Chiefs punter Matt Araiza snagged his first ever AFC special teams player of the week nod this Wednesday, and if you watched him in Week 4 against the Raiders, you know why. The guy was an absolute nightmare for Vegas, showing off skills way beyond just booming the ball. This dude is doing it all, and the league is definitely noticing.
Chiefs Special Teams: Pinning ‘Em Deep and Winning
Araiza’s foot was a certified weapon against the Raiders. The man had five punts, and every single one of them landed inside the Las Vegas 20-yard line. Yeah, you read that right, ALL FIVE. He even pinned the Raiders inside their own 5-yard line once, which is just ridiculous. When you are flipping the field like that, it changes everything for your defense. He averaged a solid 47.6 yards per punt last Sunday, and that kind of consistency played a huge role in the Chiefs’ tight 30-27 victory.
More Than a Punter: Araiza’s Fake Punt Madness
But Araiza wasn’t content just pinning teams back. He showed off another dimension to his game in the first quarter with a gutsy, 12-yard run on a fake punt! How often do you see your punter break out a first down scamper? That kind of play is a momentum killer for the other side and a huge spark for his own team. It’s a testament to how dangerous this guy is. He is not just putting up big numbers, averaging 52.3 yards per kick for the entire season, but he is also making game-changing plays when it counts.
This is Araiza’s first time earning this player of the week honor, but based on what we saw in Week 4 and his season-long numbers, it probably won’t be his last. Keep an eye on this guy.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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