KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) — The Kansas City Chiefs were able to hang on and eke out a victory against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
It came down to the leg of rookie kicker Spencer Shrader, who delivered in the pressure moment, nailing a 31-yard field goal as time expired to secure a 30-27 victory.
“The biggest emotion in that moment is gratitude, for the opportunity and just happy that I was able to go out and perform for the team,” Shrader said. “I just wanted to come in and do my best for the team for as long as I’m here.”
Shrader has performed well during Harrison Butker’s absence. The Chiefs signed him off the New York Jets practice squad. Butker was placed on Injured Reserve last week due to a left knee injury that needed arthroscopic surgery.
Preparation was the key for Shrader coming through in big moments like today, who said he knew a situation like this would eventually come.
“I knew that I’d be getting an opportunity, so I just tried to stay calm, understand that it was going to come at some point and when it did come, I was ready.”
Shrader said the people on team have helped him adjust to his new role and ready him pressure situations like today.
“It’s been a whirlwind for sure, but I think the thing that helps in that situation is that I’m around a group of true professionals,” Shrader said. “I couldn’t be around a better group, a better team, like everyone reaching out trying to get you as comfortable as possible to set you up for a situation like this.”
Prayer and simplicity are the two things Shrader went to help keep him in the moment when he was called on to win the game.
“I really try to simplify what I’m thinking about,” Shrader said. “As a team, we were kind of reflecting on Philippians 4 in our bible study: Do not be anxious about anything, but instead pray about everything.
“So really it was a combination of just kind of staying calm, continuing to pray in that instance and then just simplifying everything and understanding that it’s just snap, hold, kick.”
Shrader made all three of his field goal attempts from 25, 41 and 31 yards and all three of his extra point attempts against the Panthers.