Ask any Pittsburgh Steelers fan at the end of the Hall of Fame Game who they would rather have kicking a potential game-winning field goal in the playoffs: Blair Walsh or Chris Boswell?
If they would’ve answer Boswell, they’re probably lying. But it is hard to blame anyone that would’ve rather had Walsh.
When the Steelers met the Minnesota Vikings back on Aug. 9 in Canton, Ohio, Boswell wasn’t even wearing black and gold. The Vikings had the 2012 All-Pro Walsh swinging his leg for them, while the Steelers had their most accurate kicker in team history in Shaun Suisham.
Walsh hasn’t lived up to his 2012 success, converting less than 90 percent of his field goal attempts each year since, but Suisham did. However, Walsh has given the Vikings stability, as well as a strong leg. Walsh has hit 23 field goals beyond 50 yards since he entered the NFL in 2012; Suisham made two.
Suisham had the accuracy to succeed, and Walsh the strength. But the world of a NFL kicker can be a cruel one.
During that game Suisham attempted to make a tackle covering a kickoff, and ended up suffering a season-ending ACL injury.
Garrett Hartley was signed after Suisham went down, but he too went on injured reserve after only one game. The Steelers traded a sixth round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for Josh Scobee then after, but he lasted four regular season games before being released.
Enter Boswell
Being as he was the Steelers fourth kicker through four weeks of the season there was likely skepticism that Boswell would be an improvement, especially since the first-year pro had not attempted a regular season kick in his career.
But Boswell immediately turned doubters into believers.
He converted his first 10 field goal attempts, including a Steelers rookie record four against Arizona. Boswell finished 29/32 on the season, the fourth most made in the NFL this season and his 91 percent made was the fifth highest.
When he lined up to kick a 35-yarder with 18 seconds left in the Steelers Wild Card playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals, his face remained still and focused on the yellow goal post. When the ball was snapped he took three running steps and swung his right leg to kick the ball.
No doubt about it, the ball split the upright.
Teammate Marcus Gilbert wrapped his left arm around the back of the young kicker’s head and they walked back to the sidelines.
But Walsh did not have the same good fortune a day later.
Against the Seattle Seahawks, Walsh’s first three field goal attempts gave the Vikings their only points Sunday, but it was his last attempt that was the real story.
Down 10-9 with 26 seconds left in the game, Walsh lined up for a 27-yard field goal attempt at the left hash mark. He ran forward and kicked the leather.
Wide left.
The ball may have curved because holder Jeff Locke left the laces facing Walsh, but coach Mike Zimmer said in his post-game press conference that Walsh still has to make that kick.
Wild Card weekend showed how quickly the career of a NFL kicker can change.
Boswell did win the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month Award for December, and on Saturday he showed why. The previously little-known kicker has quickly become noticed around the NFL, and converting a make-it-or-go-home-field goal added to his rising star.
Walsh, meanwhile, was considered one of the NFL’s premier kickers before Sunday. Now, he is an online meme, and could also possibly be looking for a new team.
But he’s not the only kicker that may be looking for a new team.
Thanks to Boswell’s surge, Suisham may find himself out of a job when the season ends.
The Steelers have Boswell under contract for the 2016 season, and could save around $2.5 million in cap space if they cut Suisham. Boswell is also 10 years younger than Suisham, and the Steelers may prefer to keep Boswell’s youth. At the least, Suisham will have to compete with Boswell to keep his job in 2016.
A hard possible ending for the most accurate kicker in team history.
The Steelers also have three potential games left, and if this season is any indication of the future, Boswell’s fortunes may yet still turn against him.
But he has also shown he is not intimidated by any kick, regardless of the circumstances. And that attitude may be the best quality a kicker can have.
