Falcons kicker Bryant closes on Andersen’s record

Falcons kicker Matt Bryant needs four points Sunday against the Packers to break Morten Andersen’s franchise record.

Bryant scored 12 points Sunday against the Chargers to bring his Falcons career total to 803 points. Bryant, 41, has been the team’s kicker since 2009.

“He provides a lot of value to how to prepare,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. “One of the lines he would tell you is in practice you treat every kick the same. You don’t change (because) this one is shorter or this one is longer. It’s those kind of tricks that allow someone to be as mentally strong as he is and perform at a really high level for a long time. The guy is an extremely mentally tough competitor.

Andersen scored 806 points for the Falcons during two separate stints: 1995-2000 and 2006-07.

Bryant had a chance to tie Andersen’s record Sunday, but his 58-yard attempt at the end of regulation brushed against the upright. It would have been Bryant’s longest field goal since he made a 62-yard attempt for the Buccaneers during the 2006 season.

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