Blair Walsh and the 10 worst kicker moments in NFL playoff history
By David Rouben
5. Blair Walsh – Seahawks vs. Vikings, 2016
This seems like an appropriate position. It wasn’t a bad enough miss to be considered one of the top 3, but make no mistake, it was very bad. In fact, Georgia fans can attest that this isn’t the first time he’s missed a field goal.
What made it so was that Blair Walsh was one of the best kickers this season. Earlier, he was a perfect 5-for-5 against the Giants, hitting a field goal from 53 yards out. He had already hit 3 field goals in a game where points were at a premium. A 27-yard chip shot is usually a gimme for any field goal kicker in the NFL. Instead, it cost his team a chance to eliminate one of the Super Bowl favorites in the NFC.
Before Blair Walsh's missed, 27-yard game-winning FG attempt, kickers had been 189-of-191 (99.0%) on FGs of 27 yards or shorter this season.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 10, 2016
The cold weather shouldn’t have been a factor for Walsh, given that he had hit three in the game already and was, at that point, 15-for-15 in temperatures of 20 degrees or less. The Vikings should be encouraged by how well they played against a team that has made two straight Super Bowl appearances, and this should be a stepping stone moving forward. But to have a win in your grasp only for it to slip away like that has to be incredibly painful. However,Walsh has recovered from this before and he will again.
Next: 4. Doug Brien