Travis Benjamin Named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week

Travis Benjamin has been named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week, the second member of the Browns to win it this year; Punter Spencer Lanning being the other.  Benjamin had 7 punt returns for 179 yards and a touchdown at an average of 25.6 yards per return putting him in the Browns record book for most punt return yards in a game and being mentioned alongside legendary returner Eric Metcalf.

Benjamin had two big returns in the game.  The first was a 57 yard return that set up a Browns field goal.  The second was the 79 yard return that he took all the way to the end zone.  Benjamin was a huge lift and a big factor in the Browns being able to win the game with the injury to Brian Hoyer and Brandon Weeden trying to get acclimated quickly.  Weeden was able to lead the Browns to points, but only had 18 more passing yards than Benjamin had return yards.  The fact was they needed the contributions of both in order to win the game and they do not win if not for both of them being able to contribute.

After the game, Benjamin talked about how he was putting too much pressure on himself in previous weeks to try to make the big play and that he just went out there and focused on doing his job against the Bills.  Whether that change in mindset had a genuine impact or was merely coincidence is yet to be determined.  If this was a breakthrough performance that allows him to go out the rest of the season and play much better, it was a breakthrough.  If he goes back to struggling or at least not playing up to his ability, it was a one time.  Regardless, Benjamin came up big when the Browns needed it this past week and was able to help them get a win and certainly earned this recognition.