Last Sunday’s 38-31 victory over the Jaguars was a bright spot for the Buccaneers in what’s been a rocky start to the 2015 season and one of their players has been honored by the NFL for his work in helping them get the win.
Bobby Rainey returned three punts for 85 yards during the game, including a 58-yard jaunt in the first half that set up a Tampa touchdown. Rainey would put the Bucs in position for another score in the second half with a 25-yard return into Jacksonville territory and he was named the NFC’s special teams player of the week for his efforts.
It’s the first time that Rainey has been the conference’s top special teamer and his second player of the week award overall. He was the offensive player of the week for Week 11 of the 2013 season when he ran for 163 yards and three touchdowns.
Doug Martin was out of the lineup with an injury at that point, but has since returned to the first team and gave the team 158 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns against Jacksonville. That wasn’t enough for him to earn offensive player of the week honors, but more efforts like that from him and Rainey would help the Bucs find more wins as the rest of the season plays out.