Minnesota's Adam Thielen wins NFC special teams weekly honor

Minnesota Vikings rookie Adam Thielen was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week on Wednesday for his outstanding performance in the Vikings' 31-13 win over Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

Thielen blocked a punt, grabbed the loose football with one hand and ran into the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown. It was the first of two blocked punts returned for touchdowns in the game. Everson Griffen scored minutes later in the first quarter on a punt block by Jasper Brinkley.

According to Viking Update, it was only the fifth time in league history a team has blocked two punts for touchdowns in the same game.

The award is the first of Thielen's career; and it's sending a bit of a pulse through Minnesota because he's a Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, native and played his college football at Minnesota State-Mankato.

Even the National Weather Service office in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is applauding Thielen.