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The Minnesota Vikings had a pretty decent day on special teams against the Carolina Panthers. They had their first blocked punt returned for a touchdown since 1986, breaking the longest such drought in the NFL. The Vikings liked it so much that they did it again later in the game. On a day where the Minnesota offense was only on the field for 48 snaps and wasn't exactly lighting things up when they were out there, the blocked punts were a huge part in securing a big home victory of the Panthers.
On Wednesday morning one of the stars of the special teams unit was honored with NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Adam Thielen, who had the first blocked punt and returned it for a touchdown, was recognized by the NFL Wednesday morning. According to the official Vikings PR Twitter account:
.@athielen19 wins NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after blocking a punt and taking it 30 yds for a TD. Also added 2 special teams stops
— Vikings PR (@VikingsPR) December 3, 2014
It was truly a well-deserved award by Thielen. The unofficial King of Mankato enjoyed an incredible Training Camp at his alma mater and has done everything the team has asked of him since making the 53-man roster this year.
Feel free to watch the gif of Thielen's blocked punt that sparked the big win over Carolina over and over below. Because it's truly More Than a Thielen. It has us Thielen good. The punt really got Hooked on a Thielen. The Panthers Special Teams Coordinator has lost that lovin' Thielen. I gotta Thielen that this won't be the last time that he makes a big play.