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News |
January 1, 2007
Stover
legs it out in win
by
Edward Lees
Veteran
kicker provides all Ravens offense with four field goals. On the eve
of a new year, Matt Stover felt like he was caught in a time warp.
The 17th-year kicker, who turns 39 on Jan. 27, converted four field goals,
providing the brunt of the scoring in the Ravens' 19-7 victory over the
Buffalo Bills at M&T Bank Stadium yesterday.
Stover chuckled when he was reminded that the franchise used his leg in a
similar fashion en route to the Super Bowl championship in the 2000
season.
"That's really what it came down to, putting up enough points on the
board," Stover said. "We need to put touchdowns on the board,
but 19 points was enough to get them. I'll kick field goals all day long
if that's what it comes down to. I'm happy to do it."
Stover converted field goals in each of the first three quarters, staking
the Ravens to a 9-0 lead. His 29-yarder with 4:48 left in the fourth
quarter closed out the scoring and cemented the team's hold on the No. 2
seed in the AFC playoffs and a first-round bye.
Stover's four-field goal showing was his third of the season -- he kicked
four in a 28-6 win against the Oakland Raiders on Sept. 17 and four more
in a 26-20 triumph over the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov. 5 -- and the 19th
of his career. Stover has also registered five field goals in a single
game five times.
Unlike previous years, however, Stover has been handling extra duties as
he has been kicking off for the Ravens.
Stover took over the kickoff assignment from rookie punter Sam Koch, who
pulled his quadriceps before the Ravens' victory over the Cleveland Browns
on Sept. 24.
Stover credited special teams coach Frank Gansz Jr. with helping him ward
off exhaustion.
"I've learned how to maintain and not get too tired," Stover
said. "These next five days will be really good for me, too."
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