Tyler Bass has been in a funk statistically, stemming from last year. In the AFC divisional game against the Chiefs last year, Bass missed a field goal that could have sent that game to overtime. Instead, it essentially cost the game for the Bills. Since that loss, Bass had been bombarded with a bunch of criticism and unwarranted hate.
After that game, Bass had to delete his social media because he was getting so much disdain from the fans. Before entering this past Sunday's game against the Titans, Bass was 75% on the year (9/12) and had been missing extra points as well. This past week, the Bills signed a kicker to their practice squad who had been as inconsistent as Bass.
This was the moment that Bass felt the pressure of his job being taken from him, and he answered the call.
In Sunday's game, Bas made all 6 of his kicks (2 field goals, 4 extra points). The distance for both of his field goals are nothing to sneeze at for any kicker in the NFL, but instead of kicking and barely making the field goals and extra points, he hit them with a vengeance. They were all high up and down the middle of the uprights.
Part of Bass' newfound confidence stems from not just knowing his job was on the line, but also the home crowd in Highmark Stadium cheered on the young kicker every time he stepped on the field. This renewed version of Bass can prove all the doubters and haters wrong, and show why he was paid handsomely by the Bills. Unfortunately, there are some who take Sunday's performance as a "nothing-burger" and feel that Bass should have made these kicks anyway. That is a good point, but also, a kicker's confidence is one of the best things any team can have.
With this new confidence, Bass can replicate prior seasons where he was automatic for the Bills. This is a huge development for the Bills, and not enough people are realizing how valuable a kicker with confidence can do for this team. This can be all the difference between a win and a loss in a tight game, especially in the playoffs.