A crushing, uncharacteristic, costly miss: Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn ‘really frustrated’ after flubbing short kick

HOUSTON – The routine snap fired off the fingertips of long snapper Jon Weeks. The catch and hold were normal from punter Tommy Townsend. And then something inexplicable unfolded.

A shocking, uncharacteristic and costly missed field goal from Texans veteran kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn, one of the top specialists in the game who signed a three-year, $15.9 million contract extension during free agency.

Instead of splitting the uprights on a 28-yard field goal attempt, Fairbairn pushed the chip shot wide left as a potential game-tying scoring opportunity went awry Sunday with just under two minutes remaining during a 32-27 loss to the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium.

Fairbairn was visibly emotional, collapsing to the ground in disappointment immediately after the miss. Once he got to this feet, Fairbairn slammed his helmet on the ground in frustration. The critical misfire happened on the same day that Fairbairn made his 12th field goal from 50 yards or beyond to set a new NFL record.

Fairbairn wasn’t in the locker room after the game when reporters were present. Townsend addressed the missed kick and expressed confidence in Fairbairn, who has made 28 of 34 field goals this season for an 82.4 success rate with a long of 59 yards to win a game and become the Texans franchise’s all-time leading scorer earlier this season against the Chicago Bears. The Hawaii native is 27 for 27 on extra points this season.

“Obviously, he’s really frustrated,” Townsend said. “Yeah, it’s tough. I’m going to do everything I can to help put him in a good situation and help him get back into his flow and make kicks. I’m going to do whatever that takes this week and going forward. I believe he’s one of the best kickers in the league, so he’s going to come around. Everybody knows that he is. It’s tough. It happens sometimes.”

SEE ALSO: ‘I feel a sense of calmness,’ Texans all-time leading scorer Ka’imi Fairbairn nails game-winning, 59-yard field goal

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Fairbairn is 9 for 13 on field goals in the past four games, including one kick the former Lou Groza award winner from UCLA missed against the Detroit Lions on a rare high snap from Weeks.

For his career, Fairbairn is 201 of 232 for an 86.6 conversion rate.

He made a 54-yard field goal Sunday.

“It’s just part of the game,” Townsend said. “It’s just what happens sometimes. I mean, there’s ebbs and flows all the time with everybody. There’s things I got to do better. There’s things everyone has to do better. So, I mean, it’s one of those things where we’re just going to keep working. I’m going to bring energy and look forward to next week.”

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Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.