METAIRIE, La. — Saints rookie kicker Blake Grupe has been near flawless, missing just one field goal (11-for-12) all season – albeit a potential game-winner against Green Bay – and he's a perfect 9-of-9 on extra points.
This week, the NFL honored Grupe with the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honor after going a perfect 6-of-6 during the Saints' 34-0 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday.
Grupe nailed two field goals, including 54- and 53-yarders – and was 4-for-4 on PATs to match a career high he set during the Saints' 16-15 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 1.
"I I think he's kicked the ball exceptionally well for us," Saints head coach Dennis Allen said. "I've had zero reservations about having him attempt a long field goal. It was great to see him do that."
Grupe is the first Saints kicker to score two field goals of 50 yards or more in a single game since John Carney in Sept. 2004. He is just the fifth kicker and sixth occurrence in team history.
During the win over the Pats, Grupe kicked seven kickoffs resulting in five touchbacks with the two returned kickoffs only advancing to the Patriots' 21- and 17-yard lines.
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