Steelers kicker Kris Brown kicks a 52-yard field goal during the fourth quarter Sept. 30 against the Bills. (Chaz Palla/Tribune-Review)

A case could be made for Kris Brown being on a roll these days like he hasn't been since his record-setting rookie season with the Steelers, but it's not one Brown cares to make.

"I don't know that you can compare the two (situations)," Brown said. "I'm just getting out there and doing what I know how to do."

Brown's know-how has allowed him to convert seven consecutive field goals heading into the Steelers' game on Sunday afternoon at Tampa Bay.

Steelers kicker Kris Brown kicks a 52-yard field goal during the fourth quarter Sept. 30 against the Bills. (Chaz Palla/Tribune-Review)

He's had longer streaks, including the NFL-rookie-record 13 straight at the start of the 1999 season. And he's had bigger kicks, such as the 36-yarder Brown made to beat Baltimore as a rookie and the 50-yard effort he missed in the closing seconds of the Tennessee game in September of last season that would have tied the score. But rarely, if ever, since joining the Steelers as a seventh-round draft pick out of Nebraska has Brown been called upon to hit as many critical kicks from as far away as he has been of late.

"Right now, we're in a good rhythm," Brown said. "The guys up front are doing a good job protecting and (long-snapper) Mike (Schneck) and (holder) Josh (Miller) are doing a good job of getting the ball back there and getting it down. And right now, the ball's just coming off my foot and going through."

So far this season, Brown has been as clutch as he's been consistent.

Consider:

Sept. 30 at Buffalo: With less than 10 minutes to play and the Steelers leading by seven points, Brown is asked to connect from 52 yards away on fourth-and-9 from the Bills 34-yard line. A miss will give Buffalo possession at its 42 and an opportunity to convert good field position into the game-tying touchdown. Instead, Brown gives the Steelers a 10-point lead and invaluable breathing room.

Oct. 7 at Heinz Field: At the two-minute warning, the Steelers lead Cincinnati 13-7 and face a fourth-and-7 from the Bengals 30. A miss will set Cincinnati up at its 38 and leave the door open for a Bengals rally. Instead, Brown seals the deal with a 48-yard field goal that pushes the Steelers' lead to nine points.

Oct. 14 at Kansas City: Leading 3-0 late in the second quarter, the Steelers entrust Brown to deliver from 53 yards out on fourth-and-1 from the Chiefs 35. Kansas City opts for a time out, and during the break the Steelers decide to go for it. They convert, but a penalty brings the ball back to the Chiefs 37. Brown responds with a Steelers record-tying 55-yard effort that doubles the lead in a game the Steelers eventually win, 20-17.

Big kicks all.

Then again, they all are.

"We've had some kicks this year that have been important in terms of locking a game away or, like last week, the long field goal, we made it and went up 6-0 and at the end of the game we ended up winning by three," Brown said. "That's the part about this position that I really love, whether it's in the first quarter or the fourth quarter you just never know when a kick is going to be the deciding factor."

Brown is 8 for 9 on field goals overall this season, including two from 50-plus yards away for the first time in his career.

His counterpart tomorrow, Tampa Bay's Martin Gramatica, is 4 for 6 (0 for 2 from 50-plus).

Should both teams' defenses play up to their standards and both offenses deliver as advertised, tomorrow's game could easily be decided by whether Brown or Gramatica has the better day.

"There's no question," Brown said. "Any time you have two strong defenses and offenses that are more of a ball-control deal, the special teams in general are going to play a huge factor. We need to try to win that part of the game."