Benny Cunningham didn't quite make it to the end zone on his 102-yard kickoff return vs. Tampa Bay last Thursday. But he did make it as NFC special teams player of the week.
It's the first such honor for Cunningham, who despite his tank-like physique led the NFC in kickoff return average in 2014, at 27.5 yards per return. This season, Cunningham ranks third in the NFC (and in the NFL) with an average of 29.6 yards per return.
Cunningham's return is the longest for a Rams player since Tony Horne's 103-yarder in 2000. He's also just the second Rams kickoff returner to be named special teams player of the week, joining Horne, who earned the honor in Week 12 of 1999.