Nick Folk celebrates the seventh game-winning field goal of his career Monday night. Photo by Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
When Nick Folk hit a 48-yard game-winning field goal earlier this season, New York Jets coach Rex Ryan said, “We’re going to see it again, I’ve got a feeling.”
Yep. Like a month later.
Folk, the former Arizona Wildcat, hit the seventh game-winner of his career Monday night, putting a 43-yarder through the uprights on the final play to lift the Jets to a 30-28 win at Atlanta.
Folk’s name might not be the first to come to mind among the NFL’s elite, but the seventh-year pro is 8 for 8 this season and is one of the most clutch kickers in league history.
Here’s the stat:
Folk has made 93.8 percent of his fourth-quarter field goal attempts (45 of 48) in the regular-season and postseason. He has drilled all three of his attempts from 50 yards in such situations.
During his Arizona days, Folk was known more for his big leg than his accuracy, hitting 63.8 percent of his career field goal attempts. He did earn first-team All-Pac-10 honors … as a punter during his senior season, when he averaged 44.0 yards.
But he was an immediate NFL hit with Dallas as a rookie before moving on to New York after three seasons. Six of his game-winners have come with the Jets since the start of the 2010 season.
Here is the full list:
FOLK’S GAME-WINNING NFL KICKS
| Date | Field goal | Time left | Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 8, 2007 | 53 yards | 0:00 | Cowboys 25, Bills 24 |
| Nov. 7, 2010 | 30 yards | 12:42, OT | Jets 23, Lions 20 |
| Jan. 8, 2011 | 32 yards | 0:00 | Jets 17, Colts 16 (playoffs) |
| Sept. 11, 2011 | 50 yards | 0:27 | Jets 27, Cowboys 24 |
| Sept. 23, 2012 | 33 yards | 6:04, OT | Jets 23, Dolphins 20 |
| Sept. 8, 2013 | 48 yards | 0:02 | Jets 18, Buccaneers 17 |
| Oct. 7, 2013 | 43 yards | 0:00 | Jets 30, Falcons 28 |