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If you could set the clock back to the beginning of this very weird 2024 NFL season, things would have looked much different for the Baltimore Ravens than what they’ve been through these past six games. The Ravens’ already pitching struggles seemed to come to the forefront as the team’s usually reliable kicker, Justin Tucker, was in the midst of an obvious conflict, and frustration, during his primetime clash vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The typically accurate kicker, Justin Tucker, has been considered one of the best in NFL history and missed two critical field goals in the first quarter of the game. It raised errors alarms among Maryland’s fans and pundits because Justin Tucker has patrolled on the Ravens’ special teams throughout his career. It’s front and center to wonder after the latest performance if the Ravens’ season is coming undone or simply inconsistent, and now, his consistency is also top of mind.
The Stumbling Start: Justin Tucker’s Missed Field Goals
All eyes were on Justin Tucker to see if he could keep kicking in his tradition of clutch kicking as the Ravens kicked off against the Steelers in a key AFC North rivalry game. The game instead started with a shocker.
The Ravens offense moved into Steelers territory in the game’s opening drive. They were looking around after a terrific series, watching Tucker to attempt a 47 yard field goal for the early lead for Baltimore. Tucker is known for this distance, which in the years he’s run it, has looked easy, but on this night something went wrong. The ball sailed wide left.Clearly a miss by a kicker who has been nothing but automatic from the clutch during his long career.
While the miss was disappointing it wasn’t the only one. Another chance to tie the game for the Ravens with a 52 yard field goal attempt, Tucker had just a few minutes later, but the Ravens found themselves trailing 3-0. But the miss was more unexpected this time than the first. Tucker’s kick sailed wide right, and now he has two misses in the quarter, totaling to two in his 13-year career.
For reference, Justin Tucker is 31- of 308 on field goals from outside 40 yards, which includes just two misses in a single game a handful of times in his career. Some wondered if something was wrong, or was it simply pressure of the moment? To see him miss two in one quarter.
Consistently The Former Flutter of a Wing
Precision and dependability have built Justin Tucker’s career. He is now the definition of clutch, between NFL records for greatest game-winning field goal percentage and greatest game-winning field goal percentage in history. He’s the only kicker in NFL history to throw up a career field goal percentage of 90.5%. Justin Tucker has excelled under pressure, whether it’s a game winner or a more routine extra point, making him a fan favorite and the glue that has held Baltimore competitive for the better part of a decade.
Even the best can have off nights, but as showed by his undeniable talent, he was unable to be present on all of his best nights. For the Ravens, these two misses against Pittsburgh are for Tucker more than just a couple bad kicks—they typify a season that’s gone his way.
The Bigger Picture: The Ravens Face A Season In Crisis
The Baltimore 2024 season has been a volatile one so far. The team came in with lots of fresh air but struggled because of injuries, inconsistent play, and being unable to score. And Ravens’ offensive line has been banged up, and quarterback Lamar Jackson hasn’t always looked like the MVP-caliber player fans are accustomed to seeing from him. Then add a lack of explosive plays in the receiving game, and Baltimore’s season has been frustrating.
Much of the criticism has been granted to the offense, but special teams have also been a concern. Justin Tucker’s struggles aren’t rare—they’re part of a larger trend. The Ravens have been haunted by kick coverage woes, and long field goals are no longer guaranteed three points—a shock to fans accustomed to them.
The Ravens’ season as a whole is a microcosm of the recent struggles of kicker Justin Tucker, who’s been missing kicks for the Ravens in a microcosm of how things used to be reliable for the Ravens, and they don’t know what to do.
Justin Tucker and the Ravens: What’s Next?
No question Justin Tucker is one of the most mentally tough players in the NFL. We know the kicker has been there, and his track record speaks for itself, and this guy can come out of adversity. But these two misses bring up a sure question about what’s actually going on on the back end.
Has the increased pressure of the season gotten to him, or is there something going on with his mechanics? Tucker himself, as quiet as he is and as laser-focused as he is, wouldn’t likely feel up to any extra stress, but his play in big spots this season has at last suggested even the best of the best can have off days.
If the Ravens have any hope of salvaging their playoff hopes, they’ll need Tucker to get back to the form he’s shown for this Ravens team in the past. That little time adds up to become big points. The bad news is, we’re not good enough to win in any phase of the game except for special teams play; the good news is, if you can score in all three phases, you’re good enough to stay in the hunt in the division.
Analyzing the Bigger Picture: But now what does that mean for Baltimore?
This may be a mental toughness season for the Ravens. The most reliable part of the puzzle is Justin Tucker, and if they’re off their game, just about everyone will reevaluate how solid the team overall is.
Ravens’ entire team needs to bounce back too. It’s not just Tucker. The offensive line has to be better protected, Lamar Jackson has to put his inconsistencies behind him, and the defense has to continue playing at a high level to keep the team in games.
In the NFL world, it can happen in the blink of an eye. A little here, a little there, and the rest of the season all of a sudden starts to make more sense. If they can come together, with Justin Tucker getting his kicks back in order, the Ravens still might find their way back. No team in the AFC North is running away with this thing, and Baltimore will have many chances to right its ship.
Conclusion: The Road to Redemption
No question, Justin Tucker’s miss in the Steelers game, for him personally as much as the Ravens, was a tough hook, not only because it came against the Steelers but because of who Tucker is—one of the all-time greats in the NFL. One game, two missed attempts, though, would be premature to say the kicker is in danger of never kicking another field goal again. Tucker is certainly the type of player who will make these setbacks fuel for a second comeback even harder.
As a team the Ravens must unite. The rest of the roster, no less, can shake off mistakes, and Justin Tucker can, too. The Ravens have plenty of time to pull things together and can still make something of a playoff run. So as soon as you get these misses and put it behind you and look towards the kicks ahead, that’s what makes it happen, Justin Tucker said. In the fourth, the game isn’t won in the first quarter. The Ravens still have time to cash in.