-
Turron DavenportESPN
Stephen Gostkowski overcame a nightmare of a game to kick the game-winning field goal from 25 yards out with 17 seconds left Monday, giving the Tennessee Titans a 16-14 victory.
Gostkowki’s meltdown almost cost the Titans the season opener against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football. Tennessee’s win over the host Broncos was much closer than it should have been after Gostkowski missed three field goals and an extra point, leaving 10 points on the board.
Entering the game, the 15th-year veteran had never missed three field goals in one game. Gostkowski was off the mark from 47 and 42 yards and saw a 44-yard attempt blocked. He has now missed an extra point attempt in four consecutive games.
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.
While with the Patriots last season, Gostkowski made 7 out of 8 field goal attempts before being placed on injured reserve last October. The Patriots released Gostkowski in March. The 36-year -kicker underwent hip surgery during the offseason and was picked up by the Titans.
Tennessee signed Gostkowski to a one-year, $2.75 million deal in a move that was supposed to shore up its kicking game. To make room for Gostkowski, the Titans released kicker Greg Joseph 11 days before the season opener.
Per ESPN Stats & Information research, the Titans are 1-for-9 on field goal attempts over their past nine regular-season game. Tennessee made only 44.4% of its field goal attempts last season, more than 20% worse than the closest team (Jets, 67.9%). That’s also the only time since 2001 that a team made fewer than 60% of its field goal attempts
