- The Miss: Rookie kicker Tyler Loop missed a game-winning 44-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Pittsburgh Steelers a 26-24 victory.
- Playoff Fallout: The loss officially eliminated the Baltimore Ravens from postseason contention, while Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers clinched the AFC North title.
- Harbaugh Era Ends: The fallout from the miss led to the departure of long-time head coach John Harbaugh, who has since been replaced by Jesse Minter.
PITTSBURGH — The Baltimore Ravens’ season didn’t just end on Sunday; it evaporated in the chilly Pennsylvania air. With two seconds remaining and the AFC North title on the line, rookie kicker Tyler Loop stepped onto the grass at Acrisure Stadium for a 44-yard attempt. He didn’t just miss—he “bricked” it.
The Kick Heard ‘Round the North
The sequence started with a prayer. Lamar Jackson hit Isaiah Likely for a 28-yard gains to the Pittsburgh 26-yard line, setting up what should have been a routine chip-shot for a kicker who had been 30-of-33 on the season. Jackson took a knee to center the ball between the hashes, and the stadium went silent as the field goal unit trotted out.
The snap was clean. The hold was perfect. But as soon as Loop’s foot met leather, the sound was wrong. The ball lacked the usual thump, instead emitting a hollow “clink” as it sliced violently to the right. It never threatened the uprights.
The 26-24 final score frozen on the scoreboard marked the first time a preseason Super Bowl favorite missed the playoffs since the 2008 Patriots. For the Ravens, a 90% success rate from their kicker meant nothing when the final 10% mattered most.
“I Just Mis-hit It”
In a somber post-game locker room, Loop didn’t hide from the cameras. The rookie was visibly shaken, describing the technical failure that led to the season-ending slice.
“The second it made contact with my foot, I felt it lower. We talk about hitting on the fourth lace of the shoe. It felt a little lower down the foot—I hit it thin. It just sucks.” — Tyler Loop, Ravens Kicker
Outgoing coach John Harbaugh defended the decision to kick from 44 yards rather than trying to gain more ground with no timeouts left.
“It was a close kick. You want to center the ball. We didn’t want something bad to happen on a run play. I don’t think that was a bad decision. We have Tyler’s back.” — John Harbaugh, Former Ravens Head Coach
The Fallout: Coaching Changes and Social Media Toxicity
The “brick” heard on the viral BrickCenter clip has sparked a firestorm far beyond the field. Fans took to Instagram, flooding Loop’s recent engagement announcement with over 14,000 comments, many of which were personal attacks on his family—a move widely condemned by teammates like Derrick Henry and media personalities across the league.
More importantly, the miss served as the final catalyst for organizational change. Within 48 hours of the loss, the Ravens parted ways with John Harbaugh after 18 seasons. As of yesterday, January 22, the team officially moved into the future, naming Jesse Minter as the new head coach to lead the rebuild around Lamar Jackson.
While the Steelers prepare for their postseason run led by a resurgent Aaron Rodgers, the Ravens are left wondering what could have been if the ball had traveled just three feet further to the left.
