It’s not often that an NFL week ends with everyone talking about kickers. But the loneliest players on the field were a huge story in Week 2 following a string of high-profile misses in clutch situations across the league.
Barring record setting performances or long game-winning kicks, kickers typically only find the spotlight when they miss. That was definitely the case this week, as a number of disastrous performances have left some coaches looking for more reliable options to kick field goals and extra points going forward.
Kickers Feel the Heat in Week 2
For Vikings rookie Daniel Carlson, his second game in the NFL turned into a nightmare as he missed all three of his field goal attempts in Minnesota’s 29-29 tie with the Green Bay Packers. Two of those misses came in overtime when they could have won the game for his team, including a 35-yard chip shot as time expired.
“Obviously, I let my team down,” Carlson told reporters after the game. “That last one was probably more just confidence after missing twice early. That’s frustrating. That shorter one I should never miss like that.”
But Carlson was far from the only kicker to struggle on Sunday. Cleveland Browns placekicker Zane Gonzalez started a little stronger, making two 39-yard field goals in the first half.
However, the second half was a different story for the 23-year-old, who missed an extra point in the third quarter and a field goal in the fourth. That set up a horrific final two minutes for Gonzalez, who missed another extra point that would have given the Browns the lead with just 1:16 left in the game. After the Saints scored a quick field goal of their own to take a 21-18 lead, Gonzalez had a chance for redemption, but pushed a 52-yard attempt wide right, giving the Saints the victory.
The #Browns = Cursed ????
They lose another one after Zane Gonzalez missed his fourth kick of the game from 52 yards. ? pic.twitter.com/NoQWWkNEBy
— Bovada Official (@BovadaOfficial) September 16, 2018
Following the game, the Browns signed rookie kicker Greg Joseph to replace Gonzalez, who was suffering from a groin injury but still took responsibility for the loss.
“It’s on me 100 percent,” Gonzalez said after the game. “I can’t blame it on [anybody] else. It sucks because we were so close to that win, and it’s been so long. I just let everybody down.”
Mahomes Sets Records in Week 2 Performance
Thankfully, Week 2 produced its fair share of heroes as well.
Patrick Mahomes continued to look like the real deal, leading the Kansas City Chiefs to a 42-37 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mahomes threw for six touchdowns in the game, giving him 10 over two games – the most for any quarterback over the first two weeks of any season in NFL history. It also set a record for the most touchdowns thrown by a quarterback in their first three games in the league (Mahomes played in the final game of last season, but did not throw a touchdown pass).
“I don’t think that you could expect more from anyone,” wide receiver Chris Conley said after the game. “The level of confidence and poise that this kid has…I haven’t seen it anywhere.”
Meanwhile, Ryan Fitzpatrick may be causing a quarterback controversy in Tampa Bay. Fitzpatrick threw for four touchdown passes and 402 yards in the Buccaneers’ 27-21 victory over the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles. His performance could make it difficult to take him out of the lineup when Jameis Winston comes back from his three-game suspension in Week 4.
