Kickers are having a rough go of it through the first two weeks of the NFL season.
This past Sunday was especially bad as kickers around the league missed 19 opportunities (field goals and extra points), some of which either outright cost their team a win or played a large part in their defeat.
It just goes to show, as much attention as the rest of the players on the field get, kickers shouldn’t be taken for granted.
Here, we bring you the five biggest kicking gaffes from Week 2.
ZANE GONZALEZ
It’s been a nightmare for Gonzalez, who had his game-winner blocked in overtime in Week 1 before missing two of his four attempts and both extra points this past Sunday. The Cleveland Browns could just as well be 2-0, but instead, Gonzalez is now out of a job after being cut. It doesn’t get much worse for a kicker.
4th missed kick of the game for Zane Gonzalez. A heartbreaking loss for Cleveland. 😩 pic.twitter.com/IrtfQNGJsb
— AJ King (@allday_ajking) September 16, 2018
DANIEL CARLSON
In April’s draft, the Minnesota Vikings traded up to select the rookie kicker in the fifth round. After Sunday’s disaster, in which Carlson missed three field goals, including two in overtime that forced the Vikings to settle for a tie, Minnesota decided to move on quickly by waiving the 23-year-old. Talk about a short leash.
Reporter: What went into the decision today to let Daniel Carlson go?
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) September 17, 2018
Mike Zimmer: Did you see the game?
(via @Vikings) pic.twitter.com/na8q14v5lx
MASON CROSBY
Fortunately for Crosby, Carlson was on the other side, otherwise he would have received more heat for misfiring on a game-winning 52-yarder in overtime. It’s hard to be too critical of Crosby, as he made all five of his other field goals, along with both of his extra points, but expectations are higher for a kicker of his quality.
MIKE NUGENT
At the time, there was no way to know just how catastrophic Nugent’s blocked extra point in the second quarter on Sunday would be. It came after the Oakland Raiders went ahead 12-0, and would ultimately be the reason why they lost by a single point after the Denver Broncos kicked a game-winner in the final seconds.
CHRIS BOSWELL
Looking at a game that finished 42-37, it wouldn’t seem like kicking made a big difference, but Chris Boswell’s misses on a field goal and extra point kept the Pittsburgh Steelers from attempting a two-point conversion that would have tied the game. Boswell also missed a game-winner in overtime of Week 1.
