The Cincinnati Bengals’ 2020 NFL Draft class may have more notoriety since Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins were their first two picks in that class, but their haul in 2021 can’t be overlooked either.
Sure enough, they declared Ja’Marr Chase at No. 6 overall that year, but it was a 5th-round selection that also went on to rewrite the team’s record books.
Kicker Evan McPherson has quietly established himself as the best at his position in team history. After going 14-of-14 as a rookie on field goal attempts in the 2021 postseason (an NFL rookie record), McPherson continued his play for the team.
Late in the Week 5 contest against the Dolphins, Cincinnati was in Miami territory after Jonathan Allen recovered a fumble from Malik Willis. The Bengals’ offensive drive stalled, but with two minutes remaining, head coach Zac Taylor sent McPherson out for a field goal to ice the game, but there was more at stake.
McPherson predictably hit a 26-yard field goal, putting him above former Cincinnati kicker Shayne Graham for most consecutive field goals made by a Bengals kicker. His 22 straight, dating back to last season, moves him ahead of Graham (also his mentor and fellow Florida Gator) for the most in team history.
As noted in the tweet above, McPherson was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September after a perfect three games. He continued that streak into October, despite the team going 1-1, going 5-of-5 on 50-plus-yard field-goal attempts.
Oddly enough, the record-breaker was a walk in the park compared to what was asked of McPherson in previous games. That was his only attempt against the Dolphins (save for the extra point), compared to five 50-plus attempts in the first three contests.
After a difficult 2024 season that ended early with an injury, McPherson quietly put together a great season last year. He continued that progress with a fantastic preseason, and has hit kicks from 50, 57, and 58 yards so far this year, while also being perfect on extra points.
Understandably, much of both the national and local attention goes to Burrow, Chase, Higgins, and the (somewhat) previously maligned defense’s performance. But McPherson is totally “feeling it” right now, and it’s a key to the Bengals’ march to the postseason.
Kudos to McPherson, and another tip of the cap to Graham, who has been a great kicker for the Bengals for years.