Raider players just keep racking up the season’s awards. Darren McFadden was named the AFC Offensive Player of the week for the second time after a 171 yard rushing performance against the Jets. Now the latest is Sebastian Janikowski winning AFC Special Teams Player of the Month.
Janikowski won the Special Teams Player of the Week for his 63 yard kick in week one in Denver that tied the record for the longest field goal in NFL history. That feat has carried over to him winning the award for the month. Along with his record field goal he has hit 5 of 6 field goals this season with a 54 yarder in last week’s win over the Jets. His lone missed field goal was from 56 yards out.
The mere fact that hitting a 56 yard field goal is something we expect from Janikowski should tell you all you need to know. After all, he is the only kicker in NFL history to make two field goals from more than 60 yards. His other field goal was a 61 yarder he hit against the Browns in 2009. That field goal is the second longest in NFL History. It was the third longest until Janikowski beat it with his 63 yarder.
Janikowski also has a 59 yard field goal on his resume along with makes from 57, 56, and two from 55 yards.
He is widely seen as having the strongest leg in the NFL. He leads the league in touchbacks with 13. In fact, he had kicked a touchback on every kickoff until the latter portion of the Jets game. One of those kickoffs that wasn’t a touchback was muffed and booted by Antonio Cromartie and recoverd by the Raiders at the 12 yard line to set up a touchdown.
And whenever you mention Janikowski’s accomplishments, you must also mention that he has never been named to a Pro Bowl roster. He came the closest in 2009 when he led the league in several kicking categories, but he hit his 61 yard field goal after the votes had been tallied. If he keeps kicking at a high percentage this season, he should finally get on the squad.
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