Daniel Carlson sets impressive kicking record with game-winning FG

Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson. Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders' Daniel Carlson sets impressive clutch kicking record with game-winning FG

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 1/10/22

Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson was one of the team's most reliable players through a wild rollercoaster of a regular season. But it was his game-winning kick against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday that has really cemented him as a picture of consistency.

DANIEL CARLSON FOR THE WIN.

What a way to end the 2021 season! #LACvsLV #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/LpERrW7WQ6
— NFL (@NFL) January 10, 2022

By the conclusion of Sunday's 35-32 overtime victory for the Silver and Black, Carlson had converted 40 of his 43 field goal attempts on the season, tying him for the second-best FG percentage among kickers with 40-plus field goals over the last 80 years.

#Raiders PK Daniel Carlson made 40-of-43 field goals this season (93.0%), the 2nd-best FG pct among the 3 kickers to make 40 field goals in a single season in the last 80 years (2005 Neil Rackers went 40-for-42 (95.2%) and 2011 David Akers went 44-52 (84.6%)). @ESPNStatsInfo
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) January 10, 2022

The Colorado native also set an NFL record all his own thanks to his clutch performances late in games in 2021.

What a stat for Raiders K Daniel Carlson: he went 9-for-9 on lead changing field goal attempts with less than 2 minutes to go in the 4th quarter or in overtime this season, the most in a single season in NFL history.

Money in the bank.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 10, 2022

Carlson's kick was also, of course, what helped Vegas punch its playoff ticket, making them the third team of the week to sneak into the playoffs at the eleventh hour.

The Raiders, Steelers and 49ers all won in OT and clinched playoff berths in their season finale.

Since 1990, that had never happened more than twice in a whole season - let alone a single week pic.twitter.com/9Snz03e8SE
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 10, 2022

The Raiders will play the Bengals in the Wild Card round on Saturday, January 15.

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