On December 8th, 2013, Matt Prater nailed a 64-yard field goal for the Denver Broncos. To this day, Prater’s big boot is the longest, successfully-converted field goal in NFL history.
Just the other day, Baltimore Ravens’ kicker Justin Tucker stated he thinks he could beat Prater’s record. But he didn’t stop there. Tucker not only said he could beat it, the kicker said if he was in Denver and the conditions were in his favor, he could make a field goal from 84 yards out.
“If conditions are prime, like last season we opened up in Denver, the weather was warm, the field was nice, and you’re up at altitude so the ball just carries,” Tucker said. “In pregame I think I hit the crossbar from 85, so if the situation is just prime, then maybe 84 and a half yards.”
'If the situation is prime then maybe 84.5 yards' @jtuck9 on the longest attempt he would be willing to try https://t.co/hIIMsXtrrp
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) August 4, 2016
While Prater hasn’t publicly responded, current Broncos’ kicker Brandon McManus has.
“I will give him an all-expense paid trip if he can do it,’’ McManus told KUSA. “I’ll pay for his flight, his hotel, if he wants to come out here and do it. I’ll kick with him, I’ll witness it and I’ll vouch to the world that he can do it.’’
McManus went on to say he watched Tucker warm up and never saw him kick one from beyond the mid-70s, and even those were iffy.
While 84 yards may be out of the question, beating Prater’s record might not be. While playing at Detroit in 2013, Tucker nailed the longest field goal of his career from 61 yards out. Pro Football Talk reported that kickers and scientists have estimated the altitude in Denver could add 10 percent to a kicker’s range, making it possible for Tucker to beat Prater’s record if given the chance.
Sadly, we won’t get to see Tucker take a shot at history, at least in the regular season this year. Denver and Baltimore aren’t scheduled to play each other in the regular season, but could always meet in the AFC Playoffs.
