Sanders hopes long FGs put him on track

DAVIE — After connecting on three crucial field goals in last Sunday’s win over the Indianapolis Colts, Jason Sanders received some much-deserved accolades.

On Wednesday, the Dolphins kicker was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

In Miami’s 16-12 victory, Sanders finished 3-for-3 on field-goal attempts — all 47 yards or longer. By doing so he became the first Dolphins kicker since 1999 to make three kicks of 45 yards or longer in the same game.

With the Dolphins trailing 12-10 in the fourth quarter, the 23-year-old kicker booted a pair of 48-yard field goals to help Miami complete its comeback.

“I tried not to pay attention to the numbers,” Sanders said. “I’m going to keep my same confidence going in each kick.

“Each game, each Sunday, I’m going to go out there no matter if it’s a 45 or 30-yard kick and going to have the same mentality and same approach as any other kick.”

Sanders is the first Dolphins kicker to earn Player of the Week honors since Cody Parkey, who took home the award in Week 2 of the 2017 season. Overall, Sanders is the sixth Miami kicker to be named player of the week, joining Parkey, Dan Carpenter, Olindo Mare, Joe Nedney and Pete Stoyanovich.

After a strong rookie season in which he went 18-for-20 on field-goal attempts, Sanders suffered some early-season struggles to start 2019. Entering Sunday’s game, he was just 6-for-10, but after drilling three long field field goals he’s hoping this will turn things around.

“I think I’ve been looking for a game like this, this season,” Sanders said. “Where it’s maybe a breakthrough to get things rolling and start getting on a little streak.”

Despite some early misses this season, Sanders said he didn’t make any mechanical tweaks and is trying to stay consistent throughout the process.

“I’m coming off what I’d like to say was a good year, so I’m trying to keep [it very] simple and the same,” Sanders said. “I know it’s worked and it helped me out last Sunday.”