Charlie Smith made a career-high 57-yard field goal as the New Orleans Saints extended their winning streak to four games with a 34-26 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
The 24-year-old from County Down was listed as “doubtful” play because illness cut his practice time in preparation, but he recovered from an early miss and converted his next six kicks as the Saints improved to 6–10 on the season.
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Smith, who set a Saints franchise record with five successful field goals in a single game against the New York Jets last week, began his full NFL career with a 56-yard catch in a Week 13 loss to the Miami Dolphins and matched that distance at Nissan Stadium in Nashville before converting a yard deep in the third quarter.
“I thought Charlie did a really good job,” Saints head coach Kellen Moore said.
“There was some wind in this game and he had to navigate different elements.
“Two really big kicks, long kicks, so I thought Charlie had some really good stuff.”
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The former Gaelic footballer's day started slowly as he missed a 43-yard field goal in the first quarter as the Saints struggled to get going.
However, he recovered and tied his career hit in the second to get his team on the board, but the Titans held a 20-10 lead at the half.
Smith's second successful extra point after Chris Olave's touchdown pass from Tyler Shaw brought his team within three, and after the Titans returned a field goal, the Mayobridge native touched down at 57 to set a new personal best.
It wasn't the longest drive of the day, as Joey Slye converted from 58 yards out to give the Titans a six-goal lead, but Smith gave his team the lead for the first time in the game with a Kevin Austin touchdown conversion midway through the fourth quarter.
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The fourth successful PAT followed Audric Estime's 32-yard rush to the end zone, leaving the Titans needing a late touchdown and two-point conversion to force overtime, but the Saints held on.
Kellen Moore's team will close out the season with an NFC South Division matchup on the road against the Atlanta Falcons next week.
