LA Rams P Johnny Hekker Named NFC Special Teams Player Of The Week

Los Angeles Rams P Johnny Hekker was named the 2016 Week 10 NFC Special Teams Player of the Week:

Hekker had a crucial punt in the Rams’ Week 10 9-6 road win over the New York Jets. From a 4th & 1 inside the Rams’ 20-yard line in the 4th quarter with the game tied, Hekker absolutely destroyed a ball traveling 78 yards IN THE AIR forcing Jets punt returner Jalin Marshall to field the ball inside his own 10-yard line and scamper out to the 15. That punt set up a three-and-out for the Jets whose own punt, from Lachlan Edwards, traveled just 35 yards. The Rams would plod their way inside the red zone for the go-ahead field goal on that possession.

I’m not saying the Rams won the game on that punt. But there’s no denying how important it was in a field position-heavy, 9-6 game. In ESPN’s win probability chart, it was that punt that flipped the game in the Rams’ favor.

NFC ST POW indeed.

It’s just the Rams’ second weekly player award of 2016 after DT Aaron Donald won NFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 4 in the Rams’ 17-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals.