Atlanta Falcons: Cordarrelle Patterson takes home NFL award

Cordarrelle Patterson has been a huge bright spot for this Atlanta Falcons team in recent memory. Initially viewed as mostly a kick returner, Patterson came to the Falcons and has been a weapon on the offensive side of the ball.

Whether he takes a handoff out of the backfield or catches a pass — which surprisingly hasn’t happened too much this year — he is a threat to score at any time.

He had perhaps his best career game on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks which also earned him an award.

Atlanta Falcons RB, Cordarrelle Patterson, is the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Week

This is the first time that the Atlanta Falcons have had a running back take home the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Week award since Devonta Freeman did so back in week 15 of the 2016 season, and this is also Cordarrelle Patterson’s first Offensive Player of the Week award in his career.

He did win Special Teams Player of the Year back in week 8 of his 2013 rookie season.

In week three he totaled 153 total scrimmage yards, rushed for 141 yards, caught one pass for 12 yards, rushed for a touchdown, and averaged 8.3 yards per carry. Those 8.3 YPC was good for the best in the NFL this past week.

Those stats are easily good enough to win this award but it is interesting that they chose Patterson to win the award since Chicago Bears’ running back Khalil Herbert rushed for 157 yards, caught two passes for 12 yards, and rushed for two touchdowns.

If we are being perfectly candid here, Herbert’s numbers are better than Patterson’s.

He rushed for 16 more yards and one more touchdown, had the same amount of receiving yards, and only averaged half of a yard less in yards per carry. Usually, you will see the player with more touchdowns win the award but we aren’t complaining.

Cordarrelle Patterson certainly deserves this award for the ridiculous plays he made in week three. It almost feels like this won’t be his last Offensive Player of the Week award this year with the way he has been producing early in the season.