Justin Tucker's Uncharacteristic Struggles Define 2024 Season
Justin Tucker, the Baltimore Ravens' celebrated kicker known for his unrivaled accuracy, is navigating unfamiliar territory in the 2024 NFL season. Long heralded as the most accurate kicker in league history with a stunning success rate of 89.7%, Tucker’s current performance has many wondering what's behind the dip.
A Decline in Accuracy
As of Week 11, Tucker's field goal accuracy has notably dropped to 79%, placing him among the bottom seven kickers with at least ten field goal attempts. For a player of Tucker's caliber, who has built a sterling reputation over his career, this sudden drop is significant. The downturn is glaringly illustrated by Tucker’s six missed field goals by Week 11, edging dangerously close to his career-high of seven misses in a single season set back in 2015.
Struggles Against the Steelers
The context of Tucker's struggles became even more pronounced during a divisional clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Before this game, he had successfully converted 15 of his 19 field goal attempts. However, during the intense first quarter against the Steelers, Tucker missed twice, failing to make both a 42-yard and a 50-yard field goal. Remarkably, this marked the first occurrence of a Ravens kicker missing two field goals in the opening quarter.
Distance Challenges
Tucker’s accuracy issues seem concentrated on longer-distance attempts. This season, he has maintained a perfect record from 20 to 39 yards, making 9 out of 9 attempts. However, his performance falters from further distances; he is 4 of 6 from 40 to 49 yards, and notably, just 2 of 6 beyond the 50-yard mark. Over the last two seasons, he has managed only 3 of 11 from beyond 50 yards.
Pinpoint on Extra Points
Despite these struggles with field goals, Tucker remains reliable in converting extra points. He has successfully made 37 out of 38 extra points this season, showcasing his ongoing precision in shorter kicks.
Looking Ahead
With six games remaining following their encounter with the Steelers, the Ravens and Tucker himself have an opportunity to make adjustments. The upcoming bye week might serve as a crucial period for Tucker to recalibrate and find his rhythm once more. His career statistics, after all, underscore an unparalleled level of expertise and resilience that may soon return to form.
The Ravens, too, will be hoping that Tucker’s temporary decline is just that—temporary. As they move deeper into the season, striving for a playoff berth, having a dependable kicker can make all the difference in the highly competitive landscape of the NFL. For now, fans and analysts will watch keenly to see if Tucker can reclaim his status as the NFL's most accurate kicker, a title that has been well-earned and fiercely defended over the years.