See the place Evan McPherson's six field-goal recreation ranks in Bengals historical past – Cincinnati Enquirer

BALTIMORE − Evan McPherson is not simply taking part in effectively for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2025. McPherson’s taking part in his method towards being thought-about probably the greatest kickers in Bengals historical past.
McPherson’s proven that all through a marketing campaign through which he is 23-for-26, the three misses coming in windy situations or from document distances. However he is underscored the scope of his 2025 success over the past two video games, and particularly on Thanksgiving Night time towards the Baltimore Ravens.
Dealing with the Ravens at at a frigid, breezy M&T Financial institution Stadium, linked on a single-game career-best six subject targets, connecting from distances of 31, 42, 24, 33, 52 and 42 yards with no miss. It marked probably the greatest single-game kicking performances in Bengals historical past.
Within the first half of the eventual 32-14 win, McPherson supplied 4 essential subject targets at a time when the offense frequently stalled within the purple zone in Joe Burrow’s return from harm.
Within the second half, Burrow settled into the sport however McPherson was nonetheless known as upon so as to add two extra subject targets, padding a more-comfortable Cincinnati lead. By the ultimate whistle, McPherson was 6-for-6 and, mixed with two profitable extra-point conversions, tallied 20 factors within the recreation. McPherson has 96 factors in all of 2025, so about 21% of his scoring this season occurred within the win towards Baltimore.
“The offense picked it up within the second half with a few of the touchdowns, and Evan McPherson developing large with six subject targets on a day that’s not an ideal day,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor stated. “It’s a chilly day. It’s a little bit windy. I believed he hung in there and did an amazing job for us.”
Just one kicker in Bengals historical past, Shayne Graham, ever had extra subject targets (seven) and extra factors (21 versus McPherson’s 20) in a single recreation. And coincidentally, Graham notched each data towards the Ravens (Nov. 11, 2007).
“By no means. By no means really feel like I had the chance to hit six,” McPherson stated. “Really feel prefer it’s type of uncommon… My leg is drained.”
What McPherson completed was loads uncommon. Solely 11 kickers in NFL historical past made extra subject targets in a single recreation. Louisville-native and former Tennessee Titans kicker Rob Bironas holds the all-time, single-game document for subject targets (eight). Graham and 9 others hit seven.
Six subject targets in a recreation is a more-common feat, however nonetheless out of the extraordinary. Just one different Bengals participant had ever six profitable subject targets in a recreation. Northern Kentucky native Doug Pelfrey notched hit six subject targets versus Seattle on Nov. 6, 1994.
McPherson’s 2025 success goes far past the Bengals’ most up-to-date out. 5 days previous to his Thanksgiving Night time kicking clinic, McPherson on Nov. 23 nailed a franchise record 63-yard field goal at Paycor Stadium towards the New England Patriots. On the time, the 60-plus-yard make appeared to underscore McPherson’s year-over-year transformation again into one of many NFL’s finest at his place.
That sentiment was additional underscored once more in Baltimore.
Kicking is a specialty place in soccer, however groups with elite ones can have a determined benefit. McPherson is affording Cincinnati that luxurious proper now.
Mainly, if the Bengals want a late subject purpose, the offense solely must get the ball to the midfield brand in an effort to give McPherson an opportunity. Different NFL golf equipment must get their kicker to their opponent’s 35-yard line or nearer.
In 2024, backup kicker Cade York’s inconsistency compelled Taylor to desert subject targets as a practical consideration in some moments. Suffice it to say we’re a great distance from the circumstances that necessitated York being a member of this Bengals staff. Campaigns like this by McPherson give the Bengals the personnel stability to know they do not have to fret about that side of particular groups.
McPherson has it taken care of.
“It is a whole lot of enjoyable,” McPherson stated. “God’s given me an incredible reward to kick a soccer and I am going on the market each time to make use of that reward successfully. We had been simply capable of come via after we wanted to.”
In Sept. 2014, former Enquirer sports activities reporter Richard Skinner ranked the top-5 single-game performances by Bengals kickers. The checklist was revealed within the days following a memorable day for former kicker Mike Nugent, the Ohio State product who hit 5 subject targets in a Sept. 7, 2014 recreation (Nugent twice kicked 5 subject targets in a single recreation, by the way in which).
Skinner ranked Nugent’s efficiency No. 4 on his checklist. Pelfrey’s 6-for-6 recreation was No. 3 and Graham’s seven field-goal outing was solely No. 2.
Skinner ranked Pelfrey’s Dec. 24, 1999 efficiency No. 1 on his list, and possibly for the novelty of that recreation. Pelfrey someway made two kicks within the span of three seconds to tie after which improbably win the sport for Cincinnati. Here’s how “Skinny” described the sequence:
“The Skinny: Within the regular-season finale at Riverfront Stadium, the Bengals trailed the Philadelphia Eagles, 30-27, when Pelfrey tied the rating at 30 with a 22-yard subject purpose with three seconds left. Pelfrey’s ensuing squib kick was muffed by the Eagles and recovered by the Bengals with a second remaining. Pelfrey then booted a 54-yarder as time expired to offer the Bengals a 33-30 victory. Pelfrey kicked 4 subject targets within the recreation.”
All of that is subjective, after all. And Pelfrey delivering two clutch kicks within the remaining three seconds of a recreation is an extremely uncommon achievement. It would be exhausting to prime that, and the identical needs to be stated for Graham at No. 2. However it’s very reasonable to say McPherson belongs someplace on this checklist.
Let’s have a look at how the remainder of the season performs out for the Bengals and McPherson. The Enquirer seems to be overdue for top-five re-rank and replace.

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