‘More fun to play against him’: Carlson brothers face off for first time on MNF

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AUBURN, Ala. – When Anders Carlson is standing on the sideline for the national anthem Monday night, he will be staring across the field at his brother, Daniel. 

The Monday Night Football game, featuring the Green Bay Packers and Las Vegas Raiders, will be the first time the two Carlson brothers have played against each other. When the two shared the field in the past, they were always on the same team. 

"It was fun to play on the same team when I redshirted, but now that we're competing, that's the kind of game you want as a brother," Anders said. "I love being on the same team, but it's almost more fun to play against him.

"It's going to be really special for our family and for a lot of people who played an important role in our journey to see the first chance that we've ever gotten to play against each other."
 


Daniel is in his sixth season in the NFL. With the Raiders, he's 146 of 162 on field goals. He finished third in the NFL with 163 points in 2021, and last year, he set the NFL record for most 50-plus yard field goals in a season with 11. 

Anders is in his rookie season with the Packers but has yet to miss a kick, making all five of his field goal attempts and all nine extra point attempts through the team's first four games. In fact, neither Carlson brother has missed this season. 

"It's a blessing just to be playing football," Anders said. "We get to be outside for the national anthems now, so I get to sit there and take a moment before each game. It's just wild. It's one of those things where it's a dream and it's finally true. But you've got to stay in the moment, too."

In his NFL debut, Anders nailed a 52-yard field goal just before halftime and made all five of his extra points to help the Packers beat the Bears and start 1-0. 

"I think I was more nervous for my first extra point," Anders said. "It was my first NFL point. But that was one of the most fun games I've been a part of. It was like the environment that Auburn had (against Georgia) with guys having fun. Our defense had an incredible game. I was fired up by our team. I do think that field goal before half was really big, so I was excited to be a part of that. It was definitely the way I wanted to start my career."

With the Packers playing on Thursday night the week before last, Anders was able to come back to Auburn and attend the Georgia game in Jordan-Hare Stadium. It was his first game back since he was a player, and it felt odd not suiting up. 

But despite the outcome, Anders was encouraged by what he saw from the Tigers. 

"Auburn-Georgia, those are the games you go to Auburn for," he said. "It was tough to lose because I thought the guys had the game and I thought they played really well, but I really do feel like a new wave of Auburn is coming. I'm excited to see where it goes the next few years."



After the weekend away in Auburn, it was back to work for Anders and preparing for the Monday Night Football game against his brother. 

The duo ranks first and second in Auburn history in points. Daniel set the bar, scoring 480 points over four seasons on the Plains (2014-17). It was tops in the SEC at the time. Anders took over for him in 2018 and finished with 410 points – fifth-most in the SEC. 

Daniel once again paved the way to the NFL, becoming one of the league's top kickers, but now that Anders is in the league, he's on the same level as his brother. 

"It's more natural now," Anders said. "I just feel like less of his little brother. That four-year gap is kind of wiping away. It's just fun because we're going through the same week, probably kicking on the same days. 

"The thing about the NFL is each team is so different in how they do things and how the coaches treat you good or bad, so it's kind of fun to be on that same level. He went through college like I did, but we were at different times. Now we're doing the same thing at the same time."

On Monday night, they will do it on the same field. 

With Anders and Daniel facing off for the first time, who will the family be pulling for? 

"I don't know. Maybe just a fight at midfield between me and him," Anders joked. "That's what my mom wants. A wrestling match. 

"I just hope we have a great game. It should be a good matchup. I'm pretty excited."