The attention is on Tom Brady, but let's not forget Stephen Gostkowski

Brady is in his 18th season and will play his eighth Super Bowl, and everything seems to be focused solely on the quarterback because he is the important piece of the Patriots' offensive chess. But behind those spectacular numbers is Stephen Gostkowski.

The kicker has 12 seasons with the team, has participated in four Super Bowls and has won two of them, and this year he was the team's leading scorer and second in the NFL with 156 points. But the contribution of the Patriots' number 3 has gone somewhat unnoticed in the conversations.

Perhaps it is thought that everything will be resolved with Brady's arm (as happened in the previous Super Bowl) or with the defense (as happened in the duel against Seattle three years ago?

"Our focus is on doing our job, on coming to practice and doing our best to be prepared for Sunday," the kicker commented. "To be honest, I don't think about how much attention they give me or how much they talk about me. I enjoy every game the same and I have enjoyed every moment of this year, and I'm enjoying everything now, I don't attach importance to other things."

Gostkowski arrived at the Patriots in 2006 to occupy the position that Adam Vinatieri had occupied, who played an important role in the team's history after defining two Super Bowls.

Perhaps that's what keeps Gostkowski a little out of the spotlight, as he has not had the opportunity to be the one responsible for defining the winner in the NFL title games he has participated in.

"Normally you remember the games you lose or the ones you fail in more, wins are very satisfying but sometimes they fade away when they pass. The games you lose where you fail tend to hurt, but obviously, the Super Bowls I have been in have a very special place. We'll see what happens in this one, let's see if I don't have to come in at a defining moment," Stephen commented.

In the season, the kicker hit 37 of his 40 attempts in the regular season and 45 of the 47 extra points, while in the playoffs he only has one field goal (in two attempts), going 8-8 in extra points.

As the third most veteran player on the team (after Brady and James Harrison), Gostkowski knows what he has to do. Knowing the challenge ahead, he has no doubts about what he must do at every moment of the game.

"One of the keys is to stay focused on what is happening, not waste energy on other things but be attentive to what happens on the field," he commented. "When (the offense) gets close to the point where I could come in, that's when I start focusing on what I might face, that's when I start preparing and mentally preparing for what's to come and what I have to do."

Stephen experienced the two losses against the Giants and the victories against Seattle and Atlanta, having a good taste in his mouth with a perfect record, hitting all three field goals he kicked and the eight extra points.

GOSTKOWSKI IN THE SUPER BOWL

Super Bowl GFGM XPM

XLII 0-0 2-2

XLVI 1-1 2-2

XLIX 0-0 4-4

LI 2-2 0-0

Total 3-3 8-8

*GFGM: Field Goals; XPM: Extra Points Made

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