This is becoming a bad trend. Teams feasting on the Raiders to the point that they earn NFL Player of the Week. This week became the fourth time this season (nearly the fifth time) that happened.
The latest is Falcons’ WR KhaDarel Hodge who has been named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Hodge got through to block two AJ Cole punts in the game. The first was a partial block, causing the punt to travel just 30 yards, giving the Falcons field position near midfield. And they used that favorable field position to drive for their only touchdown.
The second was a full block, that was eventually picked up by Divine Deablo and returned to the Vegas 37. The Falcons got a field goal out of it, which means ten of their 15 points on the day came off those blocks.
There were three previous times this season a Player of the Week came from facing the Raiders. There was nearly five, but Josh Allen edged out Andy Dalton to be the winner in week three — Dalton did, however take home FedEx Air Player of the Week.
The other three times were all Defensive Player of the Week winners. The first was Broncos CB Patrick Surtain, then Rams CB Cobie Durant, and then Bengals EDGE Trey Hendrickson.
Teeing off on the Raiders has been quite lucrative this season.