Breaking sports: Mariani named AFC special teams player of the week

Titans return specialist Marc Mariani was named AFC Special Teams Player

of the Week for his performance against the Washington Redskins in Week 11.

The rookie seventh round pick gave the Titans an early 7-0 lead with an 87-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter.

Mariani, who leads the NFL with a 17.1 punt return avg. and ranks third in the AFC with 26.3-yard kickoff return avg., recorded the second-longest punt return for a touchdown in franchise history, equaling Billy Johnson's 87-yarder against Cleveland on Oct. 16, 1977.

Mariani also became the second Titans/Oilers player to record a punt return touchdown and kickoff return touchdown in the same regular season.

This is Mariani's first career AFC Special Teams Player of the Week award.