Devin McCourty Named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week Despite Nearly Fumbling Away Game Against Jets

Devin McCourty's fumble on a kickoff return helped the Jets gain a fourth-quarter lead on Sunday, but it wasn't enough to cost the Patriots a victory. Apparently, it also wasn't enough for the NFL to rethink its Special Teams Player of the Week recipients.

The league announced Wednesday that McCourty has been named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in the Patriots' 29-26 win over the Jets in Week 7.

The honor, which comes despite the near disastrous fourth-quarter mishap, is due in large part to McCourty's 104-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the first quarter. The return was the second-longest in Patriots history, with Ellis Hobbs' 108-yard return against the Jets on Sept. 9, 2007, being the only one longer.

This marks the first time McCourty has won a Player of the Week award, and it's the first time a Patriots player has been named Special Teams Player of the Week since Julian Edelman earned the honor in Week 11 last season.