Ranking the Kickers Remaining in the NFL Playoffs
7. Nick Novak, Houston Texans
| Stat | Score | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goal NEP | 7.43 | 18 |
| Field Goal NEP/Play | 0.18 | 22 |
| Late-Game NEP/Play | 0.38 | 19 |
Sure, Nick Novak doesn't grade out as one of the better playoff kickers this season, and his Field Goal NEP ranked him sixth out of his nine seasons, but the three seasons in which he was worse, well, he was much worse.
Novak thrice posted negative Field Goal NEP scores on 10 attempts before he caught on with the San Diego Chargers in 2011.
Unfortunately, Novak -- from 2011 onward -- had managed at least 0.42 Field Goal NEP per attempt. This year, he fell to 0.18.
He was 13 of 13 on late-game field goal attempts but just 6 of 8 on late-game extra points. With his Houston Texans as 15-point underdogs to the New England Patriots, his services may not be needed much in the divisional round
