PITTSBURGH – Through all the Steelers' ups and downs in the past few seasons, one player they haven't had much to kick about is Jeff Reed.

Coming into Sunday's season-opening game with Tennessee at Heinz Field, the kicker had made 17 consecutive regular-season field goals.

Reed converted two kicks of 44 yards and 27 yards to stretch his streak to 19 and to tie Gary Anderson's team record set in 1994.

"Obviously, when you put Gary Anderson's name and my name in the same bucket, it's a little bit different because I'm still trying to establish my identity," Reed said. "I think it's great, but the No. 1 thing is we won."

Punter Chris Gardocki, who has a streak of his own as he has never had a punt blocked in his 14-year NFL career, sang Reed's praises.

"He's a great kicker," Gardocki said. "He kicked a real good one today, a 44-yarder. Kicking here's a tough place to kick, but he's done a great job kicking here. He's real confident and I hope he keeps it going.

"Every time he goes out there, we know he's going to make it. That's the kind of mind-set you have to have," he added.

Reed holds the team record for number of field goals made in a game after he successfully put six through the uprights, including a 50-yard boot, in a Dec. 1, 2002, contest at Jacksonville. Those 18 points were crucial in helping the Steelers to a 25-23 victory.

But it's the streak that is the most impressive. The last time the University of North Carolina product missed a field goal in a regular-season game was in Cleveland Nov. 14, 2004, a 24-10 Pittsburgh victory.

Since then, he's had a three-kick game against Washington, a four-kick game against the New York Giants and a five-kick game against Buffalo.

All told, Reed was 28 of 33 for 84.8 percent in 2004. He was 8 for 9 between 20 and 29 yards and 12 of 13 between 30 and 39 yards. With a pair of 51-yard kicks, the fourth-year pro was 2 for 2 from beyond 50 yards.

In his career with Pittsburgh, Reed has converted 70 of 86 field goals for 81.4 percent, which is second in Steelers' history to Norm Johnson, who had a career percentage of 82.7 from 1995-97. Reed's also been accurate on his points after touchdown, converting 81 of 83, including a perfect 40 of 40 in 2004.

Some might say that the biggest kick of Reed's career was the 33-yarder in overtime to give the Steelers a 20-17 victory over the New York Jets in the AFC Divisional Playoffs last season.

The one that stands out in his mind is his very first in the NFL, another 33-yarder against Cincinnati in November 2002, shortly after he joined the Steelers as a free agent.

But the one that's truly vital to Reed is the first one he attempts each week.

"Basically, it's the first kick of every game, when you see what kind of mind-set you're in," Reed said.

"Warm-ups kind of determine how you feel, but once you get in the game, it's a whole new ballgame," he added.

While kickers can bake in the spotlight while attempting a game-winning kick, Reed said he thrives on such moments.

"You take it in stride, but I live for game-winners," he said. "I realize in that situation you can either be a hero or everyone dislikes you, and that that's just the way it is.

"I know how hard I work and how hard these guys work to win, and if I can be a part of it, then I love being part of it."