Cardinals’ Jay Feely caps successful homecoming with game-winning kick

Sep 30, 2013, 6:08 AM | Updated: 6:08 am

There was a time not too long ago — three weeks to be exact — that Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feely was in Bruce Arians’ proverbial doghouse.

The 37-year-old was shaky in the preseason — missed two of his eight kicks — and had a hand in the team’s 27-24 Week 1 loss to the St. Louis Rams after he failed to convert on a very makeable 50-yard kick inside Edward Jones Dome.

But that was then, and this is now.

Since his first half miss in St. Louis, the Odessa, Fla. native has made six straight kicks, including two pivotal field goals in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 13-10 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“You focus on the process not the product,” Feely said. “You don’t worry about the end result.

For Feely, whose 27-yarder with just over a minute to play proved to be the difference, the end result was a successful homecoming Sunday.

“I had a feeling I was going to hit a game-winner before the game even started,” said Feely. “Just coming home and being about four kickoffs from my high school — down the road less than a mile away — it was fun for me to go to Jesuit and visit my team and some of the coaches that I played for throughout the week.

“It was a fun homecoming to come back and have dinner with my family and see them all week. To cap it with a game-winner is perfect.”

Feely’s banner day didn’t exactly come in perfect conditions, however. Less than 24 hours before the Cardinals and Buccaneers squared off, Raymond James Stadium played host to Miami and South Florida, leaving the grass in less than desirable shape from a kicking perspective.

“There was grass out there?” Feely joked. “I remember a lot of good grass when I lived here in Tampa. When you have two teams playing on it [Saturday], it’s always going to be tough field conditions. You had rain all week, so you knew it was going to get beat up last night and it did.

“You play in the conditions. You don’t make excuses, and we were able to find a way to win the game.”

Arizona Cardinals running back Andre Ellington (38) cannot hang on to a pass as he is hit by Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back Keith Tandy (37) during the second quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco) Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) dives for extra yardage against the Arizona Cardinals during the second quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay) Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Mike Glennon celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass to wide receiver Mike Williams during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay) Arizona Cardinals running back Andre Ellington (38) runs past Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Leonard Johnson (29) during the first quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) throws a pass as he is pressured by Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Steven Means (96), right, during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay) Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Williams (19) beats Arizona Cardinals strong safety Yeremiah Bell (37) to the end zone to score a touchdown during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco) Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) is sent flying on a hit by Arizona Cardinals defensive back Tyrann Mathieu (32) and strong safety Yeremiah Bell (37) during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco) Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Mike Glennon throws a pass against the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Williams (19) celebrates after catching a first quarter touchdown pass from quarterback Mike Glennon during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco) Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Mike Glennon (8) is hit by Arizona Cardinals defensive end Darnell Dockett (90) as he releases the ball during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco) Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Dekoda Watson (56) stops Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) after a reception during the third quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco) Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feely (4) kicks what proved to be a game-winning 27-yard field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. The Cardinals won the game 13-10. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson, center, celebrates with teammates, including Matt Shaughnessy (91), Tyrann Mathieu (32) and Calais Campbell (93), after intercepting a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Mike Glennon (8) wipes his face as he leaves the field following the team's 13-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) intercepts a pass intended for Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson (83) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) Tampa Bay Buccaneers free safety Dashon Goldson (38) hits Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Jaron Brown (13) after a reception during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. Goldson was called for unnecessary roughness on the play. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco) Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Mike Glennon (8) is sacked by Arizona Cardinals Dontay Moch (50) and Frostee Rucker (98) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Jaron Brown (13) makes a catch in front of Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Johnthan Banks (27) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco) Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) celebrates with teammate Jerraud Powers (25) after intercepting a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. Buccaneers wide receiver Timothy Wright (81) walks off the field. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

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