Justin Tucker, widely regarded as one of the NFL’s top kickers, found himself in an unusual spotlight after the Baltimore Ravens’ narrow 18-16 defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Known for his reliability, Tucker uncharacteristically missed two field goal attempts in this pivotal matchup, while Steelers kicker Chris Boswell shined, completing all six of his attempts at Acrisure Stadium.

Post-game, Tucker addressed the media, acknowledging the challenges posed by the field’s surface, although stopping short of blaming it entirely. “The surface wasn’t an issue, but it wasn’t ideal,” Tucker mentioned, referring to the conditions at Acrisure Stadium, which had also seen action from the Pittsburgh Panthers’ game against Clemson just a day before.

While the 34-year-old kicker highlighted preparation as a constant in dealing with such field conditions, fans and followers were quick to voice their opinions on social media, some humorously pointing out that Boswell’s perfect performance left little room for excuses.

One user commented on how Tucker seemed unaffected during warm-ups, and others noted that Boswell didn’t encounter any similar issues, showing up strong under pressure. The conversation across social media emphasized that both teams had played on the same field under identical conditions, making the argument for the field’s impact less convincing to some observers.

Historically, Tucker has been a model of consistency for the Ravens, making his current struggles notable. His field goal completion rate has dipped to a career-low of 72.7% this season, a significant drop from his lifetime average of 89.3%. Notably, he hasn’t seen numbers like these since the 2015 season when he posted an 82.5% success rate.

This dip in performance comes at a critical juncture for the Ravens. Sunday’s loss adjusted their standings, with the team now holding a 7-4 record, trailing the division-leading Steelers at 8-2.

With six games remaining, the pressure mounts on Tucker to regain his form. The importance of a dependable special teams unit is magnified in the playoff chase, often tipping the balance in tightly contested matches.

For Baltimore, hoping to make a deep playoff run, Tucker’s bounce-back could be pivotal. The Ravens need him at his best to optimize their chances of claiming the AFC North crown and advancing in postseason play.