The Kansas City Chiefs are 2-0 to start the new season after defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 26-25 on a 51-yard game-winning field goal from Harrison Butker.
Butker spoke to reporters during his postgame press conference Sunday, revealing his unique ways of preparing for game-winning field goals.
“When you’re on the sidelines, you’re not able to see ball flight, right? You’re kicking into a net,” said Butker. “You don’t know where it’s going. So, one thing I changed a couple of years ago was I’ll finish warming up with the full operation probably 15-20 minutes before the period. So, I’m not kicking a ball for 15-20 minutes, and I really have to trust it going into that period.”
Butker connected on another game-winner at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday against the Bengals, remaining a nightmare to opposing teams late in games. He applauded the preparation from practice with the coaching staff simulating the moment.
“Mentally, I just try to put a lot of pressure on myself, and then again, when you have coach (Andy) Reid standing behind you for every single kick, and we don’t have music during that period, so the whole team’s watching,” said Butker. “It’s kind of awkward silence, and it’s just you, and are you making your kicks or not? There’s nowhere to hide. I think that prepares me really well for game days.”
The league’s highest-paid kicker lived up to the billing on Sunday, adding another Arrowhead Stadium game-winner to his already impressive career highlight reel.