Week 6: Chad Ryland, Arizona Cardinals
/Arizona Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland, who played at the University of Maryland, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Player of the Week after his strong performance lifted the Cardinals to an 18-16 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Ryland made all six of his field goal attempts, punctuated by a 43-yarder as time expired, accounting for all of the Cardinals’ points to snap a four-game losing streak.
“Our special teams has been really good all year. They’re an edge for us for sure,” Arizona Coach Mike LaFleur said. “I never want to see six kicks again unless they’re extra points. But if you’re going to kick it, you might as well make it.”
Ryland also connected from 34, 30, 22, 38 and 27 yards. The Rams had taken a 16-15 lead with 47 seconds left, but the Cardinals drove into field goal range one more time and Ryland finished his day to remember by treating the game-winning kick like each of his other attempts.
“We’re just trying to go 1-0 every kick,” said Ryland, who made three game-winning kicks last season. “The more we can stay in that mindset and focus on our process, resetting each time … it’s monotonous, but it works.”
Ryland, in his third year with the Cardinals and fourth year in the NFL, is 12 of 14 on field goal attempts this season. He is known for his strong leg, having made 10 of 11 attempts of more than 50 yards.
“Chad is a stud,” LaFleur said.
