Congrats to @shonrp2 – the NFC Defensive Player of the Week! ⚜️#Saints pic.twitter.com/0H3SfrKVeu
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 13, 2021
We received a mixed bag for this NFL’s Player of the Week awards on Wednesday, with New Orleans Saints cornerback earning his first-ever recognition on the list after racking up a personal-best six pass breakups in Sunday’s win over the Washington Football Team. But while the Saints’ punter Blake Gillikin had an incredible game in his own right, he was snubbed. Robbed, I say.
Gillikin was overlooked in favor of Philadelphia Eagles linebacker T.J. Edwards, who blocked a punt in their 21-18 upset of the Carolina Panthers. Edwards also made five tackles in the game, all on defense in the game’s first half. Apparently that’s more impressive than a punter rocketing five tries for 268 yards, dropping three punts inside the opponents’ three-yard line — a feat that hasn’t happened since at least 2000. But Edwards, not Gillikin, was named the Special Teams Player of the Week.
That’s confounding, but let’s focus on the positives. Lattimore is hitting his stride at the perfect time, when the Saints’ team identity is shifting from the offense to the defense in the post-Drew Brees era. It’s also happening as he’s hitting his athletic prime and after he’s signed a long-term contract extension to remain in black and gold. More games like this from Lattimore will do a lot to keep the team competitive moving forward. He’s earned his flowers.
