Bengals’ Evan McPherson Among Five 2024 Kickers with Career-Low FG Percentage After Missed Kicks vs. Chargers
Field goals. Not exactly the most glamorous part of football, right? But let’s just admit it — when your team needs those few extra points, every clutch kick matters. And for the Cincinnati Bengals’ kicker, Evan McPherson, 2024 hasn’t been too kind when it comes to field goals. After some costly missed kicks against the Los Angeles Chargers, McPherson is now on a list of five kickers with the lowest field goal percentages in the NFL this season. Ouch.
But let’s not just pile onto McPherson. He’s not the only one feeling the pressure in the 2024 season. Other kickers have also had their own share of struggles when it comes to splitting the uprights this year. Let’s dive into the details of what went wrong for McPherson and take a look at the other kickers facing similar challenges. Whether it’s the weather, the pressure, or maybe just bad luck, it’s been a tough year for kickers all around.
What Went Wrong for McPherson?
Let’s start with Evan McPherson, the Bengals’ rising star who has made headlines for both his electrifying kicks and, unfortunately, the ones he’s missed. After the team’s matchup with the Chargers, McPherson missed two key field goals, pushing his field goal percentage to a career-low 69.6%. What makes this particularly shocking is that McPherson nailed 9-of-11 field goal attempts in his first five contests this season, only to drop the ball (or foot, in this case) against the Chargers.
Now, with critical games approaching, the pressure is mounting. Bengals fans, who have been used to seeing McPherson’s ice-cold precision, are surely scratching their heads wondering what’s been going on. To put it bluntly, the dips in his accuracy couldn’t come at a worse time with the team’s playoff hopes boiling down to tight margins in every game.
Other Struggling Kickers in the NFL
It’s easy to focus solely on McPherson, but the 2024 season has also not been kind to several other highly-regarded kickers across the league. In fact, five kickers are currently battling career-low field goal percentages. Each brings their own story of heartbreak, missed opportunities, and unfortunate miscues. Let’s take a look at the others joining McPherson under this not-so-welcome spotlight.
- Evan McPherson (Bengals) — 69.6%
- Chris Boswell (Steelers) — 68.8%
- Cameron Dicker (Chargers) — 67.5%
- Daniel Carlson (Raiders) — 66.3%
- Matt Prater (Cardinals) — 65.7%
As you can see, McPherson isn’t alone in his struggles, with several well-known, reliable kickers also enduring a rough 2024.
What Does This Mean for the Bengals?
In a season that’s seen the Cincinnati Bengals struggle to live up to high expectations, McPherson’s issues couldn’t have come at a worse time. The Bengals are in heated competition within their division, and every single point matters right now. You can’t understate the mental toll this might be taking on McPherson, who just last season was known as one of the most reliable young kickers out there. Missing key field goals is frustrating enough, but for McPherson, who’s grown used to making those kind of pressure-packed kicks, it has multiplied the scrutiny on him.
The feeling around the Bengals has shifted a bit. Heading into each game, instead of being able to fully rely on their kicker to add points, there’s now a lingering sense of uncertainty. Don’t get me wrong, McPherson hasn’t suddenly lost all his skills, but his recent performances have obviously shaken some confidence. Combine that with how close many of these NFL games have been, and you’ll see why McPherson’s struggles have gained such attention.
The Kicking Rollercoaster in 2024
Kicking in the NFL is one of the toughest and least forgiving jobs on the field. It’s almost like being the goalkeeper in soccer — when things go right, you’re a hero. When things go wrong, it’s all on you. And in 2024, it’s safe to say many NFL kickers, McPherson included, are riding one serious roller coaster.
In fact, look at how the following kickers are faring:
- Chris Boswell, another long-time reliable kicker, currently sits at just above 68%. That’s a stark difference from the guy who was once known for nailing field goals with ease.
- For Cameron Dicker of the Chargers, his struggles are an unfortunate contrast to what’s been a solid young career thus far.
- Veteran kicker, Daniel Carlson, isn’t immune either. He’s fought through his fair share of difficulties in Las Vegas, and 2024 hasn’t been any kinder to him.
And the troubles don’t just end with these five. Several other kickers are missing kicks at rates higher than normal for them — it’s almost as if there’s an unofficial curse or something going around the league!
Breaking Down the Major Misses Against the Chargers
Want to dissect those misses even more? Well, it turns out McPherson wasn’t far off in either of his failed attempts against the Chargers. The misses came at distances that, under normal circumstances, McPherson would’ve likely been able to connect on without issue.
Missing a 41-yard field goal is tough, especially when conditions are relatively mild. It’s within that sweet spot of range that’s typically easy for NFL kickers to hit with a high degree of consistency. However, McPherson missed wide right, and the tension in Paycor Stadium was palpable.
And if that wasn’t enough to turn heads, McPherson later missed another attempt, this time from 53 yards out. According to CBS Sports, McPherson came into the game with a career accuracy of over 80% on kicks 50+ yards. But in this case, he pulled the kick wide left — not exactly what Bengals fans wanted to see in such a pivotal matchup.
Moving Forward: Bengals’ Path From Here
While McPherson is definitely facing challenges right now, it’s far too early to count him or the Bengals out. Yes, he’s having a down season by his standards, but remember, this is the same kicker who hit multiple game-winners in the playoffs last year. There’s no doubt he’ll be working overtime to get back in the groove as the pressure continues to mount in the AFC race to the postseason.
Kicking in this league is not only a physical challenge but also a mental one. If McPherson can lock back in mentally and regain his confidence, it’s hard to think of anyone more capable of a late-season resurgence.
In the grand scheme of things, the Bengals have a lot to keep working on if they want to make a serious postseason push. For now, their kicker’s struggles are just one piece of the puzzle, and it’ll be interesting to see if McPherson can turn things around during this crucial stretch.
Conclusion: A Season Full of Kicking Struggles
The 2024 NFL season has shaped up to be one where even the league’s best kickers haven’t completely escaped from struggles. Evan McPherson’s tough run is just one of several stories marking this unusual season, where kickers across the NFL are finding themselves in unfamiliar territory. With time running out in the regular season, every missed kick becomes that much more crucial and kickers have an ever-growing target on their back.
McPherson may be capping off a career-low percentage year, but he’s shown in the past he can bounce back when needed. With his team fighting for every point, Bengals fans better hope their young kicker can rediscover that magic foot and lead them into the playoffs. But it’s not just him — many kickers around the league are going through similar struggles, turning what would normally be routine jobs into dramatic nail-biters worth watching each week.
Originally Written by: Garrett Podell
