BALTIMORE — The most precise kicker in NFL history is currently experiencing an unexpected downturn in performance.
Justin Tucker, renowned for his accuracy, struggled during the Baltimore Ravens’ 24-19 defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles, missing kicks to both sides and even hitting the upright.
Before this game, Tucker had achieved an impressive 89.4% success rate on field-goal attempts, which is the top mark recorded by anyone in the NFL with a minimum of 150 successful kicks.
While he managed to convert attempts from 34 and 50 yards during the game, he also misfired on a 47-yard attempt, missing wide left, and a 53-yard kick that sailed right.
Both missed attempts occurred in the critical third quarter when the Ravens were behind 14-12. Earlier, Tucker hit a conversion kick off the upright after the Ravens had surged to a 9-0 lead.
“In simple terms, I missed the kicks, and that’s all there is to it,” Tucker stated.
“I feel responsible for leaving points off the board, but there’s no benefit in dwelling on it. The focus now must be on moving forward and taking it one kick at a time.”
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh expressed his bewilderment regarding Tucker’s sudden inconsistency, considering he was once a reliable kicker from nearly any distance.
“We’ll review everything and do our best to understand what’s happening,” Harbaugh remarked.
“He certainly has the ability to make any kick, and no one is more eager to succeed than Justin.”
The Ravens, currently at 8-5, have a bye week ahead, and there are no immediate plans to bring in alternative kickers.
“If you’re inquiring about moving on from Justin Tucker, that’s not in the cards,” Harbaugh commented.
“It wouldn’t be wise to consider that right now. He recognizes the necessity of converting as many kicks as possible, and based on his history, I believe he can do just that.”
Tucker has made 62 successful field goals from distances of 50 yards or more since joining the league in 2012, including an NFL-record 66-yard field goal in Detroit in 2021.
He entered the Eagles game with a remarkable 93.6% accuracy in the second half and overtime—an all-time best with a minimum of 100 attempts.
However, against the Eagles, his missed kicks in the latter half placed the Ravens in a challenging position. Not long ago, Tucker also missed two field-goal attempts in a narrow 18-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, leading the Ravens to attempt a risky 2-point conversion with just over a minute left in the game.
This situation forces a player with a substantial number of game-winning kicks to discuss his recent failures.
“I dislike having to revisit this conversation multiple times this season,” Tucker admitted.
“But it’s part of the job. Kicks are either successful or they aren’t, and today, I didn’t do enough to aid our team in securing the victory.”
His teammates are equally perplexed at the swift change in Tucker’s performance.
“I mentioned to some players on the sidelines that this might be typical for kickers, but we’ve been so spoiled by Tucker’s consistency that we took it for granted,” cornerback Marlon Humphrey reflected.
“We used to watch him step up and know he would deliver. Great players often find a way to break free from slumps, and I believe Tucker is one of those exceptional athletes.”
