Aldrick Rosas Wanted Game-Winning Chance, Got It, Delivered

When Aldrick Rosas’ 48-yard field goal sailed through the uprights Thursday night, giving the New York Giants a 40-38 victory over the New England Patriots, it seemed pretty obvious that Rosas had won the Giants’ placekicking job.

Rosas, who has never kicked in an NFL regular-season game, handled all of the kicking duties Thursday. He made all eight of his kicks, four field goals and four extra points. He finished the preseason 8-for-8 in field goals, and made a pressure kick to win the Giants a game.

Coach Ben McAdoo, however, wasn’t ready to anoint Rosas as the team’s kicker just yet.

“He did a nice job tonight. We wanted to put him through the test and see how he responded and he did a nice job,” McAdoo said. “We feel like we have two kickers that can kick at a high level in this league.”

The other is Mike Nugent, who is trying to earn a 13th NFL season. Nugent went 5-for-5 on field goals in the preseason, and made kicks of 50 and 54 yards last Saturday against the New York Jets.

Rosas got his opportunity at the game-winner after the Patriots rallied from a 34-14 halftime deficit to take the lead with :56 seconds left on a 55-yard Stephen Gostkowski field goal.

“I’m grateful for all opportunities, but I was hoping to be in a situation like that,” he said. “That was a great kick by [Stephen] Gostkowski and I was just hoping I would get another chance. Hopefully get within my range to solidify it. I was happy to come through for my teammates.”

Now, all Rosas can do is wait. It will, however, be a huge surprise is Rosas isn’t the Giants’ placekicker Week 1 of the regular season against the Dallas Cowboys.