New extra point length foils Stephen Gostkowski's epic streak
Stephen Gostkowski just did something he hadn't done since 2006.
The Patriots kicker had made 523 consecutive extra points, but on Sunday in the AFC Championship Game, he missed his first extra point since his rookie season -- and just his second ever.
Stephen Gostkowksi's extra point is WIDE RIGHT. 523 consecutive XP streak is snapped. 7-6 @Broncos lead. #NEvsDEN
— NFL (@NFL) January 24, 2016
The NFL moved the extra points back to the 15-yard line before the season to make them less automatic.
It staked the Broncos to a 7-6 lead following a strange turnover after what was ruled an incomplete pass was challenged by the Patriots and overturned into a lateral-pass fumble that New England recovered.
And in a kicker's true worst nightmare, that miss ended up mattering quite a bit. The Patriots scored a late touchdown to pull to within 20-18, meaning they had to go for two to try and force overtime rather kick an extra point. The two-point conversion attempt came up short, and the Broncos advanced to the Super Bowl.
