Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell has been named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after making six field goals, three 50 yards or more, in Sunday’s 18-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Boswell was a perfect 6 of 6 on field goal attempts against Atlanta, marking the third time in his career that he went 6 of 6 in a game.
Boswell was previously named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 6 of the 2015 season and in Week 13 of the 2017 season. He also won AFC Special Teams Player of the Month (December/January) in 2015.
Boswell nailed kicks from 57, 56, 51, 44, 40 and 25 yards out against Atlanta. Boswell is the first Steelers kicker to make three field goals of 50+ yards in a game in franchise history, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Boswell is also the first kicker to make at least five 40-yard field goals in a game since he accomplished the feat in 2016 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
“I don’t pay too much attention, I mean I have memories of it, but I don’t correlate it to one game or another,” Boswell said on his past six field goal games. “It definitely feels good, but we’re right back onto the next week and whatever I did this week has no relevance to the next week.”
At a critical juncture of the fourth quarter, when punter Cameron Johnston was injured after Miles Killebrew blocked an Atlanta player into his leg, Boswell even punted for the Steelers, booting a 43-yarder with no return. Scotty Miller made a great special teams tackle on the play.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin raved about Boswell’s performance after the game.
“Can’t say enough about Boz. Not only in terms of him kicking the ball but that punt was timely,” Tomlin said.
Killebrew also gave props to Boswell for stepping up on the punt.
“Man, that was a great moment,” Killebrew said. “Boz is a true professional. To see him step up and do something so out of his scope was very impressive. I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
According to Daniel Valente of The Score, Boswell is the first player in NFL history to make six field goals and attempt at least one punt in a game.
This is Boswell’s 10th season with the Steelers. What he did in Atlanta on Sunday doesn’t surprise Tomlin at all. He expects nothing less.
“Man, we all know what he’s capable of,” Tomlin said. “I don’t think anyone in that locker room is surprised by what he was able to do. As a matter of fact, he loves it. I’ve been around this guy for a long time, man. He wants the long ball, he’s built for it. I think it’s just really displayed in my confidence in him. I don’t have any hesitation in sending him out there. As amatter of fact, I look forward to sending him out there, because I know he relishes it. So we’re thankful for that.”