Stephen Gostkowski appreciation thread

[ctpatsfan77]

Three kicks, including the game-winner.

And on kickoffs:

BUF –5, touchback
BUF –4, touchback
BUF –6, touchback
BUF through EZ, touchback
BUF –7, returned to BUF 12
BUF through EZ, touchback

 

[patchick]

Have to be impressed with zero returnable KOs. (The one "return" was an accident.)

 

[JFK]

A lot of kickers seem to be kicking touchbacks

 

[PatsDeb]

I was worried, but he came through, right down the middle. Thanks Ghost. And why the $$%%##@@ didn't we kick the FG on the play where Brady fumbled the snap? Stupid hubris, BB, stupid, stupid, stupid.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

MUCH better than pre season

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I was worried, but he came through, right down the middle. Thanks Ghost. And why the $$%%##@@ didn't we kick the FG on the play where Brady fumbled the snap? Stupid hubris, BB, stupid, stupid, stupid.

To be fair, the odds of converting that, historically, have been well over 50% for the Patriots.

 

[Sciz]

To be fair, the odds of converting that, historically, have been well over 50% for the Patriots.

Assuming the plan was to sneak, then it's been somewhere around 90%, and 100% in the regular season since 2005 or something crazy like that.

 

[PatsDeb]

To be fair, the odds of converting that, historically, have been well over 50% for the Patriots.

But it was the 3rd quarter and would have put us ahead by 2. Still think it was stupid, stupid, stupid.

 

[Banjo]

If he missed that last kick, we would be cursing his name and running him out of town

 

[patsinthesnow]

CT, i've been critical of Gost alot. Fantastic day for him, he was huge in the win.

 

[wizwor]

Can't fathom the pressure he was under. Made me appreciate old stud AV. I must be getting old...everything reminds me of something...

 

[ctpatsfan77]

But it was the 3rd quarter and would have put us ahead by 2. Still think it was stupid, stupid, stupid.

To each his own. All I'm saying is that given the choice between up 2 (which only takes a score) or up 6 (which requires a TD), I wouldn't bat an eyelash there at that decision.

 

[Froob]

I was worried, but he came through, right down the middle. Thanks Ghost. And why the $$%%##@@ didn't we kick the FG on the play where Brady fumbled the snap? Stupid hubris, BB, stupid, stupid, stupid.

right call imo. we get that most of the time. just because a play didn't work doesn't mean its a bad call. if pats convert that play are you complainng? I say this with all due respect not trying to sound like a prick.

 

[PatsDeb]

To each his own. All I'm saying is that given the choice between up 2 (which only takes a score) or up 6 (which requires a TD), I wouldn't bat an eyelash there at that decision.

If it was the 4th quarter I would agree. However, it was too early in the game to give up a sure 3 pts.

 

[PatsDeb]

right call imo. we get that most of the time. just because a play didn't work doesn't mean its a bad call. if pats convert that play are you complainng? I say this with all due respect not trying to sound like a prick.

I don't think you sound like a prick, Just a difference of opinion. It was too early to give up those 3 pts. We would have been down by only 1 with an entire quarter to go. We are lucky it didn't come back to kill us (it almost did). Yes, I was yelling before the snap, "what the hell are you doing?"

 

[pats4life12]

I really thought he was going to miss it but he came threw which the clutch field goal.

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

I didn't mind the call to go for it. It actually was a four-point game at that point, not a one-point game, which I think makes a real difference. Either you get 7 or you put the Bills in position to start on their one foot line where safety, turnover, and conservative play leading to great field position all are in the equation even if you don't score. Unfortunately, the Patriots did the only thing you absolutely cannot do if you go for it.

 

[cstjohn17]

The Ghost

Great game by Ghost, that 48 yarder at the start was a way to set the tone for the year.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Re: The Ghost

No doubt he came through in a big way yesterday when so many players were screwing up out there.

It's strange with Ghost, but whenever he does have bad misses (IIRC) they really have never cost us any games in particular except for AZ last year. Usually in games like yesterday where every kick was absolutely vital he nails them. Again, I might be remembering wrong but in his entire career I can think of exactly one game where he cost us (AZ), and even in that game he hit some pretty long FG's just to keep us in it.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: The Ghost

No doubt he came through in a big way yesterday when so many players were screwing up out there.

It's strange with Ghost, but whenever he does have bad misses (IIRC) they really have never cost us any games in particular except for AZ last year. Usually in games like yesterday where every kick was absolutely vital he nails them. Again, I might be remembering wrong but in his entire career I can think of exactly one game where he cost us (AZ), and even in that game he hit some pretty long FG's just to keep us in it.

That is correct. The ARI game was the first one where any misses by Gostkowski would have made the difference between winning and losing.