Tyler Loop's memorable first NFL road game had the perfect ending.
After drilling five field goals in the Ravens' 31-13 win over the Dallas Cowboys in the second preseason game, Loop was officially named Baltimore's next kicker and heir to Justin Tucker.
It's no surprise considering the rookie is the only kicker on Baltimore's roster. But it's also no surprise because Loop has kicked so well.
The only surprise was for Loop, who found out from a reporter that Head Coach John Harbaugh had officially named him the kicker just minutes earlier in his postgame press conference.
"Oh, nice. That's fun!" Loop said. "It's special. It's something that I can celebrate a little bit with my family."
A native of the Dallas suburbs in Lucas, Texas, Loop had plenty of family to celebrate with. He estimated that he had about 30 friends and family at AT&T Stadium, and they even came equipped with "LOOP! THERE IT IS" signs they unfurled every time he made a kick.
Loop made five field goals from 29, 51, 42, 36, and 53 yards, respectively. The only blemish on his spectacular night was a miss (wide left) on a 50-yard attempt in the fourth quarter. But even that proved to be a positive, he said, because he bounced back minutes later to nail his longest kick of the night.
"I would say that even builds more confidence; when maybe you fall short of your process once, but then you can come back and just go back into that process," Loop said. "It builds those repetitions and just makes you feel more confident and comfortable."
Loop has made more than 90% of his field goal attempts in Ravens training camp. He has now gone 6-of-8 in preseason games. Loop has a massive leg and has shown the ability to bounce back quickly after misses.
"He will be the kicker," Harbaugh said. "He has earned it, and he'll get another chance to get back out there next week and kick some more and just keep improving. But, I just appreciate the fact that he wants to make them all, but he had a good night."
Saturday night's game was another step – kicking in an NFL road game for the first time. Doing so in his hometown stadium, making five kicks, and being named the kicker once and for all made it even more special.
"It's fun to come back to Dallas, be in this stadium and play the Cowboys," Loop said. "Growing up here, that's something that is really big. Just being able to get in front of my family again was really special. It's just so fun."
