Harrison Butker blew a 54-yard field goal against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, costing the Kansas City Chiefs a shot at extending their lead and instead setting up Denver’s game-winning touchdown drive. This wasn’t just some routine kick, either; it was a dagger that twisted the knife in a seriously messed up kicking situation.
The Denver Disaster and Reid’s Blind Spot
The Chiefs were up by three points, driving down to the Denver 30-yard line. It was third-and-2, prime territory for a short gain or, at worst, a manageable field goal. But Patrick Mahomes got sacked for a six-yard loss. Suddenly, what should have been a 48-yard attempt turned into a 54-yard missile launch. Butker stepped up, and just like too many times recently, he missed it wide to the right. Ballgame for the Broncos.
After the game, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid tried to defend the decision to send Butker out for that deep try. “Those are hindsight. It ended up being what it was,” Reid said, according to FOX 4 Kansas City. He added, “But it’s within Harrison’s range.” Hold up, Coach. Is it really? Because if you’ve been watching, like we have, that 54-yard range is looking more like a distant memory than a current reality.
The Numbers Don’t Lie, And Neither Do Our Seahawks
This Denver disaster was Butker’s third *significant* miss in just two weeks. His job was already on thin ice, especially after the Chiefs signed former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad earlier this week. Yeah, *that* Justin Tucker, who’s been out of the league since 2024 after some serious sexual misconduct accusations, originally reported by The Baltimore Banner. That tells you just how desperate things are getting in Kansas City.
The cold, hard stats back it up, too. Through 2023, Butker was money: 89.1% on total field goals and a solid 70% (28 of 40) from beyond 50 yards. But since then? It’s a whole different story. His total percentage has dropped to 82.2%, and from beyond 50 yards, he’s a dismal 8-of-18, or 44.4%. And guess who got a front-row seat to that decline last week? Our very own Seattle Seahawks.
Butker missed *two* field goals in the Chiefs’ loss to the Seahawks, including one from beyond 50 yards that fell short by several yards. That miss alone put him at a pathetic 1-of-5 from 50-plus yards *this season*. He also pushed a 45-yarder wide to the right in that game. You can’t ignore these numbers, no matter how much you want to back your guy, Coach Reid. The trust is gone.
Whether you agreed with the kick decision or not, the message is clear: the Chiefs cannot rely on Harrison Butker in crucial moments anymore. His time in Kansas City is on borrowed time, whether it’s Tucker or some other kicker who steps in to try and fix this mess. This is a problem that’s getting harder and harder to ignore.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply