New England Patriots guard Dan Connolly's impromptu 71-yard kick return against the Green Bay Packers in the second quarter earned him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors, the team announced on Wednesday.

After Green Bay scored a touchdown to take a 10-point lead with just over two minutes to play in the first half, the 6-4, 313-pound Connolly fielded the squib kick and just kept moving forward until busting to the outside and taking it down to the Packers' 4-yard line.

Three plays later, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady connected with rookie tight end Aaron Hernandez on a 2-yard touchdown to cut the Packers' lead to three points at halftime.