Patriots Football Weekly has learned that New England kick returner Ellis Hobbs has been named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts in the team's victory over the Raiders.
Early in the second quarter against the Raiders Hobbs returned a Sebastian Janikowski kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. The big play was Hobbs' first kickoff return for a touchdown of the season, the third of his career.
Making the play even more notable was the fact that it came just seconds (0:13, actually) after Oakland's Justin Miller returned his own kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown. Hobbs rebuttal score increased New England's lead at the time to 35-14 on the way to the 49-26 victory.
Hobbs finished the blowout win with three kickoff returns for 126 yard and a 42.0-yard average.
By notching his third career kickoff return for a touchdown Hobbs also tied the New England franchise record, a mark he now shares with Raymond Clayborn. Hobbs also currently ranks third in the NFL and second in the AFC with a 28.8-yard kick return average.
