On Sunday against the Lions, Ravens kicker Justin Tucker set a new NFL record for the longest field goal ever made. As if the feat wasn’t impressive enough, it also sent the Ravens to victory as time expired.
Down by 17-16, Tucker booted a 66-yard kick that hit the crossbar and spun into the back of the net. According to NFL’s Next Gen Stats, Tucker only had a 10.4% chance of converting the field goal.
Before Tucker’s improbable game-winner, the previous record for longest field goal was set by Matt Prater in 2013 with a 64-yard kick.
“When you’re that far away, there’s a level of you have to abandon a certain amount of technique … to gain a little power and use the adrenaline and the feeling of the moment to get the ball to go,” Tucker explained. “I hop into it just a little more aggressively.”
Tucker has had quite a bit of luck at Ford Field. Back on December 16, 2013, he went six for six in field goal attempts to defeat Detroit 18-16, including a monstrous 61-yarder with 38 seconds left.
Tucker is arguably the greatest kicker in NFL history, converting 90.6% of his career field-goal attempts. It is only fitting that he is now the owner of one of football’s most elusive achievements.
