NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Ka’imi Fairbairn calmly set his mark Sunday, lining up his cleats and distance from the football in his traditional routine before a field goal.
The stakes were extremely high as the Texans’ kicker prepared for a pivotal kick. What didn’t change about Fairbairn were his fundamentals and mentality.
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In his first game back from injured reserve after straining his right quadriceps and being sidelined for five games, Fairbairn booted a 54-yard kick through the uprights in overtime for the game-winning field goal in a 19-16 comeback victory over the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium.
Fairbairn made all four of his field goals from 23, 27, 53 and 54 yards and an extra point to account for 13 of the Texans’ points as he was activated Saturday and rejoined the kicking operation of long snapper Jon Weeks and holder Cameron Johnston.
“I think part of being in my position as a kicker is you have to welcome those situations and those pressure kicks and not resist them and execute when you need to,” said Fairbairn, who received the game ball from coach DeMeco Ryans following the game inside the Texans’ locker room. “You build that confidence through a lifetime, throughout the season.
“I’ve got a lot of good teammates, especially Weeks and Cam who do such a good job. It’s such a thankless job. that was electric, fun environment. Let’s do that again.”
Fairbairn won the game in overtime for the third time in his career and the first time since an Oct. 7, 2018 win over the Dallas Cowboys by the same 19-16 margin of victory.
#Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn on his game winner @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/ZWMxJrQ1LF
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) December 17, 2023
This marks the seventh time in his career that Fairbairn, a former Lou Groza award winner from UCLA, has made four or more field goals.
“Man, we know Kai can kick it, so that’s all we were preaching,” said Texans running back Devin “Motor” Singletary, who had a 34-yard touchdown run wiped out by a holding penalty on wide receiver John Metchie III. “Just get across midfield. If we can’t get a touchdown, give him a chance. And we gave him a chance and he came through for us.”
The final kick was set up by a 41-yard catch-and-run from Singletary off a Case Keenum pass.
Fairbairn entered Sunday having made 18 of 19 field goals with one of his top seasons interrupted by the leg injury
The Titans called a timeout before the field goal to try to ice Fairbairn. It didn’t work as they intended, though.
“I hit the game-winner, but a lot of plays were made by a lot of different guys,” Fairbairn said. “It was a team win. I’m just thankful to be a part of it.”
Being away from the game rehabbing was a difficult time for Fairbairn. He maintained his patience and diligence to get healthy again and didn’t look rusty in the slightest Sunday.
“It felt like a long time,” Fairbairn said. “I’m just thankful to be back with my teammates. We’re going to enjoy the victory, but we have a lot more to play for.
“It was massive against a division opponent, Tennessee Titans, who are a very good team, in a tough environment, but we came together and pulled through. We had a lot of injuries. It was fun to get this victory.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.