Week one has brought many struggles for the kicking position around the National Football League. Multiple missed kicks completely changed the outcomes of some games.
Colts kicker Rodrigo Blankenship missed the potential game-winning 42-yard field goal in overtime against the Texans that led to the game ending as a 20 to 20 tie between the AFC South foes.
Not even joking, cut him.
2 KO's out of bounds and choked this one away.
Cut him. #Colts#ForTheShoe#Texans#INDvsHOU pic.twitter.com/kkjdo268XW
— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) September 11, 2022
In an AFC North rivalry game between the Steelers and Bengals, 2021 rookie standout Evan McPherson missed an extra point attempt at the buzzer which was blocked by Steelers star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick that would have led to a Bengals win and another potential game-winning missed kick on a 29-yard field goal in overtime.
WHAT A BLOCK 🚫 @minkfitz_21
📺: #PITvsCIN on CBSpic.twitter.com/4uhR89sdD5
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) September 11, 2022
NO GOOD. This game is bananas.
📺: #PITvsCIN on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/pHwdeoOMZE pic.twitter.com/WuyBvNuRp7— NFL (@NFL) September 11, 2022
In that same game, Steelers kicker Chris Boswell missed a game-winning attempt in overtime but thankfully for Boswell, he had another chance at winning the game and took advantage of that second opportunity by knocking it through the uprights and winning the game for Pittsburgh.
The kick is NO GOOD. The game continues!
📺: #PITvsCIN on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/pHwdeoOMZE pic.twitter.com/NcZi9mfSs7— NFL (@NFL) September 11, 2022
THAT'S A WINNER!!!!!!
📺 #PITvsCIN on CBS | NFL+ https://t.co/E0NYNUzFXC pic.twitter.com/QuwNouiCWS
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 11, 2022
Not due to lack of execution but to do an injury, the Kansas City Chiefs had to place safety Justin Reid as their kicker for a kickoff as their kicker Harrison Butker played their week one matchup against the Cardinals with a hurt ankle. Reid did a tremendous job of kicking the ball off as he kicked it out of the endzone. Reid also nailed an extra point attempt for the Chiefs.
#Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker was carted to the locker room with an ankle injury and is questionable to return. Safety Justin Reid replaced him, making an XP and booming this kickoff through the endzone.pic.twitter.com/1tIWXd9XKP
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 11, 2022
Chiefs safety Justin Reid just DRILLED this extra point.
📺: #KCvsAZ on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/SO6ObDqAc2 pic.twitter.com/Mxx5uNboWr— NFL (@NFL) September 11, 2022
With it just being one game, these teams may give their kickers another chance. However, these missed opportunities can return to haunt you later in the season. Therefore, some of these kickers and special teams players and coaches must step it up because their jobs may be on the line.
Let us know what you think about the week one kicking woes by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sending us a tweet at @celebsecrets.
