If a player makes history, they win the weekly accolade.
Ka’imi Fairbairn’s game-winning 59-yard field goal over the Buffalo Bills was just the cherry on top of a record-setting day in the Houston Texans’ 23-20 win over the Buffalo Bills.
In the third quarter, Fairbairn drilled a 47-yard field goal to put Houston up 20-3. That kick made the longtime kicker the franchise’s all-time leader in points.
“This is a special one,” Fairbairn said postgame. “I don’t take it lightly. A guy I definitely have to shout out is Jon Weeks. He’s been with me every step of the way, every single snap.
“A stat like that doesn’t happen without everybody involved. Offense, defense, special teams, everyone was coming together. I’m happy, it’s incredible.”
THE KICK IS GOOD. TEXANS IMPROVE TO 4-1! #HTownMade pic.twitter.com/4282BlhX4J
— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024
Eight years into his NFL career, Fairbairn is aging like fine wine. Kicks back in the 2018 season would seem out of reach are now becoming common themes while keeping Houston’s potential path to a No. 1 seed in the AFC alive.
This season has been all about the Fairbairn field goals. In Week 2’s win over the Chicago Bears, he drilled a 59-yarder to bail out the offense. Last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars, his 30-yard poot punt went right down the middle.
On Sunday, Fairbain was perfect once more, making attempts from 50 yards, 47 yards and the game-winning from the H for “The H.”
KING KA’IMI 🤙
Ka’imi Fairbairn is now the franchise's all-time leading scorer 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/RYbZF8TRoq
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 6, 2024
“We already know what Ka’imi’s capable of,” said receiver Tank Dell. “He’s a great kicker and he did what he had to do. He did his job. Congratulations to him.”
If the season were to end tomorrow, Fairbairn would be Houston’s Most Valuable Player. He’s currently missed one field goal from over 50 yards and has a success rate of 90 percent. Fairbairn also is a perfect 7-of-7 in attempts at NRG Stadium.
“I was taking my padds off,” defensive back Jalen Pitre said of the kick. “I knew he was going to hit it. We see it every day in practice so I knew.”
The #Texans have a lot of faith in kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn. Take this Jalen Pitre answer after @WillKunkelFOX asked him what was going through his head before the 59 yard (!!!) game winner.
“I was taking my pads off. I knew he was gonna hit it.”#HTownMade | @espn975 pic.twitter.com/TgvxGr3W4l
— Paul Gallant (@GallantSays) October 6, 2024
For that reason, plus the ice in his veins when asked to drill long shots of what seems like easy money, Fairbairn is Texans Wire’s Player of the Game for Week 5. This is the second time he’s taken home the hardware from us this season, making him the first multi-winning recipient.
It probably won’t be the last, either.
