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 nicely for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2025. McPherson’s taking part in his approach towards being thought-about the most effective 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 circumstances or from document distances. However he is underscored the scope of his 2025 success over the past two video games, and particularly on Thanksgiving Evening towards the Baltimore Ravens.
Dealing with the Ravens at at a frigid, breezy M&T Financial institution Stadium, related on a single-game career-best six area objectives, connecting from distances of 31, 42, 24, 33, 52 and 42 yards with out a miss. It marked the most effective single-game kicking performances in Bengals historical past.
Within the first half of the eventual 32-14 win, McPherson offered 4 essential area objectives at a time when the offense regularly stalled within the crimson zone in Joe Burrow’s return from damage.
Within the second half, Burrow settled into the sport however McPherson was nonetheless referred to as upon so as to add two extra area objectives, 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 number of the touchdowns, and Evan McPherson developing massive with six area objectives on a day that’s not an ideal day,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor stated. “It’s a chilly day. It’s just a little windy. I believed he hung in there and did an excellent job for us.”
Just one kicker in Bengals historical past, Shayne Graham, ever had extra area objectives (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 sort of uncommon… My leg is drained.”
What McPherson completed was loads uncommon. Solely 11 kickers in NFL historical past made extra area objectives in a single recreation. Louisville-native and former Tennessee Titans kicker Rob Bironas holds the all-time, single-game document for area objectives (eight). Graham and 9 others hit seven.
Six area objectives in a recreation is a more-common feat, however nonetheless out of the unusual. Just one different Bengals participant had ever six profitable area objectives in a recreation. Northern Kentucky native Doug Pelfrey notched hit six area objectives 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 Evening 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 greatest 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 area purpose, the offense solely must get the ball to the midfield emblem with a view 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 area objectives 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 crew. 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 number of enjoyable,” McPherson stated. “God’s given me a tremendous present to kick a soccer and I am going on the market each time to make use of that present successfully. We have been simply in a position to come by way of once 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 printed within the days following a memorable day for former kicker Mike Nugent, the Ohio State product who hit 5 area objectives in a Sept. 7, 2014 recreation (Nugent twice kicked 5 area objectives 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 perhaps for the novelty of that recreation. Pelfrey one way or the other 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 area 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 present the Bengals a 33-30 victory. Pelfrey kicked 4 area objectives within the recreation.”
All of that is subjective, in fact. And Pelfrey delivering two clutch kicks within the ultimate three seconds of a recreation is an extremely uncommon achievement. It might be onerous to high that, and the identical needs to be stated for Graham at No. 2. But it surely’s particularly reasonable to say McPherson belongs someplace on this checklist.
Let’s examine 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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