It seems every week that goes by a Raider player is earning a player of the week honor. This time Jacoby Ford takes home the hardware as AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Ford received the honor for his 101 yard kickoff return for a touchdown on Sunday versus the Cleveland Browns. The return TD came immediately following the Browns’ first touchdown of the day that had tied the game. It put the Raiders up 14-7, and the seven point lead ended up as the Raiders’ margin of victory as they won the game 24-17.
On the play, Ford took the ball one yard deep in the end zone and made a decisive break to the right and shot through a gap and up the right sideline. He kicked his heels up to avoid the punter, tiptoed up the sideline, then sprinted to the endzone.
His 101 yard return ties for third longest in Raider history with himself, and was his fourth career kick return for a touchdown, which is the most in Raider history. He also now ties for the most kick return touchdowns in NFL history for a player in his first twenty games.
A Raider has been named Player of the Week every week of the season except one.
Week one it was Sebastian Janikowski taking home Special Teams Player of the Week for his NFL record tying 63 yard field goal in Denver.
Week two Denarius Moore was named Pepsi Rookie of the Week for his five catch, 146 yard, one touchdown performance against the Buffalo Bills.
Week three had two Raiders named Player of the Week. Left guard Stefen Wisniewski was named Pepsi Rookie of the Week after laying some key blocks to free up Darren McFadden and the Raider rushers to gain 234 yards on the ground in a big win over the New York Jets. In turn, McFadden was named AFC Player of the Week for his 171 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Week four didn’t yield a Player of the Week honor, but it was announced that Sebastian Janikowski was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month after he had his NFL record tying 63 yard field goal in the opener.
Week five following up his Special Teams Player of the Week, Janikowski kicked three field goals of 50 yards or more in Houston — another NFL record tying performance. That earned him another Special Teams Player of the Week honor.
Add in Jacoby Ford’s Special Teams POW award in week six and that is six weeks, six Player of the Week honors and one Player of the Month honor. It is no wonder they are 4-2 this season.
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