Just before halftime against the New York Jets, the Kansas City Chiefs gained 19 yards over two plays and set up a 56-yard field goal for kicker Harrison Butker with seven seconds remaining. A miss to the right drew groans — but also a flag; a call on the Jets gave Butker another shot at extending the lead, this time from only 51 yards away.
When that kick went right, marking his seventh missed field goal of the season, Chiefs fans made sure their displeasure was heard with thunderous boos.
It’s not just the two misses; Butker entered the game with the lowest made-field-goal percentage among qualified, active kickers (only former Los Angeles Rams kicker Harrison Mevis qualified with a lower rate). He is especially inefficient on long-range kicks; he is now 2 for 8 on kicks of 50 or more yards this season.
Arrowhead Stadium’s boos represented the feelings of many in Chiefs Kingdom. The team did not trot out Butker for another field-goal attempt on Sunday, though he made all five of his point-after attempts.
Late in the game, CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson pointed to the obvious: the team needs to seriously consider making the change and signing Justin Tucker to the active roster in Week 10. She said special-teams coordinator Dave Toub was hopeful Butker would go 100% against the Jets, so a tough conversation may be coming soon between the coaches and Kansas City’s long-time kicker.
