New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe had really struggled heading into their week 6 matchup against the New England Patriots, converting just 66% of his field goal attempts. This raised concerns about his consistency and reliability. However, he responded well to the rough start, delivering when the Saints called his number.
Grupe was one of the few bright their 25-19 week 6 loss against the New England Patriots, finishing the afternoon a perfect 4/4. His reliable leg kept the Saints within striking distance, accounting for the majority of their points. His flawless performance, demonstrated why the team continues to trust him in crucial moments.
After his perfect day, Grupe is now up to 73.7% on the year. He spoke to the media about the work that he and Saints holder Kai Kroeger and long snapper Zach Wood put in during the week, to patch up their mistakes. "We were working on some little stuff and it’s nice to see us go out there and take care of business and see results”
Grupe’s momentum crucial for Saints success
Grupe is looking to carry his momentum from week 6 over into the rest of the season. The Saints have relied on him heavily this season due to their struggles to finish drives with touchdowns. As a result, Grupe leads the NFL in field goal attempts, with 19 through six weeks. Moving forward, his performance will be key as the Saints aim to improve their offensive efficiency and capitalize on scoring chances.
With the offense searching for consistency in the redzone, Grupe’s role is expected to remain pivotal moving forward. So it is important that he uses his strong performance as a confidence boost, helping him stay focused and continue building on that success. It is important for a young kicker to maintain rhythm and mental toughness and so far Grupe has shown that.