Robbie Gould Must Rebound After Poor Performance
Nov 6, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants kicker Robbie Gould (5)looks on from the sidelines during the third quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

After a tough outing against his former team, New York Giants‘ kicker Robbie Gould will have to bounce back as his team looks toward the playoffs.

Robbie Gould had himself a shaky day as his new team, the New York Giants, squared off against his former squad, the Chicago Bears. Despite knocking down a 46-yard field goal attempt, Gould missed on two of his three PAT tries.

Before the game, Gould had missed on just four other PAT attempts over the course of his previous 11 years in the NFL. However, though he has been a reliable kicker in the past, with the Giants Gould has been relatively untested.

https://youtu.be/OgkVeVaIRtU

During his four games with the team, Gould has knocked down 10 of 12 PATs but attempted just one other field goal, a chip shot from 29 yards out which he converted.

Hopefully for Gould and the Giants his two PAT misses were just a matter of shaking off the rust. Before joining the Giants in London for a Week 7 game against the LA Rams, Gould had been a free agent since the preseason.

Though he dealt with 11 seasons of inclement weather in the “Windy City” of Chicago, the winds in MetLife Stadium were howling during Gould’s rough day. The heavy winds also likely contributed to Bears’ kicker Connor Barth coming up empty on a PAT attempt of his own, as well as a 51-yard field goal try.

In the end, Gould’s miscues did not cost the Giants the game, but they did come close. His second miss put the Giants up by just six and in a very dangerous position to be upset by a late Bear’s drive into New York territory. Fortunately, that drive was halted, and the game was saved by a game-sealing Landon Collins interception.

https://youtu.be/4Kln7cpDojQ

Gould’s mediocre game should not get blown out of proportion. The Giants will have no intention of moving on to their fourth kicker of the season. Gould will be the Giants’ kicker as they continue to march on towards a potential postseason berth.

However, to get there, New York will need a much more consistent Gould moving forward. The veteran’s reliable history suggests he will make that happen.