Patrick Mahomes Assigns Blame After 2nd Chiefs Loss

Butker has endured a challenging season, as the formerly reliable kicker has been inconsistent all year. He has hit just 12 of his 18 field goal attempts this season, and the 66.7% field goal accuracy is the worst of his NFL career.

These struggles have already led Kansas City to add competition at the position, with veteran kicker Justin Tucker currently on the practice squad.

Butker’s latest miss against Denver came while the team was trying to protect a three-point lead in the fourth quarter. On third-and-two, Mahomes took a sack that turned the ensuing field-goal attempt into a 54-yard attempt.

Butker missed the kick, allowing Denver to take over and eventually score the game-winning touchdown.

According to Rob Collins of FOX4, Mahomes defended Butker, saying that “he can’t put Harrison Butker in that position by taking a sack on 3rd down.”

Had Mahomes simply thrown the ball away, Butker would have faced a much more manageable 48-yard attempt. However, Butker has been capable of making long, high-pressure field goals throughout his career, and his miss should not necessarily be excused.

Given that Butker has been less reliable this season, the Chiefs will need to do a better job of avoiding situations that make already difficult kicks even harder. If Butker’s struggles continue, the team may have to explore other options at kicker.