Dec. 25 (UPI) — Dwayne Harris picked up a punt after defenders thought it was downed, and returned it for a 99-yard score in as the Oakland Raiders beat the Denver Broncos.
Harris’ hectic score came in the first quarter of the Raiders’ 27-14 win on Monday in Oakland. The Broncos faced a 4th and 11 on the play from their own 34-yard-line. Broncos punter Colby Wadman took the snap and booted the ball way downfield, making it bounce inside the 5-yard-line.
Broncos players ran to the ball and brought it down close to the goal line for what looked like a stellar special teams play. But Harris wasn’t finished playing. He picked the ball off of the ground and jetted to his right, scorching down the sideline and using his blockers to get into the end zone.
“You just have to know the rules, if they touch the ball, we can touch it, fumble the ball, on the 1-yard line,” Harris told reporters. “At that moment you just have to know the rules. Me being a veteran like I am, knowing the rules, I just took advantage of it.”
Harris made his first Pro Bowl in 2016. The eighth-year wide receiver has 20 punt returns for 281 yards this season. His 99-yard scamper was the longest punt return this season in the NFL.
“He made a play earlier in the season – I don’t know if you remember – where he forced an out of bounds kickoff,” Raiders coach Jon Gruden said. “One of the most heads-up plays I’d ever seen, and tonight that was the impact play that really turned this whole game around. He covered kicks, I think he did a great job prohibiting them from downing the kick inside our five, he’s a special teams demon and I’m glad we got him.”