KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs rookie Tyreek Hill had just one chance to return a punt Sunday against the San Diego Chargers, and he made sure that one opportunity counted.
Kansas City Chiefs wide Receiver Tyreek Hill celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints. Sunday October 23, 2016 in Kansas City, MO (Nick Tre. Smith/Special to The Topeka Capital-Journal)
“Once you get through the first wave, you know you are gone because you have blockers ahead of you,” Hill said after Kansas City’s 37-27 win Sunday.
Hill drifted back to his own 5-yard line to field a 49-yard punt from Drew Kaser, and raced 95 yards for a touchdown. That play helped Hill capture the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week Award for the second time this season.
Hill also captured the award in week 14. He captured the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award in week 12. His three weekly awards as a rookie match Tamarick Vanover’s record of three weekly award wins set in 1995.
According to NFL’s Next Gen Stats, Hill covered 126.9 yards on the play, which ranks as his third-longest play of the year and the sixth-longest in the NFL. Hill owns four of the top 10 longest plays of the season. No other player has more than one.
Hill’s maximum speed on the play hit 21.44 miles per hour. Hill posted the two fastest speeds recorded by Next Gen Stats this season. He hit a speed of 23.24 miles per hour in week two on a kickoff return against the Houston Texans nullified by a penalty.
The rookie topped out at 22.77 on the 86-yard free kick from Denver punter Riley Dixon during week 12.
Coach Andy Reid said it’s fun to watch Hill run through opposing defenses.
“I look at that, and he’d get a speeding ticket in a school zone, he’s going 22 mph,” Reid said joked. “That’s pretty good.”
Reid said Hill differs from other speed due to his ability to cut corners and get to the edge quickly.
“A lot of guys have speed, but can’t corner, they don’t have the quickness that he has,” Reid said. “He has a unique blend there.”
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Matt Derrick is the lead beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com and the Topeka Capital-Journal. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @MattDerrick.
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