New England Patriots Gameday: The growing legend of Gunner Olszewski

New England Patriots wide receiver Gunner Olszewski was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Can he star once again in L.A.?

New England Patriots second-year wide receiver Gunner Olszewski had himself quite the game in the team’s 45-0 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.

The 70-yard punt return for a touchdown along with another 61-yard punt return that led to another Patriots score earned the former defensive back turned wide receiver AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

In total, his 145 punt return yards were the second-most by a New England Patriots player in a single game since the days of Mike Haynes who throttled the Buffalo Bills back in 1976 with 156 punt return yards.

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That is quite some company Olszewski finds himself in.  But what was even more of a confidence boast for the former undrafted free agent is the receiving touchdown he recorded in the fourth quarter.

It was a garbage time score, but that could earn him more looks in the offense when the team takes on the Los Angeles Rams.  As unlikely as Gunner Olszewski was as the star of the game against the Chargers, he is an unlikely X-factor against the Rams.

As potent as an offense as the Rams present, it is a player like Olszewski who could put the Patriots in a position to upset the Rams, especially if he mimics his production in the punt return game just four days ago in the very same stadium the team will play once again.

It would actually be quite a week for the Division II Bemidji State product if he can come up with a few more plays in the return game and also within the offense again.  Even if Cam Newton doesn’t look his way, it will not be surprising if Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels sets up some jet sweeps for Olszewski to ride on the confidence he has booming from his performance in the Week 13 victory.

Will Thursday night at SoFi Stadium add to the growing legend of Gunner Olszewski?

The hard work he has put in is starting to pay off and it is coming at the right time for a team seeking to inch their way into the playoffs.  As Bill Belichick characterized him, Olszewski is not a big guy, but he has “a big heart and plays hard.”

In more ways than one, he sounds a lot like a guy named Julian Edelman who also worked his way from a position change to one of the most productive targets in New England Patriots history.

There is still a lot of hard work ahead, but perhaps Patriots fans are starting to see why Gunner Olszewski is on the roster.

Now, let’s see what he can do against the Rams.