The Thanksgiving Day performance by Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson was nothing short of perfection
Making all his field goals and extra points that week, Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. All of the other AFC teams that played that holiday or the following Sunday had absolutely no shot on the accolade.
In the 36-33 overtime win against the Dallas Cowboys, kicker Daniel Carlson had a total of five field goal attempts and three extra point attempts, with one of the field goals being a game-winner. In celebration after his perfect night, Daniel Carlson enjoyed a Thanksgiving turkey leg with Raiders teammate and quarterback Derek Carr.
The AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honor was Carlson’s second for this 2021 season, while he also achieved the honor two other times in his four-year stint since joining the Las Vegas Raiders. Of course, retired kicker and Raiders legend Sebastian Janikowski owns the Raiders’ record for AFC Special Teams Player of the Week awards with seven. Janikowski played for the Raiders for 17 seasons.
Earlier this season, a couple other players on the Raiders team have won Player of the Week honors. Defensive end Maxx Crosby received the AFC Defensive Player of the Week honor in Week 1 and defensive end Yannick Ngakoue also received AFC Defensive Player of the Week after his stunning Week 7 performance with two sacks, five tackles, and two passes defended against the Philadelphia Eagles.