Green Bay Packers rookie kicker Trey Smack finally showed out this past Sunday, crushing all seven of his kicks in a massive 45-27 win over the New England Patriots. This wasn’t some quiet performance either, especially for a guy who’d missed six total kicks in October. The man stepped up, hit everything, and gave Packers fans a real reason to believe.
From Rollercoaster to Redemption: Smack’s Perfect Day
Coach Matt LaFleur wasn’t shocked, not one bit. He saw this coming after special teams coordinator Cam Achord made some subtle tweaks and Smack went to work all week in practice. “It was big time. We saw it in practice, quite honestly,” LaFleur told reporters. “We switched some things up in terms of his approach, and he was attacking the football all week in practice. He was crushing it. I think it was a reflection of his practice performance.” Dude went 7-for-7, hitting all three field goals, including a massive 51-yarder, plus all four extra points. This was only the fourth game all season, out of nine, where Smack didn’t miss a single field goal or extra point. That’s a wild stat, showing just how much of a rollercoaster this rookie year has been.
Can This Rookie Kicker Level Out For the Playoff Push?
It’s no secret that rookie kickers go through it, right? Ups and downs are part of the deal. The Packers front office has preached patience from day one, knowing Smack has the raw talent but needs to build up that mental toughness in the heat of battle. And the talent? It’s undeniable. The dude is 3-for-3 on kicks over 50 yards this season. That kind of leg strength is rare. But in the NFL, especially when you’re 6-3 at the midway point like Green Bay, every single point matters. The margins between the best teams are razor-thin, and a consistent kicker is non-negotiable. LaFleur’s squad absolutely needs Smack to hit his stride and be money down the stretch of 2026. This performance against the Patriots could be that turning point. Could he have weathered the storm and finally be ready to settle in? The team certainly hopes so.
The Packers are sitting pretty at 6-3, but they know consistency from Smack is key for the rest of the season. After this kind of bounce back, the pressure is on for him to keep that momentum rolling. Every kick from here on out feels like a statement for the rookie and this team.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply