The New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders faced off at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Sunday in a game the Pats dominated from start to finish. New England jumped out to a 30-0 lead and ultimately walked away with a 33-8 victory. Pro Bowl kicker Stephen Gostkowski was busy all afternoon, nailing four kicks including one that seemingly travelled for an endless amount of time.
On a last second field goal to conclude the first half, the 33-year-old drilled a 62-yarder that wasn’t even close to falling short.
The ball was able to travel so far in part to Mexico City’s altitude, which is at a 7,382 foot elevation. It was determined that the pigskin was struck hard enough that it could have been made from 70 yards out (in case you couldn’t tell from where it landed).
The kick set a career high for Gostkowski, who now sits tied with Atlanta Falcons kicker Matt Bryant for sixth place on the NFL's all-time longest kicks list. The lengthiest field goal ever made was completed by current Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater in 2013, when he nailed a 64-yarder in a 51-28 home win over the Tennessee Titans. Denver also has a unique altitude which has given their kickers an advantage in the past.
Hopefully there will be another game in Mexico City so fans can once again witness a long field goal fly through the uprights.
(H/T FTW)
