Tag: game winner

Chiefs K Harrison Butker explains preparation before attempting game-winning field goals

Kansas City #Chiefs K Harrison Butker explains preparation before attempting game-winning field goals | @EdEastonJr

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.

Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco describes his game-clinching runs vs. Bills

#Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco described his game-clinching runs against the #Bills during comments to the media this week.

Running back Isiah Pacheco iced the Kansas City Chiefs’ Divisional Round game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday and has been on a hot streak as the defending Super Bowl champions strive to defend their title in the AFC playoffs.

The Chiefs leaned on Pacheco to pick up a first down late in the fourth quarter that clinched Kansas City’s 27-24 win over Buffalo.

While speaking to the media on Wednesday, the 24-year-old running back explained his mindset going into the game’s consequential final drive.

“Just knowing that situation is extremely important,” Pacheco explained. “You [normally] only get those situations in practice and when you rep it and rep it and rep it, when it comes in a game, and it happens it’s like second nature. For us just understand the scheme, understand when you did that in practice before – that’s the mindset of me getting a first down and having the [offensive line] finish on that play.”

Pacheco yearns for these types of situations when the offense controls the outcome of the game, and told reporters that he welcomes the challenge of closing out matchups for his team.

“It’s a big enjoyment, you won the game right there, it’s all said and done,” Pacheco said. “You don’t have to send the defense back out there to get a punt or just have them back out there. It eliminates that part of the game and is a big win for us.”

Pacheco will continue to be an integral part of the Chiefs’ offense, and as he continues to become a more effective and efficient runner, head coach Andy Reid will need to lean on his explosiveness and power to open up the rest of Kansas City’s offense.

Through two playoff games, Pacheco has taken 39 carries for 186 yards and two touchdowns, becoming a true workhorse back for the Chiefs.

Oklahoma Sooners Kicker Gabe Brkic named a finalist for Lou Groza award

Oklahoma Kicker Gabe Brkic was named as a semifinalist for the Lou Groza award for the third consecutive year.

The most interesting man in the Oklahoma football program is getting some national accolade. No, we’re not talking about Caleb Williams. We’re talking about the Sooners’ mustache man, kicker Gabe Brkic.

Today, Brkic was announced as a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award honoring the nation’s best kickers.

This marks Brkic’s third year in a row as a semifinalist. Only two others kickers hold the distinction of having been nominated as semifinalists three times; Wake Forest’s Nick Sciba and Nevada’s Brandon Talton.

Brkic has been excellent on the season making 17 of 20 field goals and has been perfect on his extra points this season. He is kicking at an 80 percent clip on field goals 40 yards or longer while also 5 of 6 from field goals on longer than 50 yards. His 56-yarders against Tulane and Western Carolina remain as the longest kicks of the season by any kicker in the NCAA.

He’s been clutch this season and in season’s past making game-winners like his winner against the West Virginia Mountaineers after Spencer Rattler and a struggling offense orchestrated a game-winning drive to get in Brkic’s range.

The finalists for the award will be announced on November 23rd effectively giving Brkic the rest of the Sooners regular season to make his case as one of the three finalists.  With the way the Sooner offense has been moving the ball of late, it stands to reason there will be many more opportunities for Brkic to showcase his talents.

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