Justin Tucker Faces Rare Struggles in Challenging Season
Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, renowned for his reliability, finds himself navigating challenging waters this season. At 34, Tucker's name has become synonymous with clutch performances and unwavering precision, earning him the title of the most accurate kicker in NFL history with an impressive career field goal percentage of 89.7%. Yet, this season tells a slightly different story.
Despite his storied career, Tucker currently faces an uncharacteristic slump, slipping to the seventh-worst field goal percentage in the league at 79% among those with at least ten attempts. The recent loss to division rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, 18-16, highlighted these struggles. Tucker missed two lengthy field goal attempts in the first quarter—an unprecedented occurrence for the Ravens, whose kicker had never before missed twice in the opening quarter of a game.
Entering the Steelers matchup, Tucker had successfully converted 15 of his 19 field goal attempts this season, demonstrating that not all was lost for this legendary kicker. However, the spatial demands of 50 to 59-yard field goals have proved particularly troublesome, with Tucker hitting just 3 of 7 attempts, contributing to his less than stellar statistics. In the broader spectrum of his career, the recent dip is part of a larger pattern, as over the past two seasons, he has managed to connect on only 4 of 12 attempts from beyond 50 yards.
Despite these challenges, Tucker's precision has remained flawless closer to the goalposts, with a perfect record from 20 to 39 yards, hitting 3 of 3 and 6 of 6 respectively. His performance from 40 to 49 yards stands at a commendable 4 of 6, emphasizing that his fundamental skills remain intact. Furthermore, Tucker has proven himself almost infallible in extra-point attempts, successfully converting 38 out of 39 this season.
Speaking after the game against the Steelers, Tucker played down any overarching issue affecting his performance. When questioned about a possible common cause behind the missed kicks, he replied, "Not really, no." He further clarified, "Each kick is its own kick," suggesting that while each attempt carried its own challenges, none were symptomatic of a greater problem.
The brightest moment in an otherwise forgettable game against the Steelers came after a critical adjustment enabled Tucker to convert a 54-yard field goal in the third quarter. The implementation of a small tweak before his third attempt paid immediate dividends. This adjustment and subsequent success demonstrate that even the best must sometimes adapt and innovate amid adversity.
With six games left in the Ravens' 2024 schedule, Tucker is on the brink of matching his personal record of seven misses in a single season, a milestone that last occurred in 2015. While he stands one missed field goal shy of this personal low, Tucker remains undaunted, continually working to recalibrate and regain his characteristic form.
For the Baltimore Ravens and their fans, the hope is that Tucker's struggles are a temporary aberration rather than a sign of lasting decline. As the season progresses, all eyes will be trained on the iconic kicker, anticipating the return of his storied precision and dependability.
Ultimately, the road ahead offers Justin Tucker many opportunities to demonstrate resilience, a hallmark of every great athlete. With his track record and skill, there's every reason to believe that Tucker will overcome these setbacks and re-establish himself as the gold standard for NFL kickers.