Baltimore Ravens fans are concerned about a drop in performance from their star kicker, Justin Tucker. For a decade, he’s been practically an automatic 3 points, but this year he’s missed a bit more than usual, and some on social media have come up with a reason for the dip in his stats.
The culprit, according to these theories, is none other than Kansas City Chiefs’ star tight end, Travis Kelce. During last season’s playoff game between the Ravens and the Chiefs, the two players had a clash, and Tucker hasn’t been quite the same since.
What is the “Travis Kelce curse” and how did it start?
It all began during the AFC Championship game last January 28when the Chiefs were facing the Ravens. Before the game started, during warm-ups, there was a bit of a turf conflict. Tucker was doing his stretching and kicking routine in the area designated for Kansas City’s warm-up.
Since neither side wanted to give up their space, Travis Kelce grabbed and tossed Tucker’s equipment to give Patrick Mahomes extra room to complete his warm-up drills.
Travis Kelce told Justin Tucker he needed to move because their QB Patrick Mahomes had to warm up. So Kelce kicked his ball away and threw his helmet. 😂 pic.twitter.com/pFF0DC1yA7
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) January 28, 2024
It hasn’t just been social media users linking this incident to Tucker’s performance. Even some analysts, like Ryan Clark from Inside the NFLhave mentioned it.
Justin Tucker got the Yipps y’all! Ever since Kelce threw his little place holder it’s been down hill.
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) November 8, 2024
Justin Tucker’s 2024 Stats
Has Tucker’s accuracy dropped that much since then? Well, a bit, but let’s not get carried away. Throughout his career, Tucker has been an elite kicker. This season, however, he has a 78.9% field goal percentage, placing him 33rd in the NFL.
In extra points, he’s still pretty reliable. Even though he missed one this Thursday against the Bengals, it was his first error of the season. He’s 37 for 38, which doesn’t exactly scream “curses and witchcraft.”
Does the “Travis Kelce curse” actually exist?
Most likely not. But at least on social media, some still blame his misses on the fact that Taylor Swift’s current boyfriend moved his stuff during warm-ups. A cause-and-effect relationship seems unlikely, but at the very least, people are entertained (and entertaining us) on X (formerly Twitter).
Ever since Kelce tossed his helmet, Justin Tucker has transformed from the GOAT kicker to literally the worst kicker in the NFL.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) September 22, 2024
Justin Tucker messed with Mahomes and by extension Kelce by warming up right in front of them, thus invoking the voodoo doll wrath of every teenage Swiftie in the world.
I’ll be surprised if he ever makes another kick again. pic.twitter.com/jIutxRXjDL
— Rocky Magaña (A Pleasant Son of a Buck) (@rockymagana) November 8, 2024
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Tucker’s woes continue in week 11 with two missed field goals so far against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
*This article was written in Spanish and translated with the help of AI.