Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker came through in the clutch once again on Sunday.
Butker hit a game-winning 51-yard field goal as time expired to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals by a 26-25 final score. It was one of two kicks he made during the game and he is a perfect 4-4 to start the season.
Once the Chiefs got into field goal range on the final drive of the game, they immediately ran the clock down to three seconds rather than trying to get more yards for an easier attempt, showing the unwavering confidence they have in Butker. The success Butker has had in high-pressure situations starts with his practice habits, as he described in detailed to reporters after the game.
"I think I feel like I always say this, but during practice I try to put a ton of pressure on myself," Butker said. "And coach Reid, coach Toub, they do a great job with that. But, if I can make my set of eight kicks on Wednesdays and Thursdays for a Sunday game, those feel like game winners. And if I can make my 10 kicks going both ways during pregame warm up, they feel like game winners. And when I get to a game-winning moment, nothing different should happen. You know, I shouldn't surprise myself by hitting a bad or a good kick. You know, it should be the exact same. But, I think what when you are driving down the field for a game-winning kick, my focus is going to be greater than any other kick that game. I mean, it's hard not to be more dialed in. So, I would expect to have a better kick for a game-winning kick, to be more dialed in and locked in for that moment."
Butker also talked about how he stays focused and ready during long periods of not kicking.
"When you're on the sidelines, you're not able to see ball flight, right?" Butker said. "You're kicking into a net. You don't know where it's going. So, one thing that I changed a couple 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. And then mentally, I just try to put a lot of pressure on myself, you know. And then again, when you have coach Reid standing behind you for every single kick, and we don't have music during that period, so the whole team's watching. It's kind of awkward silence, and it's just you, and are you making your kicks or not? There's nowhere to hide. And you know, I think that prepares me really well for game days."
That level of preparation from Butker is part of why he is now the undisputed best kicker in the NFL. No other kicker is as consistent or has made as many high-stakes field goals over the past few seasons. The Chiefs rewarded Butker with a record-setting contract extension during the offseason as they lean on him for many more years to come.
Related: Chiefs HC Andy Reid gives injury update on RB Isiah Pacheco after he exited late in the Week 2 win vs. Bengals
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