EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Count Ravens kicker Matt Stover in as one who cheered, albeit silently, when the New York Jets won the overtime coin toss.
Stover may not have let out a yell, as many fans at Giants Stadium did, but he realized that the Jets receiving the ball would give the Ravens the option to kick with the wind rather than against it.
The strong breeze allowed Stover's 42-yard field goal midway through the period to sail through easily, giving the Ravens a 20-17 win and continuing a top-notch season for Stover. The veteran kicker has missed just one of his 17 attempts (coming from 50 yards out).
"First of all, I wanted to lose the toss," Stover said. "I knew the defense would hold them, and that is exactly what they did. There was substantial wind out there, and with Kyle [Boller] holding, I wanted to be able to kick a 20-yarder if I had to, and it came down to 42 yards and I still kicked it 20 yards because that's the way the wind is blowing."
Boller replaced usual holder Dave Zastudil, who left the game with a hurt left shoulder after a punt in the second quarter.
Although Boller bobbled an earlier snap on an extra point and another of Stover's extra points hit the upright before tumbling in, the change was negligible on the game's biggest play.
"I held in college, so it wasn't a big deal at all," Boller said.
That sentiment was essentially how Stover approached his first game-winning field goal this season.
"Every kick is a big kick in this league," Stover said. "Last week against the Browns, all four of those field goals were big and ended up being the difference in the game. Game-winner or first-quarter kick, you have to hit them all."
It was a banner day all around for Stover, who also had to handle the kickoff duties for the first time this season and sent two kicks - in the same direction as the field goal - sailing into the end zone.
Kickoff specialist Wade Richey was a game-day inactive.
"[Richey] accused me of having a fresh leg, so what can I say?" Stover said.
Next for Ravens
Matchup: Dallas Cowboys (3-5) vs. Ravens (6-3)
Site: M&T Bank Stadium
When: Sunday, 1 p.m.
TV/Radio: Ch. 45/WJFK (1300 AM), WQSR (102.7 FM)
Line: Off the board
Series: Ravens lead 1-0
Last meeting: Ravens won, 27-0, on Nov. 19, 2000, at Baltimore
