The Kick is Still Good: Why the NFL's Extra Point Decision Means Business as Usual for Legends Like Justin Tucker

Ah, the extra point. Remember when it was just… automatic? A mere formality after a touchdown, a chance for the kicker to stretch his legs, perhaps even chat with the long snapper. Well, those days are long gone, my friends, and for good reason, you could say. The NFL, in its perpetual quest for excitement and, let's be honest, a touch more drama, shifted the extra point back in 2015. And now, as the dust settles on another round of offseason chatter, the league has officially — and perhaps, mercifully for kickers everywhere — decided to keep things exactly as they are for the foreseeable future.

For the upcoming season, the extra point will continue to be snapped from the 15-yard line. That means a 33-yard kick, give or take, which, while certainly not a field goal marathon, is far from the chip shot it once was. It's a distance that demands focus, precision, and, crucially, a good snap and hold. This isn't just about making the game harder; it's about making every single point, every single kick, feel earned. And honestly, it works. We’ve seen enough blocked kicks, enough missed opportunities, to know that what was once mundane is now genuinely suspenseful.

But what does this continuity mean for the titans of the kicking game? Take Justin Tucker, for example. The Baltimore Ravens' resident kicking savant — truly, what a marvel he is — has built a career out of making the near-impossible look routine. His consistency is frankly astonishing, a testament not just to his leg, but to his mental fortitude. He’s the kind of player who makes you lean forward in your seat, even for an extra point, just to watch his process. And he’s good, almost unnervingly so.

Last season, Tucker nailed 32 of 37 field goal attempts. More impressively, perhaps, he was perfect on extra points, hitting all 51 of them. When you look at his career numbers, they tell an even more remarkable story: a staggering 99.0 percent success rate on extra points. Think about that for a moment. In a game where every inch, every second, every single play is scrutinized, a kicker like Tucker operates in a different stratosphere. He’s practically a human algorithm for success, isn't he?

So, while the NFL is always tinkering, always looking for that next edge, this decision to maintain the current extra point rule feels, for once, like a nod to stability. It keeps the challenge alive, yes, but it also allows players like Tucker to continue showcasing their elite skills within a consistent framework. And that, in truth, is a win for everyone who appreciates the quiet artistry — and high-stakes pressure — of a perfectly executed kick.