NFL Playoff Predictions: 5 Kickers We Trust Most in the Postseason

The no-glory duties of special teams really only come into the spotlight when a game-winning kick is the finish.

Kickoffs and punts are solely for the battle of field position, but if a team has a reliable kicker, it only takes pressure off the offense to significantly win the field-position battle.

That being said, here are five kickers to trust this postseason.

Robbie Gould, Bears

Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould has been clutch for The Windy City all season long. From 39 yards and shorter he's perfect (including PATs) and from 40 to 49 yards he's missed just two kicks.

The deal-breaker comes when he lines up from 50-plus.

There, Gould has literally been gold for Chicago as he's 5-of-5 from the longest of ranges. And now with an offense that may struggle even more to reach the red zone, let alone score a TD, Gould will be called on quite a bit.

Gould's even been one of the best fantasy kickers this season, just to make him look that much better.

Dan Bailey, Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey leads the NFL with a 96.4 FG percentage and is also perfect on extra points.

Ironically his only miss was from inside 29 yards but he's a perfect 9-of-9 from 30 to 39 yards and 8-of-8 from 40 to 49 yards.

Bailey has also attempted one from 50-plus which he drilled, so the range is there too in case Tony Romo and the Boys can't reach the red zone.

This postseason he will have to be clutch for Dallas also, because Big D has just one playoff win in the last 14 years. Clutch kicking is crucial in the postseason and with everyone bringing their A-game, Bailey will do just that as well.

Sebastian Janikowski, Raiders

As if there was any doubt that the NFL's strongest-legged kicker wouldn't be on here. Sebastian Janikowski can hit from as far back as 63 yards (tied the NFL record), which he did in Week 1 at Denver.

Since then, J-Kow has added other deep kicks this season and holds a 91.7 FG percentage.

From 40 to 49 yards he's 8-of-9 and from 50-plus he's 5-of-6. Inside 40 yards he's a perfect 8-of-8 but that goes to show how valuable he truly is.

Oakland has a significant field-position advantage offensively since he can hit from 50-plus consistently. All the Raiders have to do is get just inside the opponent's 40-yard line and the Silver and Black has an automatic three points.

Perhaps the scariest part about his leg strength, though, is that the 63-yarder he put down against the Broncos had quite a bit of room left over.

Mason Crosby, Packers

Thanks to being on a team with such an explosive and consistent offense, Mason Crosby need not worry about attempting too many FGs from 40-plus yards.

However, he does have the leg strength to do so as Crosby hit from 58 yards out earlier this season. But he's also clutch from 30 to 39 yards, where he's a perfect 10-of-10.

That's the crucial area for Crosby also, because for as well as the Packers move the ball, defenses do stiffen up once inside their own red zone. And since Green Bay makes so many trips, that also increases the number of times they have to settle for FGs as well as scoring TDs.

Therefore, Crosby will continue to be kicking from around that range quite often as the season progresses and into the playoffs. All that being said though, he shouldn't worry about being in a game-winning situation, as no defense will slow down the Packers offense.

Matt Bryant, Falcons

Atlanta's Matt Bryant is somewhat in the same position as Green Bay's Mason Crosby, but just not to the same extent.

The Falcons offense knows how to move the ball well and at a balanced pace. However, they do get shut down inside the red zone on occasion though, because they have no WR that can out-leap any defenders on a fade.

Julio Jones may be that guy soon, but he's not that guy yet. Hence, Bryant has kicked 12 FGs from 20 to 39 yards and is perfect. He's also 5-of-6 from 40 to 49 so even if the drive stalls before the red zone, three points are coming.

And with a 95 percent FG percentage, that ranks him No. 3 in the NFL to go along with perfection on PATs. When Atlanta makes the playoffs, his foot will be vital to the Dirty Birds moving forward.

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