Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Relying On A Kicker

We've seen it before, a kicker wins a game for a team that has fought hard; a kicker puts one through the uprights in order to win a game where the defenses were tough and the offenses almost irrelevant, which is often the norm for a Steelers/Ravens game; and may be the same for this upcoming AFC Championship game. 

Surprisingly, the kicker was the one who decided the Jets/Colts game, with Nick Folk winning it for the Jets; and by the way, the Jets have beaten both Peyton Manning and Tom Brady to get where they are now.

This is the same game the Jets lost last year; however, with an upgraded offense, as well as a different look on defense, these Jets come into the game with a more mature roster, as well as a better (regular-season) winning record than in 2009 (9-7 in 2009, 11-5 in 2010).

Still, with two great defenses on the field, points will be earned the hard way; the Jets will play the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field, where it already is tough enough for kickers; then, add into the equation that Folk's inconsistencies are infamous, and the ending of this game could be quite a ride.

Folk had a horrible 2009 campaign with the Dallas Cowboys, and was waived two games before the playoffs after missing a kick in each of the Cowboys' final 6 games; the decision maker may have been a 24-yard miss on December 19, late in the season against the New Orleans Saints.

As a fan, you never want to see a game decided by a kicker (unless you're a fan of the winning team), but with two of the best defenses in the league facing each other in the biggest AFC game-to-date this year, we may end up seeing which kicker will put their team over the top.

And the kicker is...

Shaun Suisham (Steelers Kicker) 2010 Stats

FG Attempted
FG Made
FG %
Longest
15
14
93.3
48

Nick Folk (NY Jets Kicker) 2010 Stats

FG Attempted
FG Made
FG %
Longest
39
30
76.9
56

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