Rian Lindell had a heck of a game for a kicker that wasn't exactly thrilled with his pre-game warmup. Buffalo's kicker provided all the offensive points putting a season-high five field goals through the uprights, including the game winner, with eight seconds remaining to lift the Bills to a crucial 17-16 win.
Lindell has now hit 17 straight field goal attempts to tie Steve Christie (1994) for the longest streak in team history. But the unassuming Lindell isn't affected by much whether it's positive or negative.
When asked if he's ever put a string of kicks together like this Buffalo's kicker was matter of fact about his career long streak before lamenting his lack of success warming up prior to Sunday's game.
"No, so that's nice," Lindell said of his streak. "I haven't really been practicing as great. I didn't make them all in practice and that was disturbing to me, but as long as I make them in the games I guess."
This season Lindell has been making them in the games. He's missed just two attempts one from 54 yards and the other from 45 through 12 games and is tied for the league lead in field goal percentage (20-22, 91%).
Sunday Lindell provided the ninth game-winning field goal of his career when his 36-yard attempt was right down the middle making him 9-10 on game winners in his career.
The very accurate kicker was the beneficiary of an illegal double timeout called by the Redskins, which moved his 51-yard attempt 15 yards closer.
"It surprised me a little bit," said Lindell. "I thought, 'Wait that's 15 yards.' Brian (Moorman) even said something to them. The refs conferred and said, 'Yeah that's a penalty.'"
It was an ill-advised decision by Joe Gibbs to say the least even though Lindell's 51-yard effort was good. But Bills head coach Dick Jauron was glad to see it.
"I was happy about it," said Jauron. "Rian really hit the first one. He hit it really well. We were just praying he would hit the second one as well. That (penalty) of course it made it easier and at least you're not as worried as much. He's used to making that kick a lot."
Moments later Lindell provided the game winner. Helping Lindell was the fact that he had kicked four successfully prior to the game-winning kick.
"Having those kicks through the course of the game helps you with a rhythm," he said.
But whether the game winner was more pressure packed than any of the others, Lindell answered truthfully. The even-keeled kicker refuses to place any more importance on one kick than another.
"To me they're all the same," he said. "I take them all pretty seriously."
And knowing Lindell's approach gives Jauron all the more faith in his kicker when the game is on the line.
"You just felt good on the sideline and that's an emotional time," said Jauron. "I was very confident."
