Bironas’ field goals earn spot in record book

He also broke the mark for points in one contest.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Rob Bironas approaches each kick the same no matter the time of the game or the distance. He also never keeps track of how many he’s made.

That focus helped as he bounced through the training camps of three NFL teams, two Arena Football League clubs and even a short stint in af2, the AFL’s own minor league. The kicker who finally found a roster spot in Tennessee won’t soon forget his record day with the Titans.

Bironas kicked an NFL-record eight field goals Sunday, the last a 29-yard game-winner that salvaged a 38-36 win in Houston. He also had a league record 26 points by a kicker, topping Dallas’ Billy Cundiff’s 23 against the Giants on Sept. 15, 2003.

He can’t remember his previous best for field goals in a single game. For the record, that was a 4-of-4 day Nov. 27, 2005 in a win against San Francisco.

“Never really counted, but I will remember this one,” Bironas said.

Bironas, who turns 30 in January, made NFL history by connecting on field goals of 52, 25, 21, 30, 28, 43, 29 and 29 yards. A lost fumble at the Houston 20 in the first quarter and a delay-of-game penalty that backed the Titans out of field-goal range in the fourth kept him from even more.

Coach Jeff Fisher called it a tremendous effort Monday and credited snapper Ken Amato and holder Craig Hentrich along with Bironas.

“He could’ve kicked 10 field goals in this game. And 10 field goals gets you 30 points, and 30 points wins you most ball games. Who cares about red zone efficiency?” Fisher joked.

Bironas, who had Monday off, had a good start by kicking his first field goal this season from 50 yards or longer, tying the third longest of his career.

“It is bad to open the game like that, but it is always more fun to put one point on six after a touchdown,” Bironas said. “But we’ll take a field goal when we need it.”

Then he worked his way through a variety of records.

He had five by halftime, matching the franchise record for a game held by Al Del Greco (2000) and Roy Gerela (1969), and also tying him with Atlanta’s Morten Andersen (Sept. 3, 2000 against Philadelphia) and Dallas’ Chris Boniol (Nov. 18, 1996 against Green Bay) for most field goals in a half.

“Somebody told me at halftime we kicked five by then, and I knew that was something. The offense kept putting us in position to kick field goals, and I am going to go out there and do my job. I am not really thinking about how many are going up until we get back into the locker room,” he said.