NFL GAME RECAP

Hester sets record with 20th return TD

The Sports Xchange

September 18, 2014 at 10:29 pm.

Sep 18, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Devin Hester (17) (with ball) reacts with teammates after returning a punt for a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half at the Georgia Dome. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Devin Hester ran his way into the NFL record books with his 20th return for a touchdown during the first half of Thursday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Hester, in his ninth NFL season, broke a tie with Deion Sanders when he returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown midway through the second quarter that boosted the Falcons’ lead to 35-0.

After Hester streaked past Buccaneers punter Michael Koenen, he high-stepped the final 20 yards to the end zone with a hand behind his ear reminiscent of Sanders during his Hall of Fame career.

Sanders was at the game as a television analyst and tweeted, “@D_Hest23 the greatest returner of alltime! Yeah I said that and I should know! #Truth”

Hester added a 20-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to become the first player with a rushing and return score in a game since Reggie Bush in 2009.

The 31-year-old Hester, in his first season with the Falcons, also became the first player in NFL history to score on a punt return and a rushing play and to force a fumble and recover a fumble in the same game.

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