The Atlanta Falcons got the monkey off their backs on Sunday by winning their first playoff game since 2004, and kicker Matt Bryant deserves much of the credit. Bryant connected on all three of his field goal attempts against the Seattle Seahawks, including a game-winning 49-yarder as time expired.
Bryant was clutch all throughout the regular season, converting 33-of-38 field goals and helping the Falcons earn the top overall seed in the NFC playoffs. But the game-winner against Seattle was arguably the most important kick of his career, which is why Bryant says he had to channel his inner “Happy Gilmore” as he lined the kick up.
“I’ve tried to approach every kick the same way — the nerves, the emotion and everything else, it’s definitely there leading up to the game,” Bryant told WCNN in Atlanta on Monday. “For kickers, I think you have to be able to manage the situation, and once you step out across those white lines it’s kind of like a twilight zone and you go to a different place. You go somewhere else. It’s kind of like Happy Gilmore, you just try to go to a happy place.”
Chubbs would be so proud. Whatever Bryant did, it worked. And if it was a happy place that he found, he may need to find it again this weekend when the Falcons take on the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game. Putting three points on the board against a defense like San Fran’s is crucial any time you have the opportunity.
Thanks to Sports Radio Interviews for transcribing the interview
