Justin Tucker is the most accurate kicker in NFL history and holds the game's longest field goal at 66 yards. But the last two years have been a struggle from deep for him.
After missing a 56-yard attempt in Baltimore's 26-23 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, Tucker is 1-for-7 on kicks from 50+ yards since the start of last season, including one block.
"I just misfired on the one from 56 [yards]," Tucker said postgame. "[I] left three points out there that we certainly could have used down the stretch in this game."
Tucker's kick could have helped keep Baltimore from falling to 0-2 for the first time since 2015. Tucker is the only current Raven who was on that team, which finished 5-11, and he doesn't want a repeat of that year.
"Trying to overanalyze or dwell on a mistake or a performance that is not up to our collective standard, that's not going to do us any good," Tucker said. "What is going to help us is continuing to trust the process, and just come together as a team, and get to work.
"This is a long season. We're 0-2, but we have every reason to be confident. We can clean up some things. I think everybody in here would say the real accountability is taking the burden of blame on yourself so somebody else doesn't have to. And everybody else in this locker room is built just like that. I think we're going to be just fine. We're going to be a really good football team."
Earlier in the week, Special Teams Coordinator Chris Horton said he's not concerned about Tucker's troubles from deep, and after the game, Tucker echoed the same sediments. He's just focused on each individual kick.
"As simply as I can put it, it's not my favorite topic of discussion, but I just missed the kick," Tucker said. "I don't want to continue having this conversation. When I go out on the field, I'm confident that I'm going to nail every single kick, no matter where we are on the field. Today was no different."
Up next for Baltimore is a trip to Dallas to take on the Cowboys, who are coming off a 44-19 blowout loss to the New Orleans Saints at home. For Tucker and the rest of the team, it's about moving past a disappointing start and learning from their mistakes.
"We have to keep going," Tucker said. "You just have to trust the process, [and] just come in and work, each and every day. Whether it's on the field or in the meeting room. 'Harbs' mentioned to the team right after the game here in the locker room, that we just need to come together, and it's true.
"We've had experiences in the past where we've had to really grind to get going, or we really had to slug it out to get our first win. But this team is too talented, too hard-working with the leadership that we have in the locker room and all throughout our coaching staff. We have every reason to be confident. Every little thing that we can address, we will. I think the key is to just come together and keep working."
