[Sport] The all-time great NFL kicker who suddenly can't make field goals

[Aronus]

In what would eventually prove to be a tight, 1990s-esque, cold weather, low-scoring thriller between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11, momentum appeared to be shifting toward the Ravens late in the first quarter.

Baltimore was lucky to be trailing only 3-0 after a fumble and missed field goal on two of its first three drives. But the defense had just stuffed the Steelers on a 4th-and-1 run, setting up the offense with great field position.

The Ravens were only able to pick up 14 yards after the turnover on downs. Fortunately, they had set up their kicker — the second-most accurate in NFL history — for a 50-yard field goal to tie the game.

Except he missed for the second straight time, keeping Pittsburgh in front.

The Ravens ultimately fell to 7-4 after a hard-fought, 18-16 loss to their bitter rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, on Sunday. It was a game with massive implications, as the winner would take over first place in the AFC North — and thus be in the driver’s seat to host a playoff game.

The Steelers won scoring exclusively via field goal, with kicker Chris Boswell hitting all six of his attempts. The Ravens, on the other hand, missed two field goals in the narrow defeat. And that’s become a concerning trend.

All four of Baltimore’s losses this season have been in one-possession games. And in all four of those losses, kicker Justin Tucker has missed at least one field goal.

Kickers missing kicks is not a new phenomenon — unless that kicker is Tucker.

Entering the 2024 season, Tucker was the most accurate field-goal kicker in NFL history, converting 90.2% of his attempts, the only player at or above the 90% threshold. His accuracy has taken a tumble this season, however, as Tucker has made only 16 of 22 field goals through 11 games.

It’s a shocking fall from grace from a player who had become a legitimate weapon for Baltimore.

 

 

The all-time great NFL kicker who suddenly can't make field goals