New York Giants - kicker Dominic Zvada
New York Giants - kicker Dominic Zvada | Cooper Neill/GettyImages
It's been a minute since I've revisited Dominic Zvada's quest for New York Giants history as the franchise's potential single-season rookie scoring king, and maybe even the all-time scoring king. That's what happens when you have a bachelor party, and then the G-Men go on a bye the next week. Priorities, people.
But I am so back and officially returning to history watch. And wouldn't you know it, Zvada-matic decided to welcome us back by putting on an absolute clinic against the Philadelphia Eagles. And it's not lost on me that the last time the G-Men won in Philly, 13 years ago, Josh Brown accounted for all 15 points in a 15-7 victory. Apparently, beating the Eagles in their own backyard requires a kicker who's ready to carry the offense.
After a brutal three-game stretch of connecting on just four of nine attempts, including a 0-for-2 showing against Houston in Week 7, the undrafted rookie spent the bye week getting back to basics. Head coach John Harbaugh never wavered in his confidence, and Zvada rewarded him Sunday by going 4-for-4 on field goals and 1-for-1 on extra points. Thirteen of New York's 19 points came courtesy of his right leg.
Talk about repaying your coach for keeping the Big Truss.
Dominic Zvada Giants rookie scoring record tracker: Week 10 update
I've been keeping tabs on two records all season: Ali Haji-Sheikh's 127-point rookie scoring mark from 1983 and Jay Feely's franchise-record 148 points from 2005. And after Sunday's performance, consider Zvada a whisk, because the 23-year-old's right back in the mix.
Here's where our three kickers stood through Week 9 of their respective seasons:
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Kicker Season Points through Week 9 FGs through Week 9 XPs through Week 9 Final points
Jay Feely 2005 84 19 27 148
Ali Haji-Sheikh 1983 64 16 16 127
Dominic Zvada 2026 64 17 13 136 pace
Zvada is now tied with Haji-Sheikh's nine-week scoring total, although Feely still has a seemingly untouchable 20-point lead (the extra points are killing Zvada).
With 64 points through eight games, the rookie is averaging eight per contest, putting him on pace for 136 over a full 17-game season. That would clear Haji-Sheikh's record by nine points, even if Feely's mark stays a little further out of reach.
And while the rookie scoring record is still very much in play, Zvada continues to build on another piece of Giants rookie history.
His first-quarter 53-yard moonshot was his sixth made field goal from 50-plus yards this season. For reference, Ali Haji-Sheikh was previously the only rookie kicker in franchise history to make one from that distance, and he did it twice -- both from 56 yards. Zvada has already tripled that total with nine games still to play.
But he wasn't finished with the 53-yarder. He also drilled two 49-yarders and a 38-yarder, helping the Giants snap their 13-game losing streak in the City of Brotherly Love. Considering how things went against the Texans, you couldn't have scripted a much better response.
Next up is a Week 10 rematch with the Washington Commanders, who somehow managed to turn a should-have-been game-winning field goal into a 27-27 overtime tie the last time these teams met in Week 5. Watching Commies quarterback Jayden Daniels scramble in bounds with the clock running out and no timeouts remaining was certainly a choice. Dan Quinn's headset -- and hot seat -- still probably haven't recovered.
As for Zvada, his job is simple: keep racking up the points, keep Harbaugh's trust, and keep putting pressure on those franchise record books. The Zvada-matic history watch is officially back in the New York Groove.