Another Sunday, another Justin Tucker clutch kick.
So many times, the 10-year vet has come through when the Ravens needed him the most. When the Ravens offense was on the verge of exhaustion yesterday after 98 snaps, the 4-time All-Pro stepped up and nailed another game-winning kick, this time from 36 yards away.
In his 152-game career, Tucker has scored 1,290 points, which equates to about 8.5 points per game. Home, away, indoors, outdoors, day, night, regular season, post season…no matter what situation, we’ve come to believe he’s going to make the kick.
If someone asked you which was his most memorable kick, you’d have a hard time picking one. For me, the double overtime game-winning kick in Denver in the 2012 divisional playoff comes to mind first. Then, surely, the NFL-record 66-yarder he made earlier this season is at the top of many people’s lists.
Tucker has been amazing during his 10-year tenure in Baltimore and shows no signs of slowing down. His average annual value of $5 million is the highest in the league among kickers, and for good reason. Knowing the Ravens play in such a tough division often influenced by field position, it’s essential they have a reliable kicker.
Tucker is more than just reliable. He’s by far the best in the league right now and has a very good chance at finishing his career as the best in the two major metrics for kickers—percentage and points.
As it stands, Tucker has scored 1,290 points in his career. With 175 more points, he’d be the Ravens’ all-time leading scorer. At his current rate, Tucker will achieve that milestone in the 12th game of next season.
Think about that. Although this is only the 26th season of Ravens football, Tucker—initially an undrafted free agent—is an overwhelming favorite to be the team’s all-time leading score in his 11th season.
Again, as great as he is now, he’s headed for much bigger things than leading scorer in franchise history. Tucker has a robust chance at finishing his career as the NFL’s all-time top scorer.
Tucker—who turns 32 on November 11th—is aiming at the NFL’s current points leader: Adam Vinatieri, who’s scored 2,673 points in his career. If you’re a kicker and you’ve proven to your team, you’re reliable from a far distance, they’re more likely to give you opportunities to attempt field goals. With more opportunities comes more points.
Vinatieri has converted 62.5 percent of his kicks attempted from 50 yards or further. Tucker has made 71.4 percent of his kicks from the same distance. As a matter of fact, Tucker’s current conversion rate is 90.8 percent—an all-time best, and a full 7 percentage points better than Vinatieri’s.
If Tucker is to take the top spot before he’s finished playing, it won’t be easy. He will have to score another 1,384 points. To do that, Tucker would need to maintain his current conversion rate thru the end of the 2031 season, which would be his 21st in the NFL.
Even if he doesn’t achieve that mark, just getting close will garner consideration for him to be inducted into Canton. That said, it’ll still be a challenge as there are only four kickers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. For Tucker to make it, he likely will have to maintain his premier level of execution for another decade.
It’s worth noting that Tucker won’t always be able to kick this far. He will struggle (we think) at some point, and I suppose there’s a chance (albeit very small) that he won’t always be a Raven. If that happens and he plays for a team that doesn’t move the ball as well as Baltimore currently does, he’ll have less opportunities to make kicks and accumulate points. But, if he wins another world championship, Tucker would all but lock up a gold jacket.
Whatever happens, though, wherever his career ends up, we’ve been incredibly lucky to witness him do what he does with such confidence and consistency.
We don’t know how good we have it. Tucker is a true living legend.
Born in Baltimore, Mike had long been drawn to sports of all kinds. Growing up watching Cal Ripken play ever day gave him a great example for which to attack every endeavor he undertakes.
When the Ravens came to town, though, that’s when Mike found his passion. Since that time, he’s tried to gain every bit of knowledge he could. Now as a high school coach, Mike is able to take his film study and appreciation of the game to a new level.
To engage with Mike on social media, follow him on Twitter @MikeFastNFL.