It’s Game Day, Who’s Your Kicker?

In the U.S. National Football League, January is known as the playoff month, leading up to the all-important Super Bowl, scheduled this year for February 13th. With 53 players allowed on each team roster, most of the players have backups. The kicker is the only unique role on the team. Kickers come out on the field to make the extra point after a touchdown, and to make field goals.

Many games are won or lost by the accuracy of kickers. The Cincinnati Bengal’s kicker Evan McPherson’s 52-yard field goal cinched their 19-16 win over the Tennessee Titans on January 22nd. This advanced the Bengals to the American Football Conference championship game. The following weekend, McPherson’s 33-yard field goal in overtime secured the 27-24 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Bengals now advance to the Super Bowl. As a rookie he is also the first player in NFL history to make more than four field goals in multiple games in a single postseason.(1) (more…)