Ravens' Justin Tucker Blames Acrisure Stadium For Terrible Outing Against The Steelers In Week 11

The Pittsburgh Steelers barely defeated the Baltimore Ravens 18-16 in their first AFC North game of the 2024 season. The Steelers are now 4-0 since Russell Wilson took over as the quarterback and 8-2 on the season, but they didn’t score a touchdown on Sunday against the Ravens. They still managed to secure the win, thanks in large part to an uncharacteristically rough outing from Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, one of the best in the NFL. Tucker missed two field goals, a rare misstep for the usually reliable kicker.

Tucker’s missed opportunities proved crucial, as had he converted even one of those kicks, the Steelers likely would have walked away with a loss. Despite a lackluster performance on offense, the Steelers’ defense held strong, giving them just enough of a chance to win the game. With the score tight and no touchdowns on the board for Pittsburgh, every field goal attempt became even more significant, and Tucker’s misses became the turning point.

After the game, Tucker addressed his missed field goals, explaining that the conditions at Acrisure Stadium played a role in his rare off day. The veteran kicker noted that the elements at the stadium were difficult to navigate, and while he took full responsibility for his performance, he acknowledged that the environment might have had an impact on his accuracy. 

"I wouldn’t say the surface was an issue but it wasn’t ideal," Tucker said. "You know that is something that we make it a point to account for by going out there in pre-game warm ups and getting our feet under us… We have dealt with that plenty of times, here, elsewhere, at home and then throughout the game the most action takes place in between the hashes and naturally it just gets chewed up."

Tucker was careful not to place the blame solely on the field for his two misses, but he did admit that the surface wasn't ideal. Meanwhile, the field proved to be more than suitable for Steelers kicker Chris Boswell, who had an outstanding day. 

Boswell went a perfect 6-for-6 on his field goal attempts, accounting for all 18 of the Steelers' points. His performance included a 57-yard bomb, making him the star of the game.

Steelers' Boswell Remains Humble When Asked About Ravens' Justin Tucker 

Boswell's flawless outing stood in stark contrast to Tucker's struggles, and the Steelers' kicker was naturally asked after the game if he felt ready to take the crown from Tucker. 

While Boswell humbly deflected the question, acknowledging Tucker's legendary status, his stellar performance added to the growing sense of confidence around his ability to deliver when it matters most.

"No, not even close," Boswell said. "That dude is a legend and a Hall of Famer. Next thing you know he will go on another 100 field goal streak and everyone will forget about this."

Tucker missed a 47-yarder and a 50-yarder, though he did manage to convert a 54-yard field goal. Steeler Nation was ecstatic to see the usually flawless Tucker struggle, as his missed attempts ultimately played a significant role in helping the Steelers secure the win. While Tucker is undeniably one of the greatest kickers in NFL history, missing a couple of kicks is hardly a major concern for Boswell, who knows that even the best can have an off day.

While the Steelers are grateful for Boswell’s reliability and the standout season he’s having, Head Coach Mike Tomlin admitted after the game that he’s growing tired of seeing Boswell as the star. 

The kicker’s performance highlighted the offense's struggles, and Tomlin made it clear that the team needs to improve in that area. Steelers fans, while thankful for Boswell’s contributions, are hopeful that they won’t need to rely on him for every point moving forward and would much rather see the offense take charge.

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