After the Broncos won the game with the craziest ending of the season so far on Thursday night, it’s easy to forget some of the plays that set the stage earlier in the game. But one play that shouldn’t be overlooked was the third-quarter field goal by Broncos kicker Brandon McManus.
That field goal was good from 54 yards, and it would have been good from beyond 60: The ball was still well above the crossbar when it hit the net.
The 54-yard field goal by McManus was the third-longest kick in the NFL this season, and McManus also has both the longest and the second-longest field goal in the NFL this season, having made a 57-yarder and a 56-yarder last week against the Ravens. (The 54-yarder in Kansas City is actually more impressive than the longer kicks in Denver, as at Denver’s elevation a kicked football will typically travel about five yards farther in the air.)
Overall McManus is 5-for-5 on field goals and 5-for-5 on extra points this season, and of his 12 kickoffs 10 were touchbacks and the two that were brought out of the end zone were returned for an average of only 15.5 yards. He’s been about as close to perfect as a kicker can be through two games.