Boswell won this game

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – “We didn’t win this game, Boz won this game.”

Those are the words of Steelers first-year safety DaShon Elliott when asked about some of the key defensive plays in an 18-10 win in Atlanta, including his interception. He turned it to the kicker.

There is good reason, Chris Boswell became the first Steelers kicker to make three, 50+ yard field goals in one game and counted for all of the team’s scoring in the season opening win.

“Man, we all know what he is capable of,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “I don’t think anyone in that locker room is surprised about what he was able to do. As a matter of fact, he loves it. I’ve been around this guy for a long time, he wants the long ball. He’s built for it.”

“I think it’s really displayed in my confidence in him. I don’t have any hesitation to send him out there, as a matter of fact, I look forward to sending him out there because I know he relishes it.”

“Boz comes into work every day and he always tells us to put it on him,” said Steelers corner Joey Porter, Jr. “When we call his name, he makes those plays.”

The NFL’s most accurate kicker on attempts over 50 yards, 33 of 40 over his career, that is 85%. If Boswell were judged just on 50-plus yard attempts, he would be the 25 ^th most accurate kicker of all-time. Combining them all, he’s 87.5%, sixth all-time.

“It’s the same mindset I’ve always had, next kick,” Boswell said in his typical, understated way. “Good, bad, indifferent, I got to move on to the next one. Just because I made one, doesn’t mean I’m making the next. I have to stay into every single kick.”

Before he was asked about the leg that provided all of the Steelers points, Tomlin said one the vivid examples of teammates supporting each other Sunday was the leg of Chris Boswell punting for the first time in his NFL career to help the Steelers win.

With the Steelers leading by five with 3:29 left in the game, punter Cameron Johnston was knocked down by a rolling Atlanta player with a flag down. Instead of it being roughing the kicker, it was holding on the Steelers. The Falcons wanted to make whoever the back-up punter was hit one in a big moment. Boswell came in saying he really hasn’t punted since his rookie season and never really works at it. He calmly strapped up his helmet and hit a 43-yarder which was followed by an instant tackle by receiver Scotty Miller.

Even when Boswell wasn’t kicking one of his six field goals, he was still impacting the game.

“For my standards it’s good, for a punter, probably not,” Boswell said.

His standards as a kicker remain exceptional. The first field goal was 57 yards, keeping it from being a meaningless 10 play, 31-yard drive after an interception early in the game. Boswell would then hit from 51, 44, 56, 40 and 25 yards. The last field goal was with a back-up holder, Miller, who got specific advice from the veteran kicker.

“Really all I told him was wherever you put it down, don’t move it,” Boswell said. “Don’t touch it. I’ll figure out how to put it in.”

“He definitely did his thing today,” said Steelers quarterback Justin Fields. “He was kicking those long field goals for us, putting points up on the board. Late in the game, he had to punt for Cam. Just having a weapon like him on the offensive side of the ball, we only have to get the ball to the 40.”

“It definitely feels good, but we are right back on to the next week,” the ever-practical Boswell. “Whatever I do this week has no relevance to this week.”

Thing is, they’ll probably need him again in Denver. How long will he kick one in that altitude?