Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans praised Nico Collins for finding his way into the end zone and scoring a 28-yard touchdown.

He praised the defense for forcing two turnovers against Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and recording seven total sacks.

But the Texans secured a 19-13 victory in their first home game on Sunday night because Ka’imi Fairbairn could not miss.

No, literally, it’s a challenge when he can’t score easy three points no matter where he is on the court.

He has started the season perfectly and is well on his way to breaking all records this fall.

“Ka’imi is the reason we won those two games,” Ryans said late Sunday night after the game. “He’s the player of the game.”

Ryans is not wrong. Fairbairn’s consistency has kept Houston (2-0) ahead in two consecutive weeks with wins over the Colts and Bears.

It’s also a record. With Fairbairn’s 53-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, he is now the first kicker in NFL history with six field goals over 50 yards in two games.

Fairbairn, who kicked three field goals in Week 1’s win over the Colts, began the night with a 56-yard kick that gave Houston a 3-0 lead. He extended the Texans’ lead before halftime with a massive 59-yard kick that had the NRG Stadium crowd cheering and cheering well into the night.

“He was consistent, he was on the ball and he’s the reason we’re here,” Ryans said. “The kicking game is the reason we won this game today.”

Fairbairn was a top pick in the offseason after Houston won its first division title in four years. The Texans believed his best years were still ahead of them and extended his contract for three years and $15.9 million.

As with quarterbacks, finding a reliable kicker can be difficult. Often times, special teams aren’t an integral part of a team’s game plan, resulting in a carousel of kickers and punters coming in each offseason and leaving the following winter.

For Fairbarin, who is entering his ninth season with the Texans, the title of “Mr. Clutch” will reach a new level in 2024. His shortest kick to date was from 47 yards away, which should probably be considered a no-brainer.

Last week, running back Joe Mixon was named Texans Wire’s player of the game and AFC Offensive Player of the Week.

Because of his crucial role, Fairbairn was honored with the Texans Wire’s highest award.

Will he follow in Mixon’s footsteps at the national level?

This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans Wire Player of the Game: K Ka’imi Fairbairn