Justin Tucker remains the only option for the Baltimore Ravens at kicker, and head coach John Harbaugh emphasized on Monday he plans to keep it that way.
Tucker missed two field goals Sunday in Baltimore’s 18-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, a defeat that pushes the Steelers into full control of the AFC North.
Tucker made a 54-yard field goal after missing from 47 and 50 yards to fall from the top of the all-time NFL accuracy rankings.
“The best option right now is to get Justin back on point because he is fully capable of doing it,” Harbaugh said. “We certainly haven’t lost any confidence in Justin Tucker.”
Carolina Panthers kicker Eddy Pineiro moved ahead of Tucker by percentage points. Pineiro is the NFL’s most accurate kicker ever at 89.4 percent (101 of 113) with Tucker standing at 89.3 entering Week 12. In 460 career tries, Tucker has made 411 field goals in 460 attempts.
The six total missed FGs this season (in 22 attempts) exceed his total number of misses last season (five in 37 attempts). He already has tied for the second-most misses in a season during his 13-year career.
“He’s definitely our best option and he’s going to make a lot of kicks,” Harbaugh said. “I really believe that going forward. But it’s up to him and the guys he works with every day, to make those balls go straight. He’s going to get it figured out. We have coaches. We have technique, we look at the tape, he’s practicing well. He’s got to kick it straight.”
It was only the sixth time in his career that Tucker missed two field goals in the same game. He has five missed field goals in the Ravens’ four losses.
Tucker’s field-goal percentage of 72.7 has never been lower through 11 games into the regular season.
Harbaugh said there is no point or purpose in trying to find competition to push Tucker this week or going forward.
“You’d have to find that competition first if you’re going to be blunt about it,” the coach said. “Where is that competition?”