NFL kickers off to historic begin that is turning the league the other way up by means of the primary two weeks

By way of two weeks, the 2024 NFL season is popping into the 12 months of the kicker. 

Collectively, the NFL’s 32 kickers have been so good this 12 months from lengthy vary that coaches have been far more prepared to ship out their kicker for a long-distance discipline aim try. By way of the primary two weeks of the season, kickers have mixed to hit 35 of 39 discipline targets (89.7%) from 50 yards or longer, which is the very best accuracy price ever by means of two weeks.  

The loopy factor about that stat is that essentially the most correct kicker in NFL historical past, Justin Tucker, is responsible for two of those four misses. 

The truth that kickers are hitting this many discipline targets from lengthy vary is unprecedented. As just lately as 2006, there have been solely 40 discipline targets from 50 yards or longer for the ENTIRE SEASON. This 12 months, the NFL’s 32 kickers have nearly handed that quantity in simply two weeks. In 2006, kickers hit simply 47.1% of their makes an attempt from 50 yards or lengthy, which tells you ways far more correct gamers have gotten on the place. 

As a result of onslaught of lengthy vary discipline targets, groups have been making an attempt kicks at the next price, which has arrange an unprecedented begin to the NFL season: By way of the primary two weeks of the season, there have been extra discipline targets (141) than touchdowns, which marks the primary time that is ever occurred. There have been 136 touchdowns this 12 months with 128 of these approaching the offensive facet of the ball and eight approaching protection or particular groups. If that pattern continues, we’ll see one other NFL first as a result of there has NEVER been a season in league historical past the place there have been extra discipline targets than touchdowns. 

Earlier than 2010, it was fairly widespread to see coaches name for a punt as an alternative of sending out their kicker out for a discipline aim of 55 yards or longer, however they have been very happy to attempt these lengthy kicks this 12 months. There have been 11 discipline aim makes an attempt of 55 or longer this 12 months with kickers hitting 9 of them (81.8%). And as soon as once more, to place that in perspective, there have been solely eight makes an attempt of 55 yards or longer in the course of the ENTIRE 2006 season with kickers solely hitting 25% of these. 

The explosion of lengthy kicks has been led by Houston’s Kaʻimi Fairbairn, who has six discipline targets of fifty yards or extra by means of the primary two weeks. That quantity is the NFL document for essentially the most discipline targets of fifty yards or longer in a two-game span. 

In Week 1, Fairbairn and Chris Boswell each hit three discipline targets from 50 yards or longer, marking the primary time in NFL historical past that a number of kickers completed that feat in the identical week. 

Relating to lengthy vary discipline targets, the sport has modified. Kickers at the moment are extra correct and due to that, coaches at the moment are extra trusting. For example, we noticed Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy ship out Brandon Aubrey for a 66-yard try in Week 1. 

Though Aubrey made the kick to tie Justin Tucker’s all-time document for longest discipline aim, the Cowboys kicker will not be going within the document e book as a result of the play acquired known as again as a consequence of a delay of recreation. 

It will not be shocking in any respect if Aubrey finally breaks the document for longest discipline aim and it will not be shocking in any respect if this group of NFL kickers ends the 2024 season as essentially the most correct from lengthy vary in league historical past.