PHILADELPHIA — The final play of the NFL regular season was a decisive one. A failed 44-yard field goal by Ravens rookie kicker Tyler Loop as time expired sent the Pittsburgh Steelers to the playoffs as the AFC North winners.
“It’s hard to kick in the NFL,” Philadelphia Eagles special teams coordinator Michael Clay said Tuesday at the NovaCare Complex. “And especially here in the Northeast.”
Clay brought up Loop’s crucial mistake when asked about Eagles kicker Jake Elliott and the two-time Super Bowl winner’s struggles entering the postseason.
Elliott has been up and down. The 30-year-old has connected on 20 of 27 field-goal attempts for a 71.4% conversion rate this season. That clip ranks 31st among NFL kickers with at least 20 attempts. It’s also the second-worst percentage of Elliott’s career.
But converting high-pressure kicks is no easy task; just ask Loop. And Elliott, who has missed five field goals in his last seven games, has Clay’s unwavering belief ahead of Sunday’s NFC Wild Card game against the San Francisco 49ers.
“Having Jake, a nine-year veteran who’s had huge kicks in this stadium and around the NFL, you’re always going to feel confident when he’s on your team,” Clay said. “He still exudes that confidence every day when he walks in this building. He doesn’t change anything about himself. He’s going to go out there and put his best foot forward to help this team.”
And to his credit, Elliott has done that when it’s mattered most.
In 15 playoff appearances, Elliott has converted 26 of 27 field goals. His 26 makes are the eighth-most in NFL postseason history, behind only Adam Vinatieri, Stephen Gostkowski, David Akers, Harrison Butker, Gary Andersen, Mason Crosby and Robbie Gould.
That’s good company to keep. The kicker in these playoffs with most experience beyond Elliott? Steelers veteran Chris Boswell, who has drilled 17 of 17 postseason attempts.
Elliott also has another unique distinction: his nine Super Bowl field goals are tied for the most in NFL history with Butker. He converted three against the Patriots in Super Bowl LII, two against the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII and four in Super Bowl LIX.
The only other kicker in the playoff field with Super Bowl experience is the Bills’ Matt Prater. And the 41-year-old might not even play after suffering an injury in Week 18.
Five of the 14 postseason kickers have no playoff experience. Harrison Mevis (Rams), Ryan Fitzgerald (Panthers) and Andy Borregales (Patriots) are rookies. Cam Little (Jaguars) is a second-year player. Eddy Pineiro (49ers) hasn’t been to the playoffs in his eight years.
Now, Pineiro, who will face the Eagles on Sunday, is pretty good. He’s converted 28 of 29 field goals (96.6%) this year while drilling six of seven from 50-plus yards.
Pineiro, Borregales, Little, Mevis, Boswell, Ka’imi Fairbairn (Texans), Jason Myers (Seahawks), Cameron Dicker (Chargers), Cairo Santos (Bears) and Wil Lutz (Broncos) have combined to convert 59 of 82 field goals (80%) from 50-plus. Elliott has made 4 of 8 from distance.
But no one has Elliott’s experience. And no one has as much confidence in Elliott as Clay.
“He’s a guy that’s won multiple Super Bowls, played in multiple playoff games,” Clay said. “So obviously you’re going to feel confident in that.
“But it’s not just him. … You could have the greatest regular season performance from a special teams (unit) that you could have. But if you have one blunder in the playoffs, you’re cleaning out your locker on Monday. So everyone’s got a clean slate.”
