The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs emerged victorious in one other nail-biter on “Sunday Evening Soccer,” claiming a 19-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers to clinch their ninth straight AFC West title and hold their sights on the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed.
Placekicker kicker Matthew Wright stole the highlight with a game-winning discipline purpose that hit the upright earlier than bouncing by means of. The pressure-packed second was simply one other alternative to depend on his meticulous preparation and psychological self-discipline.
“I simply attempt to do the identical routine I do each time,” Wright instructed reporters after the sport. “Say the identical phrases in my head — and simply attempt to deal with being as routine-based as potential.”
The 31-yard try — hardly totally different than an extra-point kick — drifted to the left because it approached the goalposts. Among the many thousands and thousands watching, Wright wasn’t the one one who thought it may not undergo.
“It’s not good,” Wright recalled of his response to the ball’s trajectory. “I wished it to go proper down the center, clearly — however I’m simply blissful it went in.”
After the ball’s dramatic “doink” off the left upright, the gang surrounding GEHA Subject at Arrowhead Stadium erupted — though you couldn’t show that from Wright’s account.
“I’m certain I’ll look again and see it,” he stated, “however I don’t keep in mind that in any respect.”
Wright does, nevertheless, keep in mind that preparation for these game-deciding moments is the important thing to a placekicker’s success. That’s why he sticks to a constant routine.
“[I] simply keep within the internet so long as potential,” he defined, “attempt to do a kick on third down, after which get able to run out on the sector. I knew we have been going to name a timeout, so I used to be simply within the internet till the timeout — after which ran out.”
Wright denied that the group had been cautious to run its closing kneel-down so the try could be constituted of his most well-liked hash mark.
“Actually, we didn’t speak about that,” he revealed. “If it’s that quick, I ought to make it irrespective of the place it’s.”
The placekicker’s journey to Sunday’s high-stakes second has hardly been typical. Over his five-season profession, he’s worn 9 totally different NFL uniforms and had multiple stint with three totally different groups — together with the Chiefs. It has typically been a dizzying expertise.
“Yeah, a bit of bit,” admitted Wright. “However my spouse’s tremendous useful in simply giving me confidence going ahead. I’ll simply attempt my finest to maintain making my kicks — and simply stick round.”
Regardless of the challenges of his profession, Wright feels immense satisfaction in contributing to Kansas Metropolis’s success — and enjoys the moments when preparation meets alternative.
