Is Justin Tucker clutch?
Yes, very much so. Tucker has kicked nine game-winning field goals in his three and a half years in the league. Additionally, he is 14-14 in game-tying or go-ahead field goals in his career in the 4th Quarter and Overtime. Both of the Ravens’ wins this season have come on last-second field goals by Tucker.
In this week’s Flashback Friday, let’s revisit each of Tucker’s game-winners.
1. September 23, 2012: Ravens 31 Patriots 30 – 27 yard field goal as time expired.
Ahh. Everyone remembers this one. The Ravens trailed the Patriots by 9 with less than four minutes remaining in the game, but managed a furious comeback that led to the game-winner by Tucker at the last second. Many will remember the infamous “manure” chants (as Al Michaels famously called it) by the fans as the replacement refs gave the Patriots approximately 7,654 fourth quarter first downs via Ravens penalties.
The game-winner by Tucker barely squeaked inside the right upright (well, more like over it). Patriots coach and multiple-time cheater Bill Belichick was fined for grabbing the referee in protest afterwards as he believed the kick was no good. The kick was clearly good.
November 25, 2012: Ravens 16 Chargers 13 (OT) – 38 yard field goal with 1:07 remaining in OT
The “Hey Diddle Diddle, Ray Rice up the middle” game. With the Ravens facing 4th and 29 on their own 37 with 1:59 remaining, Joe Flacco hit Ray Rice on a check down, and Rice scampered for 29 yards to barely get the first down. This drive led to a game-tying Justin Tucker 38-yard field goal as time expired in regulation. Tucker would hit the game-winner in overtime from the exact same distance. The win propelled the Ravens to 9-2 on the year.
January 12, 2013: Divisional Playoffs: Ravens 38 Broncos 35 (2 OT) – 47 yard field goal with 13:18 remaining in the second overtime.
The Mile High Miracle game. One of the biggest wins in Ravens history. A true classic. The game was tied at the end of the first, second, third, forth, and fifth (1st overtime) quarters. Following a Corey Graham interception of Peyton Manning in overtime and a Ray Rice 11 yard run, Justin Tucker came on and connected on what is still the most memorable kick in Ravens history. The Ravens shocked the Broncos and the rest of the world by winning this game. The team went on to beat the Patriots in the AFC Championship game the following week and 49ers in the Super Bowl two weeks after that.
October 6, 2013: Ravens 26 Dolphins 23 – 44 yard field goal with 1:46 remaining in the 4th quarter.
The game was tied at 23 with 4:07 remaining in regulation, and the Ravens were getting the ball back on their own 40 yard line. Following several Ray Rice runs and a 14 yard completion to Torrey Smith, the Ravens were in field goal range. Tucker connected from 44 yards out to give the Ravens the lead with 1:46 remaining in the 4th quarter. The Dolphins were able to get in field goal range themselves, but their kicker missed a 57 yard attempt that sealed the victory for the Ravens.
November 10, 2013: Ravens 20 Bengals 17 (OT) – 46 yard field goal with 5:34 remaining in OT
The 4-6 Ravens led 17-0 at halftime, but were unable to score in the 2nd half. A 51 yard Hail Mary from Andy Dalton was answered by A.J. Green in the end zone on the last play of regulation to tie the game. By my calculations, that was Green’s 90th straight game with a touchdown against the Ravens in his career. Tucker saved the Ravens from a gut-wrenching loss in OT with a 46 yarder to win it.
Sadly, this remains the last time the Ravens beat the Bengals.
December 17, 2013: Ravens 18 Lions 16 – 61 yard field goal with 38 seconds remaining in the 4th quarter
This was the Monday Night football game where Matt Elam punked out Calvin Johnson when he called him “pretty old” during the week leading up to the game. Megatron took exception to the comments but failed to deliver during the game as he had nearly as many drops as receptions. Justin Tucker accounted for the all the Ravens’ points as he connected on six field goals. His final field goal just barely, and I mean barely, sneaked through the bottom right corner of the goal post to give the Ravens the lead. Matt Elam picked off Matthew Stafford’s final pass of the evening on the next drive that ended the game with a dose of poetic justice and irony.
Editor’s note – This field goal elicited this awesome reaction from the Lions’ sideline:
And then this reaction from Tucker:
[RELATED: GIF: Lions’ Sideline Reacts to Tucker’s 61-Yard Field Goal]
September 21, 2014: Ravens 23 Browns 21 – 32 yard field goal as time expired
The Browns gave the Ravens all they could handle, as they lead the game 21-20 with just under two minutes remaining. Following a clutch Steve Smith catch down the Browns’ sideline, the Ravens were in business. Tucker came on to deliver the 32-yard knockout blow, and the Browns lost to the Ravens for the 11th time in the previous 12 meetings.
October 1, 2015: Ravens 23 Steelers 20 (OT) – 52 yard field goal with 5:08 left in overtime
The first win of the season! The dichotomy between NFL kickers was on fully display in this one. Steelers’ kicker Josh Scobee missed two field goals in the final minutes of regulation that would have sealed the win for Pittsburgh. After his second miss, Joe Flacco led yet another game-tying drive, which was capped off by a 42-yarder from Tucker to end regulation. Following two 4th down defensive stops, Flacco led the offense down the field far enough to allow Tucker to do his thing once again in the toughest stadium in the NFL to kick.
The Steelers lost to the Ravens on their home field for the 2nd consecutive time. Sad times for the black and yellow.
November 1, 2015: Ravens 29 Chargers 26 – 39 yard field goal as time expired
The most recent! Justin Tucker connected on five field goals during the game and gave the Ravens their first win in a month. It was an emotional game that saw Steve Smith leave with a season-ending injury, Ray Lewis return to the Ravens’ sideline, and Jacoby Jones play against his former team for the first time. Joe Flacco played his best game of the season in leading the Ravens’ offense.
