As the NFL season unfolds, every snap, throw, and kick contributes to a team's fate. For the Baltimore Ravens, the leg of Justin Tucker has often been a dependable asset. Yet, the 2024 season presents an anomaly for the man considered the most accurate kicker in NFL history, known for his precision with an 89.7% success rate throughout his remarkable career.
Tucker’s 2024 Struggles
By Week 11 of the 2024 season, Tucker's precision seems to have veered off its usual course. His once-feared accuracy has dropped to a mere 79%. While a 79% success rate might seem decent for the average kicker, it places Tucker in unfamiliar territory as the seventh-worst among kickers with at least ten attempts this season. The six missed field goals he accumulated by Week 11 nearly match his career high of seven in a single season, set back in 2015.
The dip in performance wasn’t just under the radar—Tucker’s missteps garnered attention during a crucial divisional match-up against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Before this game, he had successfully converted 15 out of 19 field goals. However, in an unusual first quarter, Tucker missed twice: a 42-yard and a 50-yard attempt. This marked the first occasion in which any Ravens kicker, not to mention Tucker himself, failed twice in the opening quarter.
Breaking Down the Numbers
Despite his struggles from longer distances, Tucker's short-range game remains impeccable. He has maintained a perfect 9 of 9 record on field goals within the 20 to 39-yard range in 2024, affirming his skill in clutch, shorter kicks. The 40 to 49-yard attempts reveal a slight dip, with Tucker making 4 out of 6. However, it is beyond the 50-yard mark that Tucker's challenges become pronounced, converting only 2 out of 6 this season and 3 out of 11 in total over the last two seasons.
Extra points, the otherwise forgotten aspect of kicking, still fall firmly within Tucker's realm of dominance, with a near-perfect 37 of 38 success rate in 2024, echoing his status as a reliable scoring option—even when the spotlight is glaring elsewhere.
Upcoming Challenges
The Ravens’ calendar offers some reprieve, as the team heads into a bye week following the Steelers encounter. This pause could provide Tucker with a moment to recalibrate and align himself with the standards that both he and the league have come to expect.
With six games remaining on the schedule after the Steelers game, the road ahead is clear yet challenging. Tucker, always a stalwart professional, will no doubt be primed to remind fans, teammates, and opponents alike why he earned his elite status. This period could serve as an opportunity to mend what has been a notably unusual season and regain the rhythm that has defined his storied career.
While debates may swirl around Tucker's current performance, his contributions to the game remain indisputable. A kicker’s career, much like that of any athlete, is peppered with ups and downs. The true test lies in recovery and the continuation of excellence—a journey Tucker seems well-equipped and determined to undertake. As the Ravens look to leverage their talent for a postseason berth, the hope remains that Justin Tucker will deliver the impact he's famed for, with that same precise kick that etched his name into the NFL annals.