Adam Vinatieri has thrived kicking in the unpredictable conditions at home.
By The Associated Press

FOXBORO, Mass. – Two kicks in the snow two years ago cemented Adam Vinatieri’s place in Patriots lore. Two games after that, the only thing falling from the sky was confetti after his game-winning kick gave New England its first Super Bowl championship.

Vinatieri and the rest of the Patriots return to the playoffs on Saturday night when the Tennessee Titans come to Foxboro for a night game that will be played in subfreezing – and perhaps even subzero – temperatures. But despite his struggles earlier this season, the Patriots would have no problem if the game came down to their kicker again.

“Adam is about as consistent of a person as you could have,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Thursday. “He is a very consistent, hard working, dependable player.”

There is good reason for Belichick’s confidence.

Vinatieri proved his worth in the famous “Tuck Rule” playoff game against the Oakland Raiders on Jan. 19, 2002. The native of South Dakota kicked a 46-yarder through a blizzard in the final minute of regulation to send the game in overtime, then won it with a 23-yarder as long-snapper Lonie Paxton famously dropped to the field to make snow angels.

Last year, Vinatieri hit 90 percent of his field goal attempts, and he took a streak of 33 in a row from 40 yards or less into this year’s Oct. 5 game – against Tennessee. But he missed twice in New England’s 38-30 victory, part of a three-week span in which he went 3-for-7.

Since then, however, Vinatieri has recovered. He went 18-for-23 to close out the regular season, and two of the misses came against Houston on Nov. 23 – a game the Patriots won on his 28-yarder with 40 seconds left.

Asked how he would characterize his season, Vinatieri said: “Room for improvement.” But he also said he was more concerned with the team’s record; at 14-2, the Patriots were the best in the NFL.

“As long as we continue to win, that’s all that’s going to matter,” he said.

While other kickers might prefer to kick in a dome or warm weather to improve their percentages, Vinatieri said he realizes that any problem he faces playing outdoors in New England is causing the other team problems, too. In fact, it can be a bigger problem for the other kicker, who might not be accustomed to the conditions.

That attitude isn’t lost on Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who paid his player the highest compliment he can think of.

“He’s more of a football player than he is a kicker. He really is,” Belichick said. “He’s a football player.”

Vinatieri likes the compliment, and it fits.

Growing up, he played quarterback, linebacker, placekicker and punter. Then he got to South Dakota State, stopped getting any bigger and realized it was time to focus on one thing.

“I don’t throw the ball like Tommy (Brady). I don’t tackle like Ted (Johnson),” Vinatieri said. “I don’t know if I picked kicking as much as kicking picked me.”

Of course, Vinatieri’s Tennessee counterpart is no stranger to the cold, either. In 22 years in the NFL, Titans kicker Gary Anderson has pretty much seen it all while becoming the NFL’s career scoring leader.

Last week, the 44-year-old Anderson helped the Titans advance to the second round with a 46-yarder with 29 seconds left to beat Baltimore 20-17.

“I know there’s a big difference between a game that’s 25 and 30 degrees and when it’s down around zero,” Anderson said. “From a kicker’s standpoint, definitely it’s not ideal. The ball’s like a rock. But I’ve always taken a lot of pride in making the most of horrendous conditions.”

AP-ES-01-08-04 1801EST