Arizona Cardinal Justin Bethel wins Player of the Week award
Nov 5, 2014, 4:18 PM | Updated: 4:18 pm
Blocking a field goal to end the first half in the Arizona Cardinals win over the Dallas Cowboys won Justin Bethel the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award for Week 9.
The Cardinals had a 14-10 lead and Bethel made sure it stayed that way as he bolted off the edge like a shot out of a cannon to block Dan Bailey’s 35-yard field goal attempt.
It was Bethel’s third blocked field goal of his career, and the team’s second blocked field goal this season.
He led the Cardinals with 21 special teams tackles last season, and once again leads the team this year with eight special teams tackles.
Bethel was a special teams Pro Bowler in 2013.
Dating back to 2008, the Cardinals have blocked 18 field goals, the highest total in the NFL during that span.
Bethel becomes the third different Cardinals player this season to be named Special Teams Player of the Week after Ted Ginn, Jr. was selected following the Cardinals win over the Giants in Week 2 and Chandler Catanzaro was honored following Arizona’s win vs. Washington in Week 6.
Bethel’s selection marks the second time in as many weeks that a Cardinals player was chosen as “Player of the Week.” WR Larry Fitzgerald earned offensive honors following the Cardinals Week 8 victory over Philadelphia.
It is the first time in team history three different players were selected as Special Teams Player of the Week in the same season.
