After receiving a kick of sorts, Mare is now kicking with the best

Following the embarrassing public undressing from his former coach, Seahawks kicker Olindo Mare began a streak of consecutive field goals that's carried him to redemption and lifted Seattle into first place in the NFC West.

A year ago, he was on the chopping block after a pair of shanks in Chicago contributed to a heartbreaking loss.

The defeat prompted an emotional outburst from Jim Mora, which might have been the genesis to Mare's streak of 30 consecutive field goals, including five Sunday in a 22-10 victory over Arizona.

Actually Mare made nine field goals and attempted 10, but five were negated after penalties.

"It's tiring," he said. "I've never kicked that many field goals. ... When we start getting into a rhythm and kicking a lot of field goals, it kind of helps you out. Like a quarterback, you're throwing a lot and you get in a rhythm. It's no different for us."

Seattle's inability to convert near the goal line — the Hawks managed just one touchdown in six red-zone possessions — created scoring opportunities for Mare, who tied the team record with five field goals.

He converted attempts from 20, 31, 51, 24 and 26 yards, tying him with Norm Johnson, who kicked five twice in a game, and Todd Peterson.

Mare's 51-yarder was the most harrowing because tight end Cameron Morrah was called for consecutive holding penalties that negated 31- and 41-yarders.

"That never happens in a game, to have that many chances and re-kicks," Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. "And he just kept banging them home, so that was a fantastic showing for him and for us and keeps his stature as being a guy you can really count on."

Being described as "a guy you can really count on" is a contrast to the description Mora used following the 25-19 defeat last year when Mare missed from 43 and 34 yards.

"There's no excuses for those," Mora said at the time. "If you're a kicker in the National Football League, you should make those kicks. Bottom line. End of story. Period. No excuses. No wind. Doesn't matter.

"You've got to make those kicks, especially in a game like this when you're kicking and scratching and fighting and playing your tail off, and you miss those kicks? Not acceptable. Not acceptable. Absolutely not acceptable."

There was a belief the Seahawks would release Mare after the Bears game. They stuck with him, however, and he's rewarded them with 13 months of perfection.

"I'd like to think I would have handled it like him," said punter Jon Ryan, who doubles as the holder on field goals. "That takes a lot of poise.

"The hardest part is to have your family read that stuff in the newspaper and you have to see that on TV. We can take a lot on our shoulders and we're used to that, but it's difficult for us to see our families have to go through it."

Mare, who is in a three-way tie with Jason Elam (2007-08) and Jeff Wilkins (1999-01) for sixth longest field goal streak in NFL history, admitted he was surprised to be labeled the goat after the Chicago defeat. Still, he had no harsh words for Mora.

"Maybe that helped me out," Mare said. "Maybe that was the point where I said, 'Hey, I've got to focus a little harder. I don't know. I don't know how to look at it.

"It doesn't really matter all of the stuff that Coach Mora did. I got a pretty good streak going so maybe I should call him and thank him."

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com