Rookie Bengals placekicker Evan McPherson, who won the past two playoff games with a field goal on the last play, takes a swipe at some Super Bowl Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.

Q: Have you had or will you have a Super Bowl dream?

A: I think I’ve dreamed about kicking the game-winning Super Bowl before. I can’t really remember too much about it, but I’ve definitely had those dreams of kicking the game-winning field goal, for sure.

Q: What will be your Saturday night thoughts?

A: When we step out on the field, it’s not gonna be any different than any game we’ve played in. I’m just gonna be thinking, just don’t treat this any bigger or any less than other games that we’ve played in this year.

Q: What do you think will be going through your head during the national anthem?

A: I just love that whole process, before the national anthem, during the national anthem, and then after with the flyover. I think it’s so cool, and in the moment that’s all I’m thinking really is kind of like, “Man, this is really cool.” Honestly, that’s probably all I’m thinking in the moment.

Q: Seconds before the coaches send you in at the end of Super Bowl 2022 for the kick that wins the game, what would be going through your mind?

A: This kick is no different than any of the other ones that I probably hit earlier in the game or earlier in the season. Let’s just go out there, it’s one kick, and let’s go celebrate. That’s probably what I’ll be thinking.

Q: Your heart won’t be racing?

A: No, we’ll try to manage that as best as possible.

Q: Describe the emotion you feel when you kick your team into the playoffs or into the next round … the emotion of a game-winning kick.

A: It’s an amazing feeling, that’s for sure. Having all your teammates jump on you and smack you in the head and give you a concussion, it’s no better feeling. … I really just can’t describe it. … I mean, it’s awesome. It’s kind of all the things that kickers dream of, is being the guy that hits the game-winning field goal. The feeling is truly amazing.

Q: Everybody describes you as having ice water in your veins.

A: I’m drinking ice water right now. If people say you have ice water in your veins, it kind of means you’re clutch. And so I think that’s what a kicker kind of strives for.

Q: Do you remember a time when you felt pressure?

A: I will say the overtime kick [Week 14] against San Francisco. I know we still ended up losing that game [26-23]. I had missed a [46-yard] field goal earlier in the game, and just to come back and hit the next kick, I think it was from 44 yards or something like that [41 in OT] was big for me definitely.

Q: Describe Joe Burrow’s on-field mentality.

A: I think he’s kind of got that killer mentality that no one’s gonna stop him. And if you try to stop him, he’s gonna run right through you. If he’s gotta do it with his arm, he will, but if he’s gotta take off and run, he’s definitely gonna do that too.

Q: Does he remind you of you in that way?

A: He reminds me so much of me — no (laugh). If you were to ask him, he would describe himself just as me probably.

Q: So you guys are two peas in a pod, basically.

A: (Laugh) Nah, he’s probably a little different than me. I’d say we think the same, but he is way cooler than I am.

Q: How is he way cooler than you?

A: I would say he’s got more swag, more moxie that I could probably build off of, but like in my position, I feel like I can only have so much swag. I can’t kind of just like jump around like I’m the starting quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals. It’s like I kind of humble myself there, and know that Joe’s a little different than me, and that’s all right.

Q: But you’re every bit as confident as him.

A: I mean, yeah. … I do my job, and that’s cool. He does his job, and it’s amazing what he’s able to do. Like my job’s cool and all, but his job is … way cooler than mine.

Q: Describe your on-field mentality.

A: We try to explain it like a sniper-in-the-army mentality. Like one shot, one kill. You get one shot at it. You gotta have that kind of killer mentality.

Q: What drives you?

A: I would say just to be considered one of the best to ever do it, and that’s where I want to be at, at the end of my career. And I think that’s really what drives me the most.

Q: Are you into visualization?

A: I’ m not too big into it. I do go out before the game and kind of visualize some stuff, but I wouldn’t say I’m like sitting in my room before the game and visualize maybe every kick I’m gonna hit.

Q: When you were watching last year’s Super Bowl, or any Super Bowl, fantasizing about kicking in one?

A: Yeah, I think you always, whenever you’re watching it, that’s just what you want to be in, that’s where you want to be. To finally be here, it’s truly amazing.

Q: How is the “Money Mac” and cheese at Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse?

A: It was honestly fantastic. I don’t think I’ve ever had mac and cheese that’s has five cheeses included in the mac and cheese. It was definitely a special one, just the fact that it was my mac and cheese. It was actually redly good, I got it in the fridge right now.

Q: Money Mac, how cool is that as a nickname?

A: I think it’s pretty cool. I’ve expressed in the media that you can even call me whatever you want. I don’t really care, whatever your favorite is is what you can call me. But Money Mac’s definitely a good one.

Q: When will you have a patent on Money Mac?

A: It should be soon.

Q: Who nicknamed you “Shooter”?

A: [Bengals long-snapper] Clark Harris did actually, after the Kansas City game in the regular season.

Q: Do you like that one?

A: Yeah, I think that one is definitely up there with Money Mac. Shooter McGavin, is the only problem, is you got him to compete with. He’s actually been good about it, and he’s made some videos to me and Clark about congratulating us on everything. So I think he’s kind of just taken me in to like the Shooter family.

Q: Is there any significance to you wearing No. 2?

A: So I get drafted, and I don’t really talk to anybody about numbers. The Cincinnati Bengals posted a Twitter and Instagram post of like all the rookie numbers, and I’m like: “Oh! I wonder what mine is.” And I go and look, and I was No. 2, and I was like, “Ah that’s pretty sweet.” But there’s no significance about it, they just gave it to me, so I like it though.

Q: What are you most proud of about your rookie season?

A: Obviously coming into the NFL, I’d never attempted like a game-winning field goal, and just to have, what is it? Five opportunities? It’s been awesome. So I’d just say the game-winning field goals.

Q: What was your best single moment with the Florida Gators?

A: I definitely had a lot, but the game against Auburn in The Swamp was really special, and the game against LSU in, I think it was, 2018 was another special game, and probably the loudest I’ve ever played in.

Q: Describe Gators teammate, now Giants receiver, Kadarius Toney.

A: Yung Joka … I love Kadarius Toney.

Q: Why do you love him?

A: People probably portray him as like this guy that … I don’t know … super rough. … I don’t know how to explain it … but like, Kadarius is a super nice guy. I asked him multiple times if I could get a line in one of his songs, but it never really happened. He was always good to me, and I always loved talking to Kadarius, and I’m happy to see him where he’s ended up and all his success. I love Kadarius.

Q: Is there one play he made at Florida that stands out?

A: He made so many last year that it was kind of insane, but there was one where he kind of like I knew his knee was down and they reviewed it, but there’s this play where like he ducked under a defender, just made a super-hard cut, and I was like, “Both my ACLs would be gone if I made that cut.”

Q: Gators teammate and current Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts.

A: I mean, that guy’s a beast. I’ve told him many times, whenever we first came in, I just saw this nerdy-looking tall lanky tight end come in. … He just looked like some nerdy kind of dude with glasses, and I’m like, “Is this guy gonna be good?” And he just turned out to be one of the top players in this recent draft, and I’ve told him that before, and he just thinks it’s pretty funny. I would not have expected walking into the building with him that he would have turned out how he did.

Q: What is the biggest adversity you’ve gone through?

A: The death of my grandparents, and just not having them around was pretty tough, and just getting through that, definitely.

Q: When did they pass away?

A: My grandfather passed away when I was in high school. I was probably a sophomore in high school, and then my grandmother passed away probably when I was like 12. And then my mom’s mom passed away my freshman year of college, so that was kind of all right there together. That was a tough time for me, losing them, but just having my family to lean on definitely helped me.

Q: Describe your older brother Logan.

A: Logan’s been great for me, obviously he’s the one that started this whole kicking thing in the family, he was the first one to do it, and he kind of taught me everything that he knew.

Q: Your younger brother Alex, placekicker at Auburn.

A: He’s special, too. He’s probably the guy that I competed with the most, because whenever Logan went off to college, it was just me and Alex and we were competing every single day. If it wasn’t in the backyard, then it was at the football field. He’s been great for me, and I’m glad to see him being successful.

Q: Will he be playing in the NFL?

A: I would think so. I hope I get the opportunity to play against him. I definitely see him playing in the NFL.

Q: He’s got the 61-yarder?

A: Yup. He’s got the [Alabama state high school] record.

Q: And you’ve got the … 60?

A: Yeah 60, And then my older brother’s was 57.

Q: Describe your parents.

A: Just the effort that they really put in for all three of us to kind of get exposure. They were driving us to Wisconsin and going to Vegas and all around the world to kind of get us looked at, to be able to even get the chance to earn a scholarship to go to college. I just give all props to them for doing that and just raising us right. They raised all three of us to just be kind to others, and just you get out what you put in.

Q: Who are you more like, your mom or your dad?

A: I’m probably more like my mom than my other two brothers, for sure.

Q: In what way?

A: She’s just kind of more of the calm, laid-back kind of type. And my dad’s more of like the planner, got all the ducks in a row and all that. He’s really laid-back too, don’t get me wrong, but he’s more of like the, “We gotta leave at this time to get here, here and here.” He’s kind of planning everything, whereas my mom and me are just kind of like, “Eh, we’ll get there when we get there. It’ll be all right.”

Q: Why is fiancée Gracie Groat the girl for you?

A: Probably just ’cause she’s put up with everything that she’s had to go through. She’s obviously loved me since we were 14 and 15. She’s been there for me, and she has been just truly amazing because this whole process isn’t easy, she’s at school and I’m up here. In the end, she doesn’t ask any questions, she knows the whole situation, and she’s OK with it. I think she’s the girl for me just because of the way we respect each other, she’s got her things and I’ve got my things. We love each other so much. I couldn’t imagine being with anybody else, and I’m sure she’s gonna be elated to hear that.

Q: When did you meet her?

A: She was in eighth grade and I was in ninth grade. Me and her brother grew up and were in the same grade, and so I kind of knew her through him and through the family.

Q: When did you get engaged?

A: Last July.

Q: How did you propose?

A: It was back home, in Fort Payne [Ala.] There’s like this kind of wedding venue out on the mountain, it’s kind of got a nice look-off, and it’s got a nice kind of covered patio area, and so we rented that out, and drove her out there, had some lights and whatnot. We had her family hiding, and then we just walk up to the look-off. Her sister’s a really good singer, so we had her sister kind of sing some background, some white noise, and we had a guy playing a guitar. Her whole family and my whole family were kind of off in the distance hiding just watching us. It was pretty special.

Q: Have you set a wedding date?

A: It is March 4, 2023.

Q: What is so great about Fort Payne?

A: (Laugh) What’s not great? In my opinion, they got the best Mexican restaurant in the whole wide world in Don Chico’s, it’s my second home whenever I go back to Fort Payne. It’s just got everything you could ever want — it’s got golf, you could go snowboard or skiing. We got this one little hill that you can go down. If you want to go stay out in the cabin you can or if you wasn’t to go the Little River Canyon, a little sight-seeing. It’s got a little bit of everything.

Q: Superstitions?

A: Not really. I drink two Celsius, a little energy drink before the game. I do a little prayer beneath both field goal posts but that’s really about it.

Q: Who are athletes in other sports you admire?

A: Growing up, I always loved Ronaldinho. He was definitely the guy that I looked to whenever I played soccer, he was kind of who I mimicked my game off of even though I was nowhere close to his talent … but him, David Beckham are probably my two favorites.

Q: Boyhood idol?

A: Obviously Adam Vinatieri once I got into kicking. When I was younger, I wanted to be a professional soccer player, but as I got into like eighth grade is when I really wanted to be a professional kicker.

Q: Any other kickers whose brain you would like to pick?

A: Morten Andersen and Gary Anderson … if it’s not them, then it’d definitely be Justin Tucker for sure.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: Jesus, Eminem, Adam Vinatieri.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: “Southpaw.”

Q: Favorite actor?

A: Matthew McConaughey

Q: Favorite actress?

A: Zendaya.

Q: Favorite singer/entertainer?

A: Eminem.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: At our house back home, we’ll do like a pork tenderloin, a baked potato and a salad.

Q: What do you like best about this Bengals team?

A: I like the camaraderie, and just the family that we’ve built as a team. I’ve had probably two or three teammates so far while I’ve been on this phone call just sitting there kind of mocking me and try to distract me. It just speaks to how close of a team we are. We all love each other and we’re all gonna go to battle for each other.

Q: How would you describe what it’s like being Evan McPherson these days?

A: It’s no different than being Evan McPherson 10 years ago. I mean, you might have a couple of more people walk up to you whenever you go to Target every now and then. I’m still the same guy that goes home after the AFC Championship game and I hop on my PlayStation and I start playing video games with my brothers and my friends right away. So the life of Evan McPherson — there’s not too much going on, a whole bunch of video games, whole bunch of eating and napping.

Q: How does Gracie deal with your celebrity?

A: She likes it, but at the same time she says that she wants to be on the low, she doesn’t want to be known. I think she handles mine pretty well. She thinks it’s funny whenever people reach out and want to send you stuff, or want to do interviews. She’s handled it pretty well and I’ve told her multiple times, I’ll say, “Gracie, you’re famous now, everybody knows about you,” and she’s like, “I don’t want anybody to know about me.”

Q: How do you handle celebrity?

A: I think you just gotta handle it like it’s just your life. Like, I don’t think you really gotta handle it any different. … You just gotta, I guess, find more time in the day for things that you normally wouldn’t.

Q: What is your message to Bengals fans and the city of Cincinnati?

A: Be excited, be rowdy in LA. … Hopefully it’s gonna be like a home game for us. I think they should really be excited and pumped up for what this team is gonna bring home from California. Just be excited, and just get ready.

Q: If the Bengals win, will you do an Ickey Shuffle?

A: I’ll do an Ickey Shuffle, I’ll do a Griddy, I’ll do whatever anybody wants me to do (laugh).