ExtremeRavens Posted yesterday at 08:58 PM Posted yesterday at 08:58 PM Steelers kicker Chris Boswell immediately went to Tyler Loop after the rookie’s missed go-ahead field goal attempt in Baltimore’s 26-24 loss to Pittsburgh. As Loop walked slowly toward the locker room, still holding his helmet after the 44-yard misfire that ended the Ravens’ season Sunday night, Boswell stepped in front of him and took his hand for a moment. “I just wanted to run over to him and let him know, a kick is a kick. Got to move past it,” Boswell said. “When we fail, it’s in the public eye for everybody to see.” Had the Ravens won, Baltimore would have claimed the AFC North title and hosted the Houston Texans on Monday night in the AFC wild-card round. Instead, it’s Pittsburgh in the postseason. Loop had been perfect on kicks under 50 yards — 29-for-29 — before the miss and finished the season converting 88.2% of his attempts. After the game, he said that he knew he missed the kick the moment it left his foot, saying that he struck the ball too low. “I got back there and looked at the play clock. I saw 22 seconds. I took my steps, took over. I visualized what the ball looks like when it’s held down. Jordan [Stout] picked up his fingers, and that was my cue to go. I saw the ball, tried to visualize the ball going through the uprights where I wanted it, swung and the result didn’t match my process,” Loop said. For Boswell, an 11-year veteran with the Steelers, the moment was an opportunity for the young kicker to learn and grow. “Anybody can go through it. I just kind of wanted to give him that from someone who’s been there,” Boswell said. “There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel type thing. He knows this, but it’s up to him and he just got to move on and it’s about the next kick.” Pittsburgh’s kicker helped create the opportunity one drive earlier. After quarterback Aaron Rodgers hit receiver Calvin Austin III for a 26-yard touchdown with 55 seconds left, Boswell’s extra point attempt was blocked by safety Keondre Jackson. Keaton Mitchell returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards, and Lamar Jackson then led the Ravens 27 more yards to the Pittsburgh 26. Boswell said that he wasn’t concerned whether his kick, which missed wide right, was tipped or simply mishit. He said that he just has to make it next time. “You can’t tell on film whether it’s tipped or whether it’s just a shank kick,” Boswell said. “But at the end of the day, whether it’s a block or not, it’s on me and I got to put it in and we’ll move past it.” Have a news tip? Contact Michael Howes at mhowes@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, or x.com/Mikephowes. View the full article Quote
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