When it comes to field goal kicking this season, Justin Tucker is no longer perfect.
Tucker missed from 43 yards during the first quarter Sunday when his kick clanked off the right upright.
It snapped Tucker's streak of 22 straight field goals dating back to last season. He was 17-for-17 this year.
Fortunately for Tucker, the Ravens rolled to a 41-7 victory that made his early miss inconsequential. And as usual, Tucker bounced back strong by making two made field goals in the third quarter – a 34-yarder and a 46-yarder. Another streak has begun, and Tucker says he has learned not to let a missed field goal faze him.
"More than anything it's about trust, the trust I have in Morgan (Cox) and Sam (Koch)," Tucker said, referring to the Ravens' long snapper and holder/punter. "I've got trust in the guys up front protecting, trust in the work we put in on the practice field. Of course when I miss one I'm frustrated, pissed, until I get a chance to look at it on video. I'll just be kicking myself. But at the end of the day, to come out of this game with a big team win, and to have my missed kick not be incredibly consequential? It's certainly a relief."
Whenever he misses it's a surprise. The most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history, Tucker had made 39 consecutive field goals inside 50 yards until Sunday's miss.
Two weeks ago, Tucker missed his first extra point of the season against the New England Patriots. He was kicking toward the same goal post at M&T Stadium, one of the NFL's most challenging kicking venues due to unpredictable winds.
Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn also missed a 43-yard field-goal attempt at the end of the first half, going in the same direction as Tucker's miss.
By the end of Sunday's game, Tucker was smiling, excited about Sunday's victory and the prospects for the remainder of the season. Tucker was part of the Ravens' last Super Bowl team as a rookie, making a huge kick in overtime to win a divisional playoff game in Denver. He would love another opportunity to make huge kicks in the postseason and he senses that this Ravens team (8-2) has what it takes.
"Being part of this 2019 Ravens team has been awesome and will continue to be awesome," Tucker said. "One game at a time, but we've got something brewing. And I like it."
