Rookie wideout Tyler Lockett has been named NFC Special Teams Player of Week 17 for his play in this past Sunday's 36-6 Seattle Seahawks win over the division rival Arizona Cardinals.
Lockett, who was voted to the 2016 Pro Bowl as a return specialist, brought back four punts for 139 yards (34.8-yard average) at Arizona to set a franchise-record for most punt-return yards in a game, topping the previous mark of 106 set in 1999 by Charlie Rogers. In the past 10 seasons, Lockett is the only player to have three punt returns of 30-plus yards (66, 42, 31) in the same game, including a long of 66 yards that helped turn the game in Seattle's favor for good.
"I think we just did a tremendous job of executing everything in the game and it all started with practice," Lockett said postgame. "[Special teams] coach [Brian] Schneider went up there, gave us a speech about the biggest difference that we can make in special teams that can turn the game around, and like I always say, it's always those 10 people out there that make my job a lot easier. I catch the ball and I have 15 yards from the opponent and it's all because of the way that we hold up, the way that people continuously stay on their blocks."
It's the first Player of the Week award for Lockett, who won NFC Special Teams Player of the Month in September after returning a kickoff and punt for touchdowns. He's the first Seahawks rookie to win Special Teams Player of the Week since Week 14 in 2011, when Doug Baldwin was honored for blocking a punt that was returned for a touchdown. Lockett's big day in the punt-return game also has him up for Rookie of the Week at NFL.com.
"Now is the time for us to be able to come alive," Lockett said. "Now is the time for us to be able to get on board and to link arms and continue to do what we've been doing, and I think that we've showed that today, but we have to be able to do that day-in and day-out as we reach the playoffs."
Lockett, a third-round pick out of Kansas State, finished his first regular season with a rookie franchise-record 1,915 all-purpose yards, a number that ranks fourth all-time in Seattle history. His 9.5 yards per punt return ranks 10th in the NFL and his 25.8 yards per kickoff return ranks eighth.
"I'm really happy that happened after getting selected to the Pro Bowl and all of that for returns and to have a game like that to jump out and kind of prove it," Seattle head coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday of Lockett's Player of the Week honor. "He had a huge start and gained a lot of respect early and we weren't able to get him going much after the early part of the year. He was always a factor, you could tell by the way teams were approaching us, but it was great to see him have a big game and get some numbers back out there and it's nice that he got rewarded with that."
The Seahawks were all in for the final regular season matchup against NFC leaders, the Arizona Cardinals and team photographer Rod Mar captured the exclusive moments of the team's dominating performance.
The Seahawks buses left on Friday afternoon and were greeted by this small contingent of loyal fans near the VMAC.
Players, coaches and staff board the Delta charter headed for Phoenix on a late afternoon departure.
Defensive lineman Brandon Mebane walks up stairs to board the charter flight to Phoenix.
On Saturday, the team headed to its walk thru in Phoenix. Wide receiver Kasen Willams leaned between seats to talk to a teammate.
Quarterback Russell Wilson briefly huddles the offense at the start of walk thru. From left are Doug Baldwin, Christine Michael, Alvin Bailey, Justin Britt, Patrick Lewis and Mark Glowinski.
After the offense was finished with its' part of walk thru, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell consulted with his quarterback Russell Wilson and receiver Doug Baldwin.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the field, the defensive unit reviewed with defensive coordinator Kris Richard and linebackers coach Michael Barrow. From left are assistant coach Andre Curtis, Kam Chancellor, Bobby Wagner, Earl Thomas, Kelcie McCray, Richard Sherman and K.J. Wright.
Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, who grew up in the Phoenix area, was chosen by head coach Pete Carroll to call the team up at the end of walk thru.
Offensive tackle Garry Gilliam slaps hands with young fans watching the team arrive back at the hotel after walk thru on Saturday.
On game day, tight end Cooper Helfet cooly made his way to the team buses for the ride from Phoenix to Glendale for the game.
Upon arrival at the stadium, the Seahawks were greeted by a number of the 12s who made their way to Arizona for the game.
Defensive linemen Brandon Mebane and Michael Bennett chat with Seahawks Ring of Honor member and former defensive end Jacob Green on the sidelines before the game.
Linebacker Brock Coyle smiles as his position group gathers on the field during early pregame warmups.
Seahawks receiver and return specialists Tyler Lockett "taps in" as he leaves the visitors locker room. Watching at right is special teams assistant Chad Morton.
After pregame warmups and in the moments before leaving the locker room for kickoff, linebacker Bobby Wagner reviews notes.
Brandon Mebane addresses the team just before the Seahawks took the field for the start of the game. At left is tight end Chase Coffman and next to Mebane is Michael Bennett.
Quarterback Russell Wilson prepares to lead the Seahawks onto the field before the regular season finale at Arizona against the Cardinals.
Running back Christine Michael focuses on the sidelines before kickoff.
Seattle's defense wasted no time establishing its dominance on Sunday, with K.J. Wright stopping Arizona's David Johnson for a one-yard gain on the opening drive.
The Cardinals offense challenged Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman early, but Sherman's defense on Michael Floyd resulted in an incomplete pass.
Christine Michael started at running back and raced up the right side for 45-yards on the Seahawks opening drive thanks to a block by starting guard Mark Glowinski.
Seahawks fullback Will Tukuafu rumbled into the end zone after catching a short pass from Russell Wilson for a touchdown. Sunday was also Tukuafu's birthday.
New tight end Chase Coffman scored his first TD as a Seahawks on a subsequent drive, taking an eight-yard pass from Russell Wilson and racing to the end zone untouched.
Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and tight ends coach Pat McPherson wait to greet Chase Coffman after his touchdown in the second quarter.
Seattle's Tyler Lockett evades Arizona punter Drew Butler on his way to a 42-yard return in the second quarter. Lockett set a Seahawks single-game record with 139 punt return yards during the win.
Another record setter on Sunday was quarterback Russell Wilson, who set two franchise records during the game -- high marks for passing yards (4,024) and passing touchdowns (34) in a single season.
Cornerback Richard Sherman waits for the ball to be snapped to Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer during the first half.
At halftime, quarterbacks Tarvaris Jackson and Russell Wilson and quarterbacks coach Carl Smith reviewed plays and formations on a Surface tablet in the Seahawks locker room.
Head coach Pete Carroll watches over the shoulder of safety Earl Thomas as defensive coordinator Kris Richard gives halftime instructions.
Receiver Doug Baldwin addresses the team at the end of halftime just before the players returned to the field.
Seahawks running back Christine Michael finds running room after stiff-arming Arizona cornerback Justin Bethel.
Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson looks for yardage in the second half.
The Cardinals inserted backup quarterback Drew Stanton into the game in the second half, and Seattle's Michael Bennett pulled him down by the jersey resulting in an incomplete pass.
Safety Earl Thomas intercepted a pass by Arizona's Drew Stanton to kill a Cardinals drive in the third quarter.
Seattle kicker Steven Hauschka converted field goals of 52, 52 and 33 yards during the victory.
Seattle's Richard Sherman broke up another pass, this one intended for Arizona's John Brown.
On the Seattle sideline, veteran lineman Lemuel Jeanpierre went over plays with rookie linemen Will Pericek and Kristjian Sokol.
Head coach Pete Carroll smiles as he watched his team build a big lead against the Cardinals.
As is a common site at road games in Arizona, 12s showed out loud and proud and were unwavering in their support. Two Arizona employees cover their faces and turn away from the camera as hundreds of fans in the section behind them roar in the fourth quarter.
Seattle's DeShawn Shead leaps high to snag an interception from Arizona's John Brown in the fourth quarter as Seahawks fans show off a 12 flag in the end zone.
DeShawn Shead heads upfield with an interception as Steven Terrell and Brock Coyle join him.
DeShawn Shead and Marcus Burley celebrate Shead's interception.
Head coach Pete Carroll applauds his team's effort as 12s show their flags behind the Seahawks bench.
In the victorious visitor's locker room, Doug Baldwin and Russell Wilson congratulate each other.
Michael Bennett shows off his "Black Santa" to the team after the game. The small statue had a place on the team's sideline during the game.
Defensive lineman Michael Bennett does pushups in front of the team in the locker room after the game.
Head coach Pete Carroll smiles after accepting a game ball from Richard Sherman. The ball marked Carroll's 101st victory in the NFL.
Defensive end Michael Bennett leads the team in the now-traditional post-victory dance in the locker room.
Michael Bennett's "Black Santa" figurine takes its place in the victorious postgame breakdown.
Fullback Will Tukuafu video chats with his family after a victory on his birthday in which he also scored on a touchdown reception.
The Seahawks board their Delta charter for the flight back to Seattle. While the team was in the air, they learned their opponent in next week's wild-card game -- the Minnesota Vikings, on the road next Sunday.
