For the second consecutive week and the third time this season, a New England Patriot has taken home the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honor.
Matthew Slater was the recipient this week after blocking a punt in Week 12 against the Dallas Cowboys that resulted in a touchdown shortly after. The blocked punt set up N’Keal Harry for his first NFL score, and it was the only touchdown of the game. This is the first time in Slater’s career that he’s earned this honor — which is surprising, considering his seven Pro Bowl appearances and four First-Team All-Pro honors.
This was Slater’s first blocked punt of his career and it’s the third of the season for New England — tying a record that was set by the team in 1986.
Punter Jake Bailey won the other two Special Teams Player of the Week honors this season. The Patriots have racked up six NFL honor through 12 weeks this season, but none of them came from the offense.
