Stephen Gostkowski overcame a one-game nightmare to pitch the winning 25-yard basket with 17 seconds left on Monday, giving the Tennessee Titans a 16-14 victory.
Gostkowki’s collapse nearly cost the Titans the season opener against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football. Tennessee’s victory over host Broncos was much closer than it should have been after Gostkowski missed three field goals and one extra point, leaving 10 points on the board.
“It’s difficult. It’s part of the position; it’s a very fickle position,” Gostkowski said. “It’s definitely an opportunity I deserved, but I’m thankful I got it for the team and the guys who went out there and broke their ass. I really put them in a tough spot. “
Entering the game, the 15-year veteran had never missed three field goals in a single game. Gostkowski was off the 47 and 42 yard mark and saw a 44 yard attempt blocked. He has now missed an extra point attempt in four straight games.
“You don’t always have that chance to have a chance to redeem yourself,” Gostkowski said. “But I’m just glad the guys got to celebrate. I’m disappointed in myself, embarrassed and frustrated; but at the end of the day we won, and luckily the guys are happy to come home. . “
Gostkowski joined former Chicago Bears kicker Cody Parkey, who is now with the Cleveland Browns, as the only kickers in the past 10 seasons to miss four kicks in a win.
With the Patriots last season, Gostkowski made 7 of 8 field goal attempts before being placed on the injured reserve last October. The Patriots released Gostkowski in March. The 36-year-old kicker underwent hip surgery in the offseason and was picked up by the Titans.
Tennessee signed Gostkowski to a one-year, $ 2.75 million contract in a move that was supposed to bolster his kicking game. To make room for Gostkowski, the Titans released kicker Greg Joseph 11 days before the season opened.
“I just arrived and I come here and I play like this,” said Gostkowski. “That guys still support me and always have my back was kind of cool. And that’s what’s cool about team sports – you win and lose as a team. Obviously a position like mine, all the world sees it when you’re wrong. That’s why I was grateful for the opportunity in the end – because guys deserve to win. “
According to ESPN statistics and news research, the Titans are 1 to 9 in field attempts in their last nine regular season games. Tennessee only made 44.4% of their field goal attempts last season, more than 20% less than the closest team (Jets, 67.9%). It’s also the only time since 2001 that a team has made less than 60% of their field goal attempts.
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