Monday Cheese Curds: ‘Zero flinch’ in Mason Crosby as he redeems himself on game-winner

The Packers believed in Crosby because he believed in himself.

Through 57 minutes of game time between the Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati Bengals, nobody expected that the contest would devolve into a kicking contest between Mason Crosby and Evan McPherson. But starting at the 2:12 mark of the fourth quarter, the shenanigans began, as the two place-kickers combined for five misses over the next ten minutes of game time.

Both players thought they won the game at one point, only to see the football drift wide left. McPherson even celebrated before his overtime miss from 49 yards moved and clipped the flag near the top of the upright.

But when it came time for the Packers to call on Crosby for a fourth go-ahead opportunity, he did not hesitate to say that he would hit it. It was his confidence that convinced Matt LaFleur to give him the chance to kick it again rather than leaving the offense on the field for a fourth-and-short attempt.

And of course, Crosby converted, drilling that final kick right down the middle to send the Packers to 4-1. Hopefully that positive end will erase any lingering doubts from his three missed field goals (and a doinked PAT) earlier, but then again, he didn’t seem to have any question when it was time to go out and convert.

The Packers are finding new ways to win each week. And fans should not gloss over the fact that they went on the road and beat a 3-1 team despite missing three of their starting offensive linemen, their best deep-threat receiver, their top cover cornerback, and their number one pass-rusher.

Game recap: 5 takeaways from Packers’ crazy win over Bengals in OT | Packers.com
Matt LaFleur had to see the confidence in Mason Crosby’s eyes before he was willing to put him back out to try the game-winning field goal. When Crosby showed “zero flinch,” LaFleur gave him the go-ahead.

Inside Mason Crosby’s game-winning field goal that woke him and the Packers from a nightmare – The Athletic
Here’s an even deeper look at the decision to kick instead of leaving the offense on the field on fourth-and-inches.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers moves into fifth place all-time for passing touchdowns | Packers Wire
Lost in the insanity of the end of the game is this milestone, as Rodgers passed Philip Rivers for 5th place, and the fact that Davante Adams had the first 200-yard receiving game of his career.

Bengals QB Joe Burrow taken to hospital with possible throat contusion | NFL.com
Burrow, meanwhile, took a big hit from Darnell Savage in the second quarter but returned to the game on the next series. It’s unclear whether that play is affected here, but hopefully he’ll be able to play next Sunday.

NFL Week 5 takeaways – What we learned, big questions for every game and future team outlooks | ESPN
Here’s a great look around the league’s Sunday action, which featured the Bills blowing out the Chiefs and the Bears looking competent against a Raiders team that entered the week at 3-1.

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