words // Brandon Richard
His college teammates nicknamed him “Muscle Hamster” due to his muscular build and chubby cheeks. While Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie running back can’t shake his humorous nickname, he shook plenty of Oakland Raiders defenders on Sunday in a record-setting performance.
In a word, Martin was unstoppable. The Oakland-born running back had a once in a lifetime homecoming by scoring on runs of 1, 45, 67 and 70 yards in front of more than 60 friends and family members. Overall, Martin carried the ball 25 times for a franchise record 251 yards and four touchdowns. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Martin became the first back since at least 1940 to score on three TD runs of at least 45 yards in one game.
Behind Martin’s historic game, the Bucs held off a late surge by the Raiders, topping the home team 42-32 to move to 4-4 on the season.
In other Week 9 games, Cam Newton’s Carolina Panther’s beat Robert Griffin III’s Washington Redskins in a highly anticipated matchup; the Chicago Bears’ defense continued its dominant run a 51-20 thrashing of the Tennessee Titans; another big performance by Andrew Luck again the Miami Dolphins helped lift the Indianapolis Colts to 5-3; the Houston Texans moved to 7-1 after taking care of the Buffalo Bills; Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers jumped back into the Super Bowl discussion after beating the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants on the road; the Atlanta Falcons stayed perfect with a win over the Dallas Cowboys; and Drew Brees’ New Orleans Saints topped Michael Vick’s Philadelphia Eagles in a Monday Night matchup of disappointing teams.
Check out the football cleats worn in these games and more in today’s NFL Watch.
images courtesy of Yahoo
Doug Martin runs for a 67-yard touchdown in the Nike Vapor Talon Elite Low.
Josh Freeman drops back in a PE colorway of the Jordan Super.Fly.
Shaun Phillips recovers a fumble for a touchdown in the Nike Alpha Talon Elite 3/4.
Cam Newton all smiles in Cam Highlight Low Under Armour football cleats.
Brandon Marshall enjoyed Chicago’s blowout win in custom Reebok football cleats.
James Jones makes a touchdown grab in the Under Armour Blur.
Arian Foster rushes in the Under Armour Nitro Diablo.
Andrew Luck tossed for a rookie record 433 yards in the Nike Vapor Talon Elite Low.
Von Miller sacks Andy Dalton in the adidas Malice 2 Fly.
Marshawn Lynch breaks free in the Nike Vapor Talon Elite 3/4.
Bernard Pierce scores in the Under Armour Highlight.
Mikel Leshoure found paydirt three times in the Nike Vapor Talon Elite 3/4.
Roddy White celebrates perfection with his son in custom Reebok football cleats.
Isaac Redman meets Jason Pierre-Paul in the Nike Lunar Superbad Pro.
Drew Brees scrambles in the Nike Lunar Superbad Pro.
