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Oakland Raiders Pro Bowl kicker Sebastian Janikowski has earned the AFC’s October Special Teams Player of the Month, the National Football League will announce on Thursday.
A 6-foot-1, 258-pound veteran in his 13th season out of Florida State, Janikowski has now won three of the AFC’s last six Special Teams Player of the Month honors. He also garnered the award in September and November last season. Overall, Janikowski has now won the award four times, including September 2001.
Janikowski helped the Raiders to a 2-1 mark in October, hitting 10 of 11 field-goal attempts during the month (90.9 percent), his only miss a 64-yarder Oct. 21 vs. Jacksonville, at the end of regulation, that would’ve established the NFL record. Minutes later in overtime, he converted a 40-yarder to record his second walk-off field goal this season (also Sept. 23 vs. Pittsburgh), and the 13th game-winning field goal of his career.
Other October highlights:
- In October, Janikowski recorded touchbacks on 13 of his 19 kickoffs (68.4 percent), second in the AFC behind Baltimore’s Justin Tucker (69.2 percent).
- With 36 points in three October games, he led the AFC in scoring per contest (12.0).
- On Oct. 14 at Atlanta, in a last-second loss to the NFL’s only undefeated team, he connected on a 52-yard field goal, a season high, his 38th career FG from 50-or-more yards, and posted four touchbacks.
- Also in the Jacksonville win Oct. 21, he converted four of five FG tries and kicked the game-tying PAT with three minutes in regulation, in addition to four touchbacks, one that split the uprights.
- On Sunday at Kansas City, in a 26-16 triumph, he improved his outstanding career numbers at Arrowhead Stadium with four field goals, and also recorded five touchbacks on seven kickoffs.
The Pro Bowler enters Week 9 having secured three of the franchise’s last four victories, including Dec. 24, 2011, at Kansas City, on walk-off field goals. He also has connected on 24 of his last 25 field goals, dating to Dec. 24, 2011, (his only miss a 64-yarder Oct. 21) and leading the NFL with 38 field goals of 50-plus yards since he began his pro career in 2000.
On attempts of less than 40 yards, has hit 43 in a row, having last missed such an attempt on Sept. 26, 2010, at Arizona (32 yards), a 24-23 loss. Over a longer stretch from less than 40 yards, since missing a 35-yarder in a 34-20 win vs. Denver, Dec. 2, 2007, has hit 49 of his last 50 from that distance.
