ADAM VINATIERI NAMED AFC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER-OF-THE-WEEK
Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri has been named AFC Special Teams Player-of-the-Week, the NFL announced Wednesday. Vinatieri hit three field goals, including a 43-yard game-winner as time expired, to lift the Colts to a 23-20 victory last Sunday vs. Tennessee. The win led the Colts to their seventh AFC South Division title in eight seasons and their NFL record-tying ninth consecutive playoff berth.
Vinatieri hit all three field goal attempts -- all from 40+ yards (48, 44, 43) -- and Sunday's game-winner marked the 23rd of his career in the final minute of regulation or overtime. Vinatieri became the seventh kicker in NFL history to score 500+ points with two different teams, and he surpassed 100 career field goals in his five seasons with the Colts. He hit 26 of 28 field goals (92.9%) this season, the best percentage among NFL kickers with at least 20 attempts, and his 129 points marked the 2nd-most in his 15-year career.
It marks Vinatieri's 12th career AFC Special Teams Player-of-the-Week honor, his second this season and fourth since joining the Colts in 2006. Vinatieri also was named Special Teams Player-of-the-Week following the Colts' 23-17 victory over Cincinnati November 14.
