News
No one on Colts had any doubt about Vinatieri's kick
03 Jan 11
The sellout crowd filled Lucas Oil Stadium with a celebratory roar Sunday evening as Adam Vinatieri's 43-yard field goal split the uprights, lifting the Indianapolis Colts to a 23-20 victory over the Tennessee Titans.
Pat McAfee didn't need the crowd to clue him in as to Vinatieri's accuracy. The kick sounded good as soon as Vinatieri's right foot hit it.
"I can tell. It's all about the sound,'' said McAfee, Vinatieri's holder. "The way he's hitting the ball, you just know.
"I've never seen a guy kick the ball as good as Adam Vinatieri's kicking right now.''
Vinatieri knocked down kicks from 48 and 44 yards before connecting on the game-winning 43-yarder.
He has converted 17 straight and 24-of-26 on the season.
"He's hitting the ball so cleanly,'' McAfee said, "It's an awesome thing to be a part of.''
How awesome? Vinatieri's teammates were in pre-celebration mode as Vinatieri trotted onto the field.
McAfee recalled a conversation he and rookie linebacker Pat Angerer shared as they headed to the locker room.
"Pat said, 'I don't think anybody was nervous about Adam Vinatieri missing that kick,' '' McAfee said. "Believe me, I jogged on the field knowing we were going to win the game. That's a great feeling to have.''
Vinatieri insisted the distance was no problem.
"Forty-two, 43 yards, whatever it was, that is well within pretty much every kicker's range,'' he said.
"There is no such thing as an easy game-winner at any distance, but the way it came out, kind of running the time off the clock, it worked out pretty good.''
