Does your team's kicker crack the top 10?

Originally Published: October 14, 2008

In Week 6 alone there were six field goals made in the fourth quarter to tie or take the lead. If you have a kicker that won't buckle under pressure, you have a distinct advantage. These are the top 10 kickers in the NFL today.

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By Keith Kidd
Scouts Inc.
Archive

Many people ignore the third phase of the game -- especially the kickers -- but, truth be told, they can decide a game for you. In Week 6 alone there were six field goals made in the fourth quarter to tie or take the lead. If you have a kicker that won't buckle under pressure, you have a distinct advantage. These are the top 10 kickers in the NFL today.

Top 10 Kickers

No.	Kicker
1.	Josh Brown, St. Louis Rams He is arguably the league's top long-distance field-goal kicker, and is big-time in the clutch. Brown is very accurate, handles pressure well, and he is still young (29) with a tremendous upside.
2.	Robbie Gould, Chicago Bears He continues to be one of the more accurate place-kickers in the league. Gould has a strong leg and should continue to be effective in Chicago for years to come.
3.	Rian Lindell, Buffalo Bills He is an eight-year veteran who has great size for a kicker, and a live leg to drive the ball in poor weather conditions. Lindell shows poise under pressure and has confidence when the game is on the line.
4.	Rob Bironas, Tennessee Titans He was excellent last season, hitting 35 of 39 field goals, which earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl. He displays a strong leg on field goals and consistently gets great distance on his kickoffs.
5.	Kris Brown, Houston Texans He has developed into one of the more consistent kickers in the league with a strong leg that can be counted on for field goals of over 50 yards. Brown has a nice, easy kicking motion that gets a smooth, fluid follow-through and good extension. In 10 attempts this season, he hasn't missed a field goal.
6.	Nick Folk, Dallas Cowboys He has good leg strength with the ability to get good rise on the ball. Folk has 50-plus-yard range on field goals, and enough leg strength to drive the ball deep on kickoffs.
7.	Jason Elam, Atlanta Falcons He is the most experienced player of the group and continues to kick at a high level. He still has a strong leg and will come through when the game is on the line. We have him ranked lower because of age (38) and the fact he kicks indoors.
8.	Nate Kaeding, San Diego Chargers He is entering the prime of his career and is starting to establish himself as a very effective kicker. Kaeding would be an upgrade for most teams.
9.	Mason Crosby, Green Bay Packers He became the seventh rookie to lead the NFL in points last season. Crosby has a very strong leg and can drive the ball with good distance on kickoffs.
10.	Matt Bryant, Tampa Bay Buccaneers He has a solid leg and is consistent when kicking from inside 50 yards. He has good mechanics and does a good job of getting a quick rise on the ball to avoid blocked kicks.