Nyheim Hines runs away with AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors

He likely would’ve had a good look at the league honor after he took the opening kickoff of Buffalo’s Week 18 win over New England back for a 96-yard touchdown. But when he took a third quarter return back for a 101-yard score Nyheim Hines was a shoo-in for AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

The Bills’ return man became the first player since Leon Washington (Week 3, 2010) to post two kickoff-return touchdowns in the same game.

Hines’ two kick returns for touchdowns last Sunday made him just the 11th player in league history to return a pair of kickoffs for scores in the same game. He also set a team record with 235 kickoff return yards, surpassing Charlie Rogers.

Added to the roster at the trade deadline in a deal with the Indianapolis Colts, Hines had believed the return unit was close to busting a big run back.

“All year I felt like, our kick return and punt return, I feel like we’ve been close,” he said. “I feel I’ve been hitting it hard. Just been a step or two there, there have been a couple times I’ve slipped and fell on my guys, but even in the meetings, it’s been hashtag free Hines. Ever since I got here, this transition has not been the easiest, but those guys out there blocking for me on kick return and punt return have had my back. And I know there are 10 guys out there who believe in me. So I think this kick return was long overdue and I feel like all the guys out there would say the same.”