He can’t choose what he remembers or what goes through his mind in critical situations. Athletes often talk about having a bad memory, but no one can really turn off their brain. Some are better at focusing when under pressure than others, but the back of their mind still exists, whether they want to admit it or not.

So what was Bates thinking when he lined up for a 32-yard field goal to send the Lions into overtime against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night? Was he thinking about his missed shots throughout training camp? Or more specifically, what about the 30-yard field goal he missed in the final preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers — which, by the way, went in the same direction at Ford Field?

“I’m only human,” Bates said after Sunday’s season-opening win over the Rams. “I know I missed the kick. But I also think you have to tell yourself that you can’t always be as perfect as you’d like to be. That’s because of the position, the ups and downs of being a kicker. You’re going to miss some, you’re going to hit some. How do you stay as balanced as possible with all the ups and downs?”