In the last seconds of Saturday night's NFL playoff game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Los Angeles Chargers, Jaguars kicker Riley Patterson pulled a cross necklace out from under his shirt, kissed it and displayed it on top of his jersey before delivering the game-winning field goal.
After making the kick of his life, Patterson took his necklace off and held it up in front of the media's cameras in an ostensible display of giving thanks for the win to God. According to the Washington Examiner, NBC and other news outlets quickly cut away from his celebration, with many people on Twitter taking note of the timing.
"WHATS REALLY CLUTCH ABOUT RILEY PATTERSON'S GAME WINNING FIELD GOAL IS HIM IMMEDIATELY REACHING FOR HIS CROSS TO GIVE ALL GLORY TO GOD," Houston Christian Football tweeted. "WHATS SAD IS THE CAMERAS AVOIDED LETTING THAT MOMENT OCCUR. LIKE A SOLDIER ON MISSION HE JUST BROUGHT THE CROSS TO THE PODIUM -Matthew 5:16."
One Twitter user, in response to Turning Point USA contributor Jon Root's post about Patterson's cross raising, said they'd "never seen a game winning kicker get so little time on camera afterwards."
"Riley Patterson not getting any love from NBC," another wrote. "No interview for his clutch FG. I'm guessing because he pulled out his cross and was giving credit to God. They wouldn't show it on camera."
Newsmax has reached out to NBC for comment.
Patterson's 36-yard kick sealed a historic 27-point comeback for the Jaguars, one of the biggest in NFL history.
Signed off waivers from Detroit on Aug. 31, Patterson began the season by making 14 of his first 18 field-goal attempts but missed a conversion against the New York Giants and then missed two of three field-goal attempts at Kansas City, according to USA Today.
He didn't lose confidence, however, and merely went back to work.
"This is a big moment for him," Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said. "For him to make that kick, under the circumstances is great for him and his career. I'm proud of him for battling through a little bit of a shaky start. He's really been locked in at the end of the year and there's nothing greater than making a kick at the end."
This isn't the first time Patterson has publicly referenced his Christian faith. In 2020, he talked about having a "greater purpose" in life during an interview with Sports Spectrum.
"Having a constant relationship with God, that's the salvation that I have," Patterson, who was playing for the University of Memphis at the time, said. "Football is not the biggest thing in my life. It may seem like that from your friends and from your family, but there is a much greater purpose that I have in my life than just being a kicker."
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