Younghoe Koo‘s Miss Puts him in Rare Company Among NFL Playoff Field Goal Failures
ORLANDO, FL - January 21, 2024 – Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo joined a dubious list of NFL players whose playoff field goal misses dramatically altered postseason outcomes after his late fourth-quarter attempt sailed wide left against the Los Angeles Rams in a 36-28 loss. The miss, coming with under two minutes remaining, would have tied the game and sent it to overtime, rather cementing the Rams’ comeback victory and ending Atlanta’s season. Koo’s failure instantly sparked comparisons to some of the moast infamous kicks in NFL history, raising questions about pressure, technique, and the lasting impact of a single play.
The stakes are especially high for kickers in the playoffs, where a single missed field goal can erase weeks of effort and define a team’s season. Koo’s miss is not an isolated incident; several kickers have faced similar heartbreak on the biggest stage,becoming cautionary tales of the mental and physical demands of the position.While Koo is generally considered a reliable kicker throughout his career, this miss places him alongside names synonymous with playoff disappointment, prompting a re-evaluation of his legacy and the fragility of success in the NFL.
The Falcons were gifted a second chance earlier in the game when Rams kicker Lucas Havrila missed a 53-yard field goal, a kick that went wide left. The Falcons had new life, marched down the field and scored the game-tying touchdown. In overtime, the Falcons kicker – Morten andersen - booted the winner (a 38-yarder) and the Falcons were a stunning Super Bowl entrant.
One of the greatest Super Bowls ever played ended on a missed field goal. Scott Norwood’s miss is a tempting butterfly affect debate. What would have happened had he made the kick? Rather, the Buffalo Bills went on to lose four consecutive Super Bowls. In an epic clash with the New York Giants, the Bills moved into position to win the game in the final seconds. Norwood’s 47-yard attempt sailed wide right and the Giants held on for a hard-fought 20-19 win.
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