Dustin Hopkins named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week

It hasn’t been an easy season for the Washington Football Team; the same can be said for the team’s place kicker, Dustin Hopkins, who missed 6 field goals and an extra point in his first ten games of the 2020 season.

But as my grandmother used to say, “Them days is gone!”

In Week 12 against Dallas on Thanksgiving Day, Hopkins was kept busy. He attempted and made 5 extra points and also went 2-fer-2 on field goals.

He raised the bar a bit this week against Pittsburgh on Monday, hitting all three of his field goal attempts — none shorter than 45 yards — as the Football Team toppled the previously unbeaten Steelers by a score of 23-17. When you include his successful PATs, Hopkins was credited with 11 points in the win, including a pair of clutch 4th quarter kicks off the natural grass field in the notoriously swirling winds of Heinz Stadium.

His performance was rewarded with recognition as the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Washington fans are, I’m sure, thrilled with Hopkins’ return to form. Taken together, over the past two games he has been perfect on 7 extra point kicks and 5 field goals. I imagine more of the same will be required of him if the team is to finish strong in the final four games of the season.

Hopkins, of course, is known as much for his good humor and team spirit as he is for his on-field kicking performances: