Accumulated snow on Empower Field in Denver created challenges not only for CBS Sports’ AFC championship game broadcast by obscuring the yard markers, but the Broncos themselves might have also been impacted by the inability to clearly see the field lines.
Denver’s kicker, Wil Lutz, failed to convert a 45-yard field goal attempt that could have leveled the score at 10 with 4 minutes and 42 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. New England Patriots defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III managed to deflect the ball with his fingertips, causing the kick to veer to the left and fall short of the uprights.
Following the game, Lutz conveyed to reporters that the Broncos might have positioned themselves a yard further back than intended because the field’s yard lines were not visible.
“My speculation is, regrettably, the lines on the field were indistinguishable, and candidly, we might have been a yard behind on the snap,” Lutz stated, citing Scotty Gange, a reporter for 9NEWS. “We were forced to approximate.”
Could it be that the Broncos were set up at the 29-yard line instead of the 28? This would mean Lutz’s 45-yard field goal attempt was, in fact, a 46-yard kick.
Would that distinction have mattered? Indeed, a single yard is significant, particularly in a game decided by three points. However, Taylor still blocked the kick. Might Lutz have achieved slightly more height on his attempt if he had been one yard closer? Would the football have drifted less to the left if the Broncos were aligned on what was presumably the correct yard line?
Nevertheless, what Lutz seemingly implied was that the ball’s placement by the holder was “a yard too close,” rather than referring to the Broncos’ team alignment.
Those analyzing the play, including Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston, observed that the holder, Jeremy Crawshaw, had actually positioned himself a yard closer to the line of scrimmage than his usual spot. Consequently, the kick originated seven yards behind the line, instead of the customary eight.
If Crawshaw was situated a yard nearer to the line than he should have been, it would have altered the trajectory’s starting point for Lutz’s kick, making it easier for Taylor to block the attempt.
Lutz actually missed two field goal attempts during Sunday’s contest. However, his 54-yard try with 24 seconds remaining before halftime sailed wide to the right. There was no snow on the field for that particular kick, though the chilly and blustery weather conditions certainly increased the difficulty of such a long attempt. He did appear to have sufficient power, nonetheless.
The nine-year professional also disclosed to journalists that he had never previously kicked in snowy conditions. His initial six seasons in the National Football League were spent with the New Orleans Saints.
Throughout the regular season, Lutz successfully converted 28 out of 32 field-goal attempts. Two of his unsuccessful tries were from distances between 40 and 49 yards, while his other two misses originated from 50 yards or more. He and the Broncos finalized a three-year contract extension in November.
