Kyle Brandt doesn’t have many rules for his weekly “Angry Runs” award winner, but being a ball carrier is one.
Makes sense, considering the Good Morning Football
segment is meant to highlight rushing plays. That supposedly took Commanders special teams ace Tyler Owens out of the running despite the viral punt coverage rep everyone has seen by now, from a 24-22 loss to Philadelphia, where he fights off a double team and body slams the returner to the turf.Such recognition was secondary to the effort, which was lauded by so many across the league for the tenacity and excellence of the effort.
JJ Watt called it “one of the greatest football plays I’ve ever seen.”
It was so good, in fact, that Brandt made an exception. He gave Owens the “Angry Runs” scepter anyway.
“This is fitting because I was actually angry,” Owens said. He was getting held on the previous punt coverage snap, so he talked to the officials about it. He battled through the double team anyway to make the play.
The play was highlighted on the national FOX broadcast, which followed Owens all the way down the field. The play went viral, leading so many to search for Washington’s No. 18.
Commanders fans know Owens. Many watching a late-window game found out on that play. The third-year pro, and undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech, plays safety and slot corner but is primarily known for his work in the kicking game.
While he has made several big plays on special teams, including one earlier in Sunday’s game, this highlighted most is making the rounds for good reason.
“It was one of (my) proudest plays of him though,” Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said in a Monday virtual press conference. “He’s a guy who’s speed and strain is always there, but to see that one come together, it was just awesome. And it was so him, like, ‘Oh, thanks, man. That’s what I do.’ You know, like, it was like no big deal. And you’re like, ‘Man, this is a really big deal.’ It was a really cool play and I got to see it probably like everybody else did from the network feed afterwards. And it was one of my favorite plays in a long time on special teams for sure.”
It didn’t feel big to Owens in the moment. It felt like just another successful play for a quality coverage unit, even though it sure looks otherworldly on video (and probably is).
