Life in football, and especially in the NFL, can be as tough as a punt rifle.
The basic job description reads something like “American Gladiators.” Walk 50 to 60 yards downfield in pursuit of a punt and either line up one of the toughest players on the opposing team and catch him, or have the awareness to track the football in flight, see where it lands and touch it inside the opponent’s five yard line.
And if you miss one of those two, you’ll not only become a meme overnight, but you’ll definitely hear about it during Monday’s movie review session.
Oh, and to add to the problem you’re usually up against at least one, sometimes two, players on the other side of the ball, trying your best not to get even ten yards down.
That’s what Washington Chiefs safety Tyler Owens faced in Sunday’s second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Chiefs faced 4th and 19 and put the punt team into the game.
Owens is lined up to the right of the Funt formation, with a pair of Eagles flanking him.
Owens not only battled through a double team, but ended the match with a thunderous takedown of Eagles’ returner Britannia Covey, following on from an infamous charity match between another Philadelphia legend, Rocky Balboa, and Thunderlip.
Here’s a follow-up shot of the effort from Owens, the NFL’s social media channel:
The Chiefs fell to the Eagles by a final score of 24-22.
But in this match, Owens stood tall. so long.
