
The Denver Broncos had a chance to give Wil Lutz an opportunity to hit a chip shot in the second quarter to go up 10-0 on the New England Patriots on Sunday in the AFC Championship Game.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton decided he wanted to go up 14, and backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham was unable to convert a 4th-and-1 from the New England 14-yard line.
That was the best chance for Lutz to put up points on Sunday. In unfavorable snowy conditions, he missed a 54-yard attempt at the end of the first half and a 45-yard attempt that was blocked in the fourth quarter.
Following the game, Lutz told reporters that the Broncos couldn't see the lines on the white field and thought he was "a yard short on the snap" on the kick that was blocked.
Lutz quoted a post by Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post on Monday, trying to clarify his comments. He took responsibility for the missed attempt and said the team was lined up correctly.
"Just to clarify so my words aren’t taken out of context….i was absolutely gutted during my media session after the game," Lutz said. "I take full responsibility for the missed kick at the end of the game. We were lined up correctly after looking at the tape.
"The conditions made it tough to see the lines, but that can never be an excuse. This is on me and no one else. The result of any kick always ends with me. This has been an amazing year that ended in heartbreak for our team."
Just to clarify so my words aren’t taken out of context….i was absolutely gutted during my media session after the game. I take full responsibility for the missed kick at the end of the game. We were lined up correctly after looking at the tape. The conditions made it tough to… https://t.co/LpMpnnofAJ
— Wil Lutz (@wil_lutz5) January 26, 2026
Lutz made 87.5 percent (20th in the league) of his field goal attempts and all of his extra point attempts during the regular season.
Lutz made all four of his field goal attempts in the Broncos' 33-30 win over the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round.
However, Lutz was unable to convert when Denver desperately needed him. The Broncos offense didn't help him out in nasty conditions, failing to move the ball closer into field goal range like the Patriots did for Andy Borregales, who hit a 23-yard attempt on the opening drive of the third quarter that proved to be the game-winner.
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