For the third straight week, a Detroit Lions player has taken home the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award, a run that puts the team in rare NFL company. On Wednesday, kicker Jake Bates earned the honour after converting all four field-goal attempts and an extra point in Detroit’s 19-9 win over the Miami Dolphins.
Bates made successful kicks from 28, 33, 40, and 43 yards, accounting for 13 of the Lions’ points. His flawless performance capped a streak featuring two other Lions players winning the same award in the preceding weeks.
The sequence began in Week 7 when DJ Wonnum blocked a potential game-winning field goal against the Green Bay Packers, helping Detroit secure a 20-17 victory at Ford Field. Following that, in Week 8, punter Jack Fox earned the award after averaging 46.5 yards on four punts in their game against the Minnesota Vikings, including three that pinned Minnesota inside its own 20-yard line.
According to MLive’s Jacob Richman, the Lions have now claimed the NFC special teams honour in Weeks 7, 8, and 9 of the 2026 season. This places Detroit alongside the Minnesota Vikings, who earlier this season also won the award three consecutive times, making the feat a rare occurrence in the conference.
Bates has quietly become one of Detroit’s most reliable contributors this season. He has converted 16 of 17 field-goal attempts and all 24 extra-point tries. The 26-year-old has scored at least seven points in each of the Lions’ first eight games, a first in franchise history. This latest weekly award marks the third such prize of his career.
Detroit’s offence has struggled to finish drives consistently in recent weeks, increasing the importance of Bates and the special teams unit. Their efforts have helped the Lions win four games in a row, improving to 6-2 on the season. The special teams’ contributions have been varied: a game-changing block, precise punts that control field position, and reliable kicking.
These performances come as the Lions aim for a deep playoff run. For a team with Super Bowl ambitions, having dependable special teams may influence tight contests down the stretch.
The latest recognition for Bates adds to a remarkable stretch for the Lions’ special teams. With the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award now claimed by three different Detroit players over three weeks, the unit has become a significant factor in the team’s recent success.
According to Yahoo Sports.
