Evan McPherson secured his fifth AFC special teams player of the week award, a huge nod from the league after he absolutely dissected Tampa Bay in Week 1. This guy didn’t just help win a game for the Bengals; he flat-out took over, hitting some monster kicks that had everyone buzzing. When you’re making plays like that right out of the gate in the regular season, people notice, and McPherson definitely made his presence felt.
Clutch Kicks Sealed the Deal Against Tampa Bay
The Bengals’ 33-27 victory over Tampa Bay in Week 1 was a tight one, and you know who showed up big when it mattered? McPherson. He was money, nailing all four of his field goal attempts. We’re talking about a 20-yard chip shot, sure, but then he started booming them from downtown: a 55-yarder? No sweat. A 58-yarder? Are you kidding me? And then just to seal the deal, a 32-yarder. He put on a clinic of range and precision.
And hey, don’t sleep on the extra points. Three for three, absolutely perfect. Those are crucial points, especially in a game decided by just six points, and he made sure every single one was on the board. This isn’t just some solid kicking performance either. This dude was in a league of his own. Think about it: only one player across the entire NFL in Week 1 hit *two* field goals from 55 yards or more. That’s absolutely wild. That kind of leg strength and accuracy? It’s rare, folks, incredibly rare, and it speaks volumes about the kind of weapon he is for Cincinnati.
Five Awards and Counting: A Specialist’s Dominance
This isn’t some flash-in-the-pan moment either. This is McPherson’s FIFTH time snatching this special teams player of the week award! That’s a serious trophy cabinet for a specialist. He’s been doing this consistently, too. Remember back in Week 13 of the 2025 season? Yeah, he was doing it then, too. It shows a level of consistency and pure clutch performance that you just don’t see every day. He’s not just good; he’s *reliably* great, turning potential struggles into points with incredible ease. This kind of consistent excellence from your kicker is a massive advantage in the NFL, helping the team stack wins even when other parts of the game aren’t perfectly clicking.
What a start to the season for McPherson and the Bengals! After a performance like that, you know other teams are taking notice and will have to plan for that booming leg. With that kind of firepower on special teams, Cincinnati is already looking formidable. Fans have to be absolutely hyped to see what else he’s got in store as this regular season unfolds.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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