Running back Larry Johnson of the Kansas City Chiefs, safety John Lynch of the Denver Broncos and quarterback-kicker Doug Flutie of the New England Patriots are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the 17th week of the 2005 season (December 31-January 1), the NFL announced.
Flutie was honored for his part in one of the most unusual plays in the game - a drop kick extra point. It was the successful first drop kick since the 1941 NFL Championship game when Ray McLean of the Chicago Bears made one following a touchdown in a 37-9 victory over the New York Giants on December 21, 1941. Flutie also became the first Patriots non-kicker to execute a successful kick (field goal or extra point) since linebacker Steve Zabel booted an extra point in the fourth quarter of a 31-14 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 12, 1976.
This is the fifth Player of the Week award for the 12-year veteran out of Boston College, and his first for his special teams play.
Other nominees for AFC Special Teams Player of Week 17 were:
- Kansas City punter Dustin Colquitt, who booted a pair of punts for a 49.5 average.
- Miami kicker Olindo Mare, who went four-for-four in field goal attempts from 36, 38, 41, and 42 yards against the Patriots.
- New York Jets rookie cornerback-kick returner Justin Miller, who returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter for the game's final points and a Jets victory.