Matt Gay delivered a kicking performance for the history books on Sunday afternoon, and the Indianapolis Colts, operating without starting quarterback Anthony Richardson, stunned the previously unbeaten Baltimore Ravens on the road at M&T Bank Stadium.
Gay drilled four field goals of 50-plus yards, becoming the first kicker in NFL history to do so in a single game. He made five field goals in total, the fifth coming via a 53-yarder in overtime, and Indianapolis completed the comeback over the Ravens, 22-19.
Matt Gay becomes the first kicker in NFL history to make four 50-yarders in a game, burying a 53-yarder to win, 22-19.
— Joel A. Erickson (@JoelAErickson) September 24, 2023
For Gay, it was a performance that provided early justification for the money the Colts gave him this offseason. Indianapolis signed Gay to a 4-year, 22.5 million dollar contract in a historically large contract for a kicker.
The #Colts are signing kicker Matt Gay to a four-year, $22.5 million deal. Biggest ever deal for a kicker in free agency and most money over three years for a kicker on the deal negotiated by @davidcanter and @NessMugrabi https://t.co/W9DJIytUWe
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 14, 2023
Gay's first field goal of the afternoon was his easiest, a 31-yard chip shot to give the Colts a 10-7 lead. Early in the second half, Gay and the Colts extended the lead to 13-7 with a 54-yard bomb that quieted a rowdy Baltimore crowd. In the fourth quarter, Gay tacked on two more long-range field goals to tie the NFL record. Both came with the Colts trailing. First, down 14-13, Gay drilled a 53-yarder with 11:22 to play in the fourth quarter.
In the final minutes, trailing 19-16, Indianapolis quarterback Gardner Minshew orchestrated a 28-yard drive in 44 seconds, getting his red-hot kicker within striking range. And once again, Matt Gay delivered. He was pure from 53 yards out, tying the game at 19-19. When Gay's counterpart, Justin Tucker, missed a 61-yarder for the Ravens, the game headed to overtime (after the Colts opted not to give Gay a 67-yard field goal attempt for the win as time expired).
The overtime period, like much of the game, was a sluggish offensive showing. Both teams punted and turned the ball over on downs, before the Colts earned their third possession of the extra period. Taking over at their own 47, the Colts only needed one first down to get Gay into range. Zack Moss broke off a 13-yard run to start the drive. After three more Moss runs, netting five yards, Indianapolis sent Gay out for an encore that the home Baltimore crowd would have prefered not see. Lining up from 53 yards one more time, Gay again delivered a no-doubter, sending Indianapolis home with a big-time upset victory.
MATT GA-ME WINNER.
? CBS pic.twitter.com/eiQmhQ61U8
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 24, 2023
The Colts improved to 2-1 with the victory, while the Ravens suffered their first loss and fell to 2-1.
