Colts PK Rodrigo Blankenship Earns Week 11: AFC Special Teams Player of the Week Honors

The NFL announced on Wednesday that Indianapolis Colts placekicker Rodrigo ‘Hot Rod’ Blankenship has won its ‘Week 11: AFC Special Teams Player of the Week’ honors for his standout performance this past Sunday against the Green Bay Packers:

The undrafted rookie kicker from Georgia converted 4 of his 5 field goal attempts—having narrowly missed a 50 yard kick that hit the crossbar, and both of his extra point attempts.

One of those successful attempts was a game-winning 39-yard field goal in overtime, which clinched the game—giving the Colts a 34-31 victory over the Packers.

On the season, ‘Hot Rod’ has made 23 of his 26 field goal attempts (88.5%) and is 25 for 27 in extra point attempts (92.6%). He currently ranks 2nd overall, just behind Tampa Bay Buccaneers veteran PK Ryan Succop, on most total points scored during the 2020 campaign.

Simply put, Hot Rod’s been ‘red hot’ as a rookie kicker for the Colts so far.

It marks a consecutive week in which a Colts’ special teams player has won AFC Special Teams Player of the Week, as linebacker E.J. Speed won it just a week prior for his blocked punt against the Tennessee Titans—which led directly to a T.J. Carrie touchdown return.