from other players of African descent in week 10 - among them Nelson Agholor, Foye Oluokun, Alvin Kamara, Ugo Amadi, Kwity Paye and Chuba Hubbard.
African Player of the Week: Nnamdi Madubuike (Baltimore Ravens)
Madubuike was the star in the Baltimore Ravens' thrilling 35-34 win over the Cincinnati Bengals at the M&T Bank Stadium with five stops, three sacks, a forced fumble and 10 pressures.
His sacks all came in the second and third quarter - a mid-game period which the Bengals overall had the better of. Those left scratching their head regarding why they were unable to convert their dominance over much of the game into a win ought to start with how few of the rewards of their hard work Madubuike allowed Burrow's offense to reap.
For all the pressure the Bengals were able to mount and all the weaknesses elsewhere in the Ravens defense, the visitors were unable to convert them into enough points to avert a fourth-quarter fightback from the Ravens and Madubuike was a huge part of the reason why.
"'Z.O.' (defensive coordinator Zach Orr) was just telling [me], 'Just push that pocket.' [Joe Burrow] tries to find ways to escape through little seams in the A-gap and the B-gap and that's what I was trying to do," Madubuike said postgame.
"Obviously, when he was trying to escape in the perimeter, I was trying to hustle and get him down. I was just trying to just do my job, and it worked out tonight," Madubuike told the media post-game.
African Moment of the Week: Nnamdi Madubuike (Baltimore Ravens)
The third of Madubuike's three sacks was particularly spectacular as he effortlessly shook off Cordell Volson and knocked Burrow back six yards with a big hit late in the third quarter.
The Bengals led 21-14 at the time and were looking to gain one last score to take them into the break with a comfortable advantage. Madubuike put paid to those hopes and knocked the wind out of their sails.
The Ravens won the fourth quarter 21-13 to clinch a crucial comeback win and go 6-3 for the season.
Honorable Mentions
Chuba Hubbard, who was born in Edmonton, Alberta to a Nigerian father and Canadian mother, is one of the key reasons why the Carolina Panthers are beginning to turn the corner after a horrendous start to the season.
After previously scoring two touchdowns in a 23-22 win over the New Orleans Saints in week 9, the running back added another in a 20-17 overtime win over the New York Giants in week 10.
Foyesade Oluokun, also of Nigerian descent, put in a huge shift for the Jacksonville Jaguars against the Minnesota Vikings. However, the linebacker's interception and 11 tackles ultimately came in a 12-7 defeat.
Strong performances from running back Alvin Kamara (of Liberian descent) with 109 total yards gained and safety Ugo Amadi (of Nigerian descent) with nine tackles and one pass defended contributed to the New Orleans Saints' 20-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
African-Born Player Watch
Lagos-born Nelson Agholor had the biggest impact of all African-born players in week 10 as the wide receiver scored the Ravens' first touchdown in the win over the Bengals.
Guinea-born Liberian Kwity Paye got a sack for the Indianapolis Colts against the Buffalo Bills - getting one on the board for the second game in a row. However, the Colts lost 30-20 this time, suffering their third straight defeat.