Justin Tucker's Challenging 2024 Season: An Analysis
The Baltimore Ravens' Justin Tucker, revered as the most accurate kicker in NFL history, faces an uncharacteristic challenge this 2024 season. Known universally for his precision and boasting a career success rate of 89.7%, Tucker has seen his numbers dwindle to a surprising 79% accuracy as of Week 11. This decline places the seasoned kicker seventh-worst among those with at least ten field goal attempts this season—a stark contrast to his usual top-tier performance.
This drop in effectiveness has raised questions among fans and analysts alike, primarily as Tucker approaches close proximity to his career-high of seven missed field goals in a season, a record he set back in 2015. By Week 11, he's already missed six, which raises concerns about whether this is merely a slump or a sign of a deeper issue.
In a recent divisional matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the pressure was palpable. Tucker, who had been 15 for 19 on field goals ahead of the game, missed two crucial attempts in the first quarter—a 42-yarder and a 50-yarder. These missed opportunities were not only a rarity for Tucker but also marked the first time he or any Ravens kicker failed to convert two field goals in the opening quarter of a game.
Despite these struggles, Tucker's performance hasn't been entirely off his historical prowess. He remains perfect on field goals ranging from 20 to 39 yards, maintaining a spotless 9 for 9 record this season. As the distance increases, however, cracks begin to show—he's 4 of 6 from 40 to 49 yards and a challenging 2 of 6 from beyond 50 yards in 2024. Over the past two seasons, he's achieved only a 3 for 11 record on kicks beyond the 50-yard mark, potentially signifying a shift in his range and reliability at greater distances.
Tucker’s reliability hasn't fallen entirely to the wayside; his consistency on extra points remains high, with a near-perfect 37 of 38 conversions in 2024. Still, as the Ravens approach their bye week after facing the Steelers, the team and their fans will undoubtedly be reflecting on Tucker's contributions and his unusual inconsistency.
With six games left in the season, there's still ample opportunity for Tucker to course-correct and return to his elite form. His track record and reputation indicate that such a turnaround is well within the realm of possibility. Justin Tucker’s illustrious career suggests that he is fully capable of adapting and overcoming this period of adversity, likely leveraging the break to refine his technique and focus on delivering the dependability that has defined his career thus far.