Super Bowl LIX is shaping up to be one of the most evenly matched games in NFL history, with the Kansas City Chiefs favored by just 1.5 points over the Philadelphia Eagles. In a game expected to be this close, a single field goal could decide the outcome- just like it did in Super Bowl LVII when Harrison Butker drilled a 27-yarder with eight seconds left to give the Chiefs a 38-35 victory.
With the pressure of the Super Bowl, history has shown that nothing is guaranteed when it comes to kicking. The overall field goal percentage in Super Bowl history is 75.4%, and from 45 yards or longer, it drops to just 52.2%. Every attempt is a high-stakes moment that can turn a kicker into a hero or a villain.
Two of the Most Clutch Postseason Kickers in NFL History
If Super Bowl LIX comes down to a kick, both teams should feel confident in their specialists.
- Jake Elliott (Eagles): Fifth-most accurate kicker in NFL playoff history (95.7%).
- Harrison Butker (Chiefs): Has made 32 straight postseason kicks, including field goals and extra points.
- Both rank among the 13 kickers in NFL history with a postseason field goal percentage above 90% (minimum 10 attempts).
JAKE ELLIOTT FROM 59 YARDS IN THE RAIN
— NFL (@NFL) November 27, 2023
📺: #BUFvsPHI on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/1dOevJjoZZ pic.twitter.com/pIpxrFF6R7
Elliott thrives under pressure. His favorite career field goal came in the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII win over the Patriots when he drilled a 46-yarder to put his team up by eight with 65 seconds left. Meanwhile, Butker owns the record for most career Super Bowl field goals (9) and hit the longest field goal in Super Bowl history (57 yards) last year against the 49ers.
Elliott’s Long-Range Struggles in 2024
Elliott has been nearly automatic from 50 yards and in (34 of 36, 94.4%), but he’s 0-for-7 from 51+ yards this season. Despite the struggles, he remains confident in his process.
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“I actually hit the ball pretty well all year,” Elliott said to CBS Sports. “Sometimes, those ones don’t go through and they’re unfortunate. But I still feel very good about how I’m hitting the ball.”
Three of his seven misses came from 57+ yards, whereas all NFL kickers combined to hit just 58.5% of their attempts in 2024. Elliott has the leg- he nailed a 59-yarder in driving rain last season- but long-distance consistency has eluded him this year.
JAKE ELLIOTT FROM 59 YARDS IN THE RAIN
— NFL (@NFL) November 27, 2023
📺: #BUFvsPHI on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/1dOevJjoZZ pic.twitter.com/pIpxrFF6R7
Butker’s Journey Back from Injury
Butker has also battled adversity. After missing four NFL games with a knee injury, he struggled upon his return, missing two kicks in his first three games. But he didn’t panic.
“You’ve got to be consistent over weeks and months,” Butker said. “It’s about making sure that even on your worst day, you’re still a pretty good kicker.”
He also revealed that kickers focus more on their mental approach than their mechanics midseason. “If the ball is going in, keep doing that. If it’s not, what’s the smallest adjustment I can make? A lot of times, the best thing a kicker can do is adjust how they mentally approach the kick.”
As an industrial engineer and student-athlete at Georgia Tech, Harrison Butker tracked all his kicks in an Excel spreadsheet.
— Georgia Tech (@GeorgiaTech) January 31, 2020
Now @Buttkicker7 has helped lead the @Chiefs to the Super Bowl as their leading scorer. #SBLIV pic.twitter.com/kwavrGmVNB
Adjusting to Kicking Indoors at the Superdome
You might think kicking in a dome makes things easier, but Butker pointed out that switching from grass to turf affects a kicker’s plant foot.
“Every surface causes your plant foot to sink a different amount,” he said. “Some turf you sink a lot, some you don’t. Some grass is super hard, so you don’t sink at all. That affects your swing a little bit.”
Neither kicker has much experience at the Super Bowl Superdome:
- Butker: One career field goal (22 yards).
- Elliott: One attempt, a missed 60-yarder.
Elliott is 5-for-5 on field goals in Super Bowls, tied for the most without a miss. Butker owns the most career Super Bowl field goals (9). Their track records suggest they’ll be ready, no matter the conditions.
Will a Kicker Decide Super Bowl LIX?
Both Butker and Elliott have already cemented themselves in Super Bowl history. With a game as close as this, it wouldn’t be surprising if one of them delivers a championship-winning kick. Whether it’s Butker extending his record for most Super Bowl field goals or Elliott shaking off his long-distance struggles at the perfect moment, the kicking battle could define Super Bowl LIX.
