Dramatic endings to the primary two NFL divisional-round playoff video games final weekend didn't escape the eye of Rams kicker Matt Homosexual.
The day earlier than the Rams performed the defending Tremendous Bowl-champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Tennessee Titans with a last-second discipline objective. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Inexperienced Bay Packers the identical manner.
“You’re pondering, ‘There’s no manner that one other one occurs,’” Homosexual stated, “however you sort of need it to occur once more.”
It occurred.
Homosexual’s 30-yard discipline objective as time expired despatched the Rams into the NFC championship sport towards the 49ers on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
Homosexual’s discipline objective was a very powerful particular groups play of the 12 months for the Rams, who seem to have solved particular groups points that plagued them throughout a lot of the season.
And the timing couldn't be higher.
The 49ers defeated the Rams twice this season, together with a 27-24 additional time victory on Jan. 9 at SoFi Stadium that ended with Robbie Gould’s game-winning discipline objective.
It was the third time within the final three seasons that Gould beat the Rams with a late discipline objective.
Towards the Packers, Gould’s 45-yard discipline objective as time expired gave the 49ers a 13-10 victory that featured two different important particular groups performs by the 49ers.
Jimmie Ward blocked a field-goal try on the ultimate play of the primary half, stopping the Packers from taking a 10-0 lead. Within the fourth quarter, Jordan Willis blocked a punt and Talanoa Hufanga scooped the ball and returned it for a landing that tied the rating and set the stage for Gould’s game-winning kick.
The Rams may not require particular groups performs that dramatic to defeat the 49ers for the primary time since 2018. However they can't afford to revert to committing miscues that hounded them early within the season.
These included a snap that bounced off punt protector Nick Scott and was recovered in the long run zone by the Indianapolis Colts. Or failing to get well an onside kick and falling for 2 faux punts by the Detroit Lions. Or Homosexual bouncing kickoffs out of bounds.
When particular groups coordinator Joe DeCamillis was employed, he stated the Rams have been on the lookout for a kick returner who might “ring the bell and drop the ball over the objective line.”
In November they discovered one once they signed Brandon Powell to the observe squad.
Powell confirmed his potential on a 65-yard kickoff return in a victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He made his mark late within the season by returning a punt 61 yards for a landing in a playoff-clinching victory towards the Minnesota Vikings.
Within the victory over the Buccaneers, Powell returned three punts, together with one for 21 yards and one other for 33 yards that helped arrange a landing.
Veteran punter Johnny Hekker additionally seems to have regained his All-Professional kind. In a wild-card victory over the Arizona Cardinals, Hekker positioned a number of punts contained in the 10-yard line. Towards the Buccaneers, he positioned one punt on the five-yard line and averaged 42 internet yards per kick.
Particular groups progress and enchancment is the results of a collective effort, Scott stated.
“One of many issues that we’ve been doing an amazing job of is simply wanting again at what we’ve carried out, and what we are able to do higher and actually taking that personally and making use of it on the sphere,” he stated.
Homosexual’s efficiency on field-goal and extra-point makes an attempt was the lone fixed particular groups optimistic in the course of the common season. He made 32 of 34 field-goal makes an attempt and was 48 of 49 on additional factors. He was voted to the Professional Bowl for the primary time.
Homosexual kicked two discipline objectives within the wild-card victory over the Cardinals. Towards the Buccaneers, he made makes an attempt from 26 and 40 yards earlier than lacking a 47-yard try within the fourth quarter that may have elevated the Rams’ result in 30-13.
Teammates instantly inspired Homosexual, saying they have been going to want him. Snapper Matthew Orzech went additional, telling the kicker, “’Hey, it’s going to come back all the way down to you,’” Homosexual stated.
“It was sort of time to let that one go and look into the chance that was going to come back,” he stated.
The Buccaneers took benefit of Rams fumbles, and quarterback Tom Brady introduced again his workforce from a 27-3 deficit to tie the rating with 42 seconds left.
Homosexual, anticipating that the Rams would transfer into field-goal vary, started kicking balls right into a internet on the sideline. He thought receiver Cooper Kupp would possibly rating when he hauled in a 44-yard cross from Stafford, however Kupp was tackled on the 12-yard line.
Stafford received the Rams lined up, took the snap after which spiked the ball with 4 seconds left, bringing on Homosexual.
“Strolling onto the sphere, a pair guys gave me a bit nod, a bit gesture similar to, ‘You bought this,’” Homosexual stated.
Homosexual’s kick accomplished the dramatic victory.
“Particular groups got here out and executed the best way they’ve carried out so many occasions this 12 months in big-time moments for us,” Stafford stated of Homosexual’s kick. “It was enormous.”
For the Rams to defeat the 49ers and advance to Tremendous Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium, particular groups should proceed to come back up huge.
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