i get a kick out of you

conference championship!

Jan 29, 2023

A number of kickers who have had successful NFL careers will be free agents this off-season:

Robbie Gould (40 years old)
Matt Prater (38 years old)
Mason Crosby (38 years old)
Greg Zuerlein (35 years old)
Matt Gay (28 years old)

Something all those kickers have in common? As far as I know, they all have five toes, unlike former Eagles kicker, Tom Dempsey.

“Tell Stumpy to get ready.”

Because of a congenital defect, he had a partial right foot and four missing fingers on his right hand.

His custom made shoe was $200 (equivalent to $1,333 in 2020). It generated controversy about whether such a shoe gave a player an unfair advantage.

"Unfair, eh? How 'bout you try kickin' a 63 yard field goal to win it with 2 seconds left an' yer wearin' a square shoe, oh yeah, and no toes either."

When an analysis of his kick was carried out by ESPN Sport Science, it was found that his modified shoe had offered him no advantage. In fact, it was found that the smaller contact area could have increased, not reduced, the margin for error.

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Numbers

40: Championship Sunday separated by 40-degree temperature difference.

2: The Eagles defense has the second-least EPA (Expected Points Allowed) allowed on passing attempts with motion.

14: For the first time in NFL history, each team enters Championship Sunday with at least 14 total wins this season including the playoffs:

Eagles: 15-3
49ers: 15-4
Chiefs: 15-3
Bengals: 14-4

10 [TRIVIA]: Going into today, Patrick Mahomes is tied for 10th overall in playoff Touchdowns with 30. Who’s he tied with? BONUS: How many of the top 10 QBs can you name?

Quotes

“You can say it is just another game, but there’s a lot on the line. All of our goals and dreams are in front of us. We want to do everything we can to accomplish that, so it is a little different.”

The 49ers have departed to Philadelphia. Brock Purdy was the last to speak

"You used him to get Davante to come to Las Vegas.”

Michael Irvin

"I wouldn't say it's surreal. Winning is expected."

Bengals QB Joe Burrow on whether it's surreal he's reached the AFC title game in both of his full NFL seasons

“Each drink we had, the more we realized that we’re going to get in trouble because our wives expected us back two hours ago, so I would love to have more opportunities like that.”