Turron Davenport, ESPN 3y

Stephen Gostkowski regains clutch form, giving Titans much-needed stability

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- In Week 5 last season, then-Tennessee Titans kicker Cairo Santos missed four field goal attempts, leaving 12 points on the field that cost the Titans in a 14-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

They dealt with inconsistency at the position all season, shuffling through five kickers. Fast-forward to this year: The Titans are getting exactly what they need in veteran Stephen Gostkowski. It is no coincidence that the Titans are winning some of the tough, close games that would have resulted in a loss last season.

Gostkowski's latest performance in the win Sunday over the Vikings included a career-high six field goals, one of which was the winner that he nailed from 55 yards. Coach Mike Vrabel said he didn't give much thought about whether or not he should send Gostkowski in to attempt the long field goal to win it.

"Just doing his job," Vrabel said of Gostkowski. "That's all we ask him to do. Every week is a new week, and Stephen prepares. We are obviously very confident in him. Today we needed him to help us win."

The 15th-year kicker was also good from 51 and 54 yards among his last three field goal attempts. Gostkowski is 14-for-15 on potential go-ahead field goals in the fourth quarter for his career.

Last season, Vrabel wouldn't have the same level of confidence.  Tennessee made only 44.4% of its field goal attempts last season, significantly worse than the next team (Jets, 67.9%). It was the only time since 2001 that a team made fewer than 60% of its field goal attempts.

The Titans signed Gostkowski right before the season started after waiving Greg Joseph, who signed with Tennessee at the end of last season. Gostkowski is a former teammate of Vrabel's with the Patriots, who released Gostkowski on March 23 -- ending the kicker's tenure with the team after 14 seasons.

In Week 1 this season, it looked like the Titans' kicking woes weren't over after Gostkowski went o-for-3 on his first three field goal attempts. But Gostkowski has now reeled off 12 consecutive successful kicks. Over that stretch, he has made all four of his attempts from 50 or more yards.

"Obviously, I was rusty that first game. It was one of my worst games I've ever played. The worst thing you can do is change everything. You need to stick with what got you there," Gostkowski said. "It's nice to be 3-0. I had my back against the wall. It's the kind of emotions and feelings I never had before. But to keep my head down and grind and have some good results in the last two weeks means a lot."

Tennessee is 3-0 for the first time since 2008. That record would probably look a lot different if the Titans didn't have Gostkowski. The Titans have gone from a team that likely had GM Jon Robinson thinking about going another direction in the season opener to feeling extra confident in their kicker two weeks later. The ups and downs come with the position.

Added Gostkowski, "I've done this so many times. Kicking is like a love/hate relationship. When it's going good, it's really good and when it's bad, it's really tough. I try to find the fine line between not getting too high or too low. I just keep my head down to focus on what I have to do to help the team win. It's a lot more fun to be an asset than a liability."

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