The Kansas City Chiefs suffered a 28-24 defeat against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, largely influenced by a late-game failure in the kicking game. Harrison Butker missed a 54-yard field goal attempt with just 2:36 remaining in the fourth quarter, which prevented the Chiefs from extending their lead.
The 54-yard miss that cost the Kansas City Chiefs
With the Kansas City Chiefs leading 24-21, Harrison Butker's missed 54-yard field goal attempt shifted the momentum of the game. As reported by Newsweek Sports, the Denver Broncos capitalized on this miss by driving 56 yards in only two plays to secure a 28-24 victory. This failure was compounded by a late-game penalty where a false start negated a Patrick Mahomes completion to Rashee Rice with only four seconds remaining, effectively ending the game.
Harrison Butker's 68 .8 percent accuracy slump
The miss against the Denver Broncos is part of a larger, concerning trend for the Kansas City Chiefs' special teams. According to the report,Harrison Butker has converted only 68.8 percent of his field goal attempts through the first six games of the season, marking the lowest rate of his 10-year professional career.
The struggle extends beyond the current season; Harrison Butker has missed a total of 16 kicks since the start of 2025. This figure represents the highest number of misses for any kicker in the NFL during that specific timeframe. With six missed field goals already this season, the Kansas City Chiefs are dealing with a career-worst slump from a player previously considered a reliable asset.
Justin Tucker's arrival and the battle for the Chiefs' kicking spot
The instability of the kicking position led the Kansas City Chiefs to bring in veteran kicker Justin Tucker to practice with the squad this week. This move followed a Week 7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, where Harrison Butker missed two critical field goals. While Justin Tucker's presence suggests a lack of confidence in the current starter, Harrison Butker praised the veteran's influence, noting that he enjoyed getting to know the former Baltimore Ravens star.
Despite the external pressure, Chiefs special teams head coach Dave Toub has publicly maintained his support for the current starter. Dave Toub told reporters that "Butker is our kicker," highlighting that the player went 10-for-10 in practice during a day with 28-mile-an-hour wind gusts. however, the disparity between practice success and game-day execution remains a glaring issue for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Will Dave Toub's faith in Butker survive a third loss?
While Dave Toub has expressed unwavering faith, the Kansas City Chiefs have now lost two consecutive games , with Harrison Butker playing a significant role in both.. A key question remains whether the coaching staff will prioritize the "wrong foot" explanation—cited by James Palmer of Bleacher Report regarding the 54-yard miss—or if the 16 misses since 2025 indicate a permanent decline.
It remains unclear if the Kansas City Chiefs have a specific performance threshold that would trigger a permanent replacement of Harrison Butker by Justin Tucker. Furthermore, the source does not clarify if Justin Tucker's presence is a short-term evaluation or a long-term strategic move by the Kansas City Chiefs front office.
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