Ravens K Justin Tucker 'Wouldn't Change Anything' On 61-Yard Miss
Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium felt like the 2015 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest — an anomaly within a stretch of unrivaled greatness.
Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker is Joey Chestnut and, in this instance, Indianapolis Colts' Matt Gay was Matt Stonie, stepping in and defeating the greatest of all time just this once with the potential to never do it again. Tucker had a chance to give Baltimore a victory on a potential last-second game-winning 61-yard field goal attempt in the fourth quarter, but his boot fell just short, hitting the padded portion of the goalpost.
"I really straight up wouldn't change anything that I did on the 61-yard attempt at the end of regulation," Tucker said after the game. "I felt like I approached the ball with balance. I got my plant in the ground. I struck the ball right on the sweet spot, and sometimes the nature of this game, the ball just does not go through or you fall short."
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The Ravens have been in this situation many times before. They only need to get to the opponent's 40-yard line to feel comfortable within Tucker's immaculate range.
With the game tied 19-19, quarterback Lamar Jackson completed an 18-yard pass to Nelson Agholor, moving the ball to the Colts' 43-yard line. After Baltimore took its final timeout, out trotted Tucker looking to put the game on ice and send the fans home happy.
The ball's flight path in the air looked like — as he's done many times before — directly between the uprights. However, he didn't get enough leg, the game went to overtime and the Colts eventually won 22-19.
In overtime, the Ravens punted from Indianapolis' 44-yard line and turned it over on downs at its 47. Head coach John Harbaugh said attempts from those two spots would have been "too far" because he was worried about Tucker's footing with a wet, muddy field after rain from Tropical Storm Ophelia rolled through Baltimore.
Tucker finished the game 1-for-2 with a 50-yard make midway through the fourth quarter that gave Baltimore a 17-16 lead.
Gay had a historic day at the office for Indianapolis, becoming the first kicker in NFL history to make four 50-plus-yard field goals in a game. The two most important of the four, though, were a pair of 53-yarders to tie the game with 57 seconds left and to walk it off in overtime.
Tucker tried to keep a positive outlook after the game.
"I'm going to choose to take on a positive mindset, and look at the things that we can improve upon," Tucker said. "I'm going to look at the things that I can improve upon."
Stonie's victory over Chestnut was just the one year, snapping what was an eight-year winning streak. Chestnut has won each of the last eight contests.
Tucker getting bested in his own stadium like he did Sunday is something that may only happen once in a 17-year span and might never happen again.
