Oct 27, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84) returns a kickoff for a touchdown during the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Today, rookie kick return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance during his week 8 game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football.
Oct 27, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84) returns the opening kickoff 109 yards for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers in the first quarter at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Patterson made an immediate impact on the game from the initial play of the contest. The Packers kicked off to the Vikings and Cordarrelle fielded the kick from nine yards deep in the end zone. While most return men in the NFL would take a knee in that situation, Patterson has found success in taking it out. He eluded multiple Packers tacklers on his way to the end zone for a touchdown that would tie the record for longest play in NFL history (109 yards).
Patterson is already in a class of his own on kickoff returns this season. He leads the NFL in average kickoff return yards with 39.1 yards per return. Plus, only three kickoffs have been returned for touchdowns this year in the NFL, and two of them have come from the Vikings first round draft pick Cordarrelle Patterson. The other lone kickoff return touchdown was scored by Trindon Holliday of the Denver Broncos.
Congratulations go out to Patterson on his award and bringing some excitement to an otherwise disappointing Minnesota Vikings squad.