Opinion
Ice in their veins: Clutch kickers come up big in NFL divisional round showdowns
It’s time to be an NFL kicker.
The AFC and NFC divisional video games gave soccer followers all over the place a purpose to root for his or her staff’s kicker.
In response to Elias Sports activities Bureau, there have solely been 10 video games in NFL postseason historical past which have ended with game-winning discipline objectives as time expired in regulation. Three of them got here this weekend — the primary time there was three in a single postseason.
In Saturday’s AFC Divisional Sport, rookie Evan McPherson kicked a 52-yard discipline purpose as time expired, pushing the underdog Cincinnati Bengals previous the top-seeded Tennessee Titans, 19-16.
Cash. Mac. Shooter. McPherson. Legend.
Go to https://t.co/KpeqK4RKUm for extra highlights. pic.twitter.com/CIrXmzwZI0
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) January 23, 2022
In his post-win information convention, quarterback Joe Burrow shared that McPherson was able to name recreation earlier than he even took the sphere.
Bengals Okay Evan McPherson, doing warm-up swings earlier than his game-winner, checked out back-up QB Brandon Allen and mentioned, “Effectively, seems like we’re going to the AFC Championship Sport,” Joe Burrow mentioned.
— Ben Child (@Ben_Baby) January 23, 2022
Along with the walk-off discipline purpose, McPherson made all of the three different discipline objectives he tried within the recreation. He’s now eight-of-eight within the playoffs.
Just some hours later, the San Francisco 49ers additionally had their destiny secured by a kicker as the sport wound down.
Niners kicker Robbie Gould has made all 20 of his discipline purpose makes an attempt within the playoffs throughout his storied profession. Saturday evening was a candy one along with his 45-yard kick as time expired, sending the house staff Inexperienced Bay Packers packing.
For the win!!! On to the subsequent! pic.twitter.com/rd2oJ24fpi
— Robbie Gould (@RobbieGould09) January 23, 2022
“You’re a f—ing legend man. F— the Packers,” 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo mentioned to Gould after the sport.
On Sunday, extra kickers had a say of their staff’s consequence.
As time expired Sunday afternoon, the Los Angeles Rams have been capable of knock off the defending Tremendous Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the street due to a 30-yard discipline purpose from Matt Homosexual.
MATT GAY FOR THE WIN! pic.twitter.com/AQBU54oVhD
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 23, 2022
Per ESPN Stats and Info, with the Bengals, 49ers and Rams all profitable on the street, that is the third time the place three street groups received within the divisional spherical since its inception in 1970.
And though Harrison Butker had a shaky begin to Sunday evening’s recreation — together with a missed discipline purpose and further level — the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs kicker nailed a game-tying 49-yard discipline purpose on the finish of regulation to pressure additional time towards the Buffalo Payments.
BUTKER. CLUTCH. pic.twitter.com/cW0hiBoJS9
— Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 24, 2022
Patrick Mahomes then went 75 yards and tossed the game-winning landing to Travis Kelce for a ticket to the Chiefs’ fourth straight AFC Championship Sport.
The win by Kansas Metropolis, the No. 2 seed, was the one win by the house staff all weekend.
