New Orleans Saints K Blake Grupe has been named NFC Special Teams Player of the week for Week 5 of the NFL season. New York Jets K Greg Zierlein took home the honors for the AFC.
In a 34-0 win at the New England Patriots on Sunday, Grupe connected on all four of his extra point attempts and both field goal tries. Each of his field goal attempts were from over 50 yards (54 and 53) in swirling winds on the road at Gillette Stadium.
Grupe, an undrafted rookie from Notre Dame, beat out incumbent Wil Lutz for the kicking job in training camp. It was a close competition that resulted in Lutz being traded to the Denver Broncos.
Grupe, 24, has rewarded the Saints faith in him. He's converted all nine of his extra points so far and 11 of 12 field goal attempts. His only miss was a 46-yard try late in the fourth quarter of a 18-17 road loss to the Green Bay Packers. Grupe's 54-yard field goal in the third quarter against the Patriots is the longest of his young career to date.
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