Packers: The “Kickmason” – In Appreciation of Mason Crosby
Packers kicker Mason Crosby has been one of the best in the NFL for the majority of his career. His performance to this point during the 2020 season proves he’s still on top.
The Green Bay Packers somehow found themselves trailing the Indianapolis Colts by three with only 82 seconds remaining in the game. Once up by as many as 14, Green Bay needed to cover at least 60 yards to give kicker Mason Crosby a chance to tie the game up at 31 a piece and send it into overtime.
Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ offense did just that and the ever reliable Crosby split the uprights in half. The Colts would ultimately win the game in overtime, but Crosby once again proved his worth to the Packers.
Green Bay’s 2020 season has played out like a rollercoaster ride through 10 games with exhilarating highs being matched with crushing lows. Dominant performances from the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, and Jaire Alexander have been marred by ugly losses to the Colts, Minnesota Vikings, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The golden sheen of the Packers’ second-ranked offense – according to Football Outsiders’ offensive DVOA stat – has often been left pockmarked by their poor pass rush and special teams performances as well as the front office’s unwillingness to go out and grab more talent.
Despite this, the Packers remain atop the NFC North at 7-3 in no small part due to one of the game’s unsung top performers. Mason Crosby has remained a pillar of stability amidst all of the team’s inconsistencies and frustrations.
Crosby has aged like a fine wine since Green Bay selected him out of the University of Colorado with the 193rd overall pick way back in 2007, an anomalous showing during the 2012 season – in which he connected on a meager 63.6 percent of his 33 field goal attempts – notwithstanding.
He became the Packers’ all-time leading scorer during the 2015 campaign, but father time has been nice to the 36-year-old future Hall-of-Famer; the 13-year veteran is enjoying arguably the best season of his career during 2020, proving that the times aren’t all bad (just mostly).
Crosby ranks among the best kickers in the NFL during both kickoff and field goal/extra point situations. He’s currently on pace to set career-high numbers in field goal percentage (100 percent; 13/13), touchback percentage (73.3 percent), average yardage per kickoff (65.0), and approximate value (5), according to Pro Football Reference.
Green Bay has often been hampered by the play of their special teams unit this season, but the strong play of Crosby has prevented their performance from being an abject disaster. Games are often decided by the strength of one’s kicking and in Mason Crosby, the Green Bay Packers have arguably the best in the business.