Osi Umenyiora is Mr. October. The defensive end was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month after leading a Giants rampage.

Umenyiora had 18 tackles (10 solo), seven sacks and six forced fumbles in the Giants' four October wins. He leads the league with seven forced fumbles and is tied for second with eight sacks.

"It's a team thing. It's a defensive team award and I don't think I did anything special," said Umenyiora, who has been rather humble since he demanded a trade because he lost a starting spot last year. "I think the DBs did a very good job of covering, and everyone else did a really good job of playing the run. I was just in the position to make those plays. The coaches and the other players put me there, so thanks to them."

Nevertheless, Umenyiora has been playing some of the best football of his career.

"I think that the guy has put his hard hat on and just came to practice mentally fit, he's been physically fit and he's just showing the talent that he has as a football player and I'm loving it," said defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.

Asked if Umenyiora has surprised him after his problems a year ago, Fewell said, "I remember seeing him in the Super Bowl year and saying, 'Wow, what a football player,' so no, his physical play does not surprise me at all. I know he was hurt the next year and then he didn't get on track last year, but it doesn't surprise me that he has returned to form."

Tom Coughlin said the award was "well-earned."

"He's a man," Coughlin said.

Surprisingly, Umenyiora is the first Giant defender to win the award since Michael Strahan in 2001, the year Strahan broke the sack record.