Blizzard may have cost NFL kicker $500,000

Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri (4) in action during a blizzard in Buffalo.

Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri may miss out on a $500,000 (USD) bonus after missing two field goal attempts in the middle of a blizzard.

Vinatieri's two missed attempts in the Colts' loss to the Buffalo Bills on Monday (NZ time) put him below the 90 per cent threshold he needs on field goals to secure the half a million dollar bonus.

Vinatieri entered Monday's game 22 of 23 on field goals for the season, or 95.6 per cent.

But the two missed field goals in terrible weather knocked him down to 22 of 25 for the season, or 88 per cent.

The two missed kicks – one from 33 yards out, the other from 43 yards – would have been routine for the NFL veteran kicker if not for the brutal Buffalo blizzard.

Poor Adam Vinatieri -- this had no chance. Laughter erupts in he press box. #Bills #Colts @news4buffalo pic.twitter.com/aG1T82dYu2

— Nick Filipowski (@NickFilipowski) December 10, 2017

Last year, the former Super Bowl winning kicker narrowly missed out on $500,000 after missing his final field goal attempt of the season, which dropped him below the 90 per cent threshold.

In order to hit 90 per cent for this season, Vinatieri will need to make his next five kicks over the next three games.

Anything less than 5-for-5 will cost the 44-year-old kicker his bonus yet again.