Matt Stover is already eight seasons past the minimum number he expected to play in the NFL. By hitting a 47-yard field goal in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 23-19 Ravens' win over the Houston Texans, the venerable kicker, who now seems to face questions concerning his fate at the end of every season, might have clinched a 14th year.
"That field goal was huge," Ravens coach Brian Billick said yesterday. "That is exactly what Matt is here to do. It gave us the point spread we needed to ensure the win the way that we did. That's what you look for out of your veteran kicker."
Stover made all three of his field-goal attempts against the Texans. He has made his past four while also handling kickoff duties the past five games. For the season, Stover has converted on 18 of 22 field-goal tries, the sixth-highest percentage in the AFC.
He is under contract for next season and scheduled to earn $1 million, a base salary that would make him one of the highest-paid kickers in the league.
"We have to look at Matt, where he is at this stage of his career, how strong the leg is, how it's held up through the course of the year," Billick said of Stover, who turns 35 next month. "I can't conceive of Matt not being here next year.
"Matt has earned his pay this year."
Rather, the Ravens have made Stover earn every nickel of his salary by increasing his workload after J.R. Jenkins failed to keep his preseason role as the kickoff specialist.
Jenkins battled injuries as well as inconsistent kickoffs through the first nine games and was released by the team Nov. 12, then re-signed to the practice squad. Stover, meanwhile, has had nine of his 21 kickoffs (excluding an onside kick against New Orleans) received at the 5-yard line or better since replacing Jenkins on a full-time basis in what has been his most action in that capacity since the 2000 season.
Stover has no touchbacks and has reached the end zone on two kicks, once with the assistance of a 15-yard personal foul before the kickoff. The Ravens are allowing 22.8 yards on kickoff returns, the second-worst mark in the AFC.
"The only problem he's had at times is that in our division, the fields have been really soft, and all the kickers in our division have struggled on our field, Pittsburgh's field and Cleveland's field," special teams coordinator Gary Zauner said. "When you can't get a good plant, you underhit the ball or your plant foot slides, so you mishit the ball. And when that happens, it goes to the 16- or 20-yard line, and it hurts any team's coverage."
The worst of the fields might be at Ravens Stadium. Against New Orleans 10 days ago, the resodded field looked as though it were the site of a monster truck derby midway through the game. Stover, though, insists he wants to handle kickoffs, too.
"What I want to do is make sure they know I can kick off," Stover said. "I never want them to think that I cannot. I think I've proven I can. I'm not going to tell you I'm the top in the league, but also I'm not kicking in a dome or in great conditions all the time. Those are all issues when you evaluate a kickoff guy."
The Ravens might give Jenkins another shot as the kickoff specialist next season and allow Stover to focus on field goals.
Such a scenario might allow Stover to keep hitting ones like the 47-yarder against Houston that put the Ravens up 23-14 with just under seven minutes left in the game. Stover also hit a 51-yarder earlier this season, tying his Ravens career high.
"He's done a nice job, but it's unfortunate we weren't able to continue with J.R. as our kickoff guy," Billick said. "I know Matt is more than willing to do it, comfortable doing it, but kicking field goals, you need all the leg you can get. At this point in Matt's career, it would have been nice to have a kickoff guy."
The point Stover is at may be older than any of the Ravens, but it still pales in comparison to Kansas City's Morten Andersen, who at 42 is in his 21st NFL season.
If allowed, Stover would have no problems matching that.
"They are going to have to rip this jersey off of me," he said.
"By all means, I see myself kicking off and doing field goals next year. I'm thinking they are going to want me to kick off, they are going to want me to do field goals, and I'm their guy."
NOTES: The Ravens mailed out playoff ticket request forms to season-ticket holders yesterday. Remaining tickets would be available to the public Jan. 2. ... The second annual Ravens All-Community Team Auction took place last night at the stadium. The event featured memorabilia auctions, and proceeds went to the Ravens player foundations.