Kicker Evan Mcpherson redefines Bengals’ offense

Rookie kicker Evan Mcpherson has done enough over the first 10 games of the season to shape the Cincinnati Bengals’ strategy on offense.

Mcpherson made four field goals in the Bengals’ 32-13 win over the Raiders. He tied a single-game NFL record with three field goals of at least 50 yards and became the first kicker in NFL history with six 50-or-more yard field goals in his first 10 career games.

When the game was close over the first three quarters and while the Bengals offense struggled to reach the end zone, Mcpherson was the reason the Bengals stayed in the game. He made kicks of 54, 53 and 51 yards.

“You’re looked at to make those kicks now,” Mcpherson said. “I feel like if you’re on your side of the field, there should be a really good chance you put it through.”

Early in the fourth quarter, with the

Bengals leading 13-6, Cincinnati had the ball on the 42-yard line. On 3rdand-15, coach Zac Taylor had two options. He could make an aggressive call for an unlikely first down or call a short pass to set up a long field goal.

Things were different in previous years. Randy Bullock has missed half of his career kicks from 50-or-more yards.

Mike Nugent, the Bengals’ kicker before that, made 13 of his 30 career kicks from 50-plus yards.

Mcpherson has made six of his seven kicks this year from that distance, so Taylor called for the short pass. Following a 9-yard pickup on a screen pass, Mcpherson converted from 51 yards.

“It’s nice to be in the NFL and expect your kicker to make those 50-yarders,” Taylor said. “You do have confidence when he lines up anywhere from 54 (yards) to 53 to 51 to 57, he’s going to make it. We know it’s not always going to be perfect, but we’ve got a ton of confidence in him.”

KAREEM ELGAZZAR/THE ENQUIRER Bengals kicker Evan Mcpherson (2) is congratulated after kicking a 54-yard field goal in the first quarter during a NFL Week 11 game against the Raiders last Sunday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.