How Could The Kicking Battle Impact Super Bowl LIX? Find Out

Super Bowl LIX is shaping up to be one of the most evenly matched games in NFL history, with the Kansas City Chiefs favored by just 1.5 points over the Philadelphia Eagles. In a game expected to be this close, a single field goal could decide the outcome- just like it did in Super Bowl LVII when Harrison Butker drilled a 27-yarder with eight seconds left to give the Chiefs a 38-35 victory.

With the pressure of the Super Bowl, history has shown that nothing is guaranteed when it comes to kicking. The overall field goal percentage in Super Bowl history is 75.4%, and from 45 yards or longer, it drops to just 52.2%. Every attempt is a high-stakes moment that can turn a kicker into a hero or a villain.

Two of the Most Clutch Postseason Kickers in NFL History

If Super Bowl LIX comes down to a kick, both teams should feel confident in their specialists.

• Jake Elliott (Eagles): Fifth-most accurate kicker in NFL playoff history (95.7%).
• Harrison Butker (Chiefs): Has made 32 straight postseason kicks, including field goals and extra points.
• Both rank among the 13 kickers in NFL history with a postseason field goal percentage above 90% (minimum 10 attempts).

JAKE ELLIOTT FROM 59 YARDS IN THE RAIN

📺: #BUFvsPHI on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/1dOevJjoZZ pic.twitter.com/pIpxrFF6R7

— NFL (@NFL) November 27, 2023

Elliott thrives under pressure. His favorite career field goal came in the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII win over the Patriots when he drilled a 46-yarder to put his team up by eight with 65 seconds left. Meanwhile, Butker owns the record for most career Super Bowl field goals (9) and hit the longest field goal in Super Bowl history (57 yards) last year against the 49ers.

Elliott’s Long-Range Struggles in 2024

Elliott has been nearly automatic from 50 yards and in (34 of 36, 94.4%), but he’s 0-for-7 from 51+ yards this season. Despite the struggles, he remains confident in his process.

“I actually hit the ball pretty well all year,” Elliott said to CBS Sports. “Sometimes, those ones don’t go through and they’re unfortunate. But I still feel very good about how I’m hitting the ball.”

Three of his seven misses came from 57+ yards, whereas all NFL kickers combined to hit just 58.5% of their attempts in 2024. Elliott has the leg- he nailed a 59-yarder in driving rain last season- but long-distance consistency has eluded him this year.

JAKE ELLIOTT FROM 59 YARDS IN THE RAIN

📺: #BUFvsPHI on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/1dOevJjoZZ pic.twitter.com/pIpxrFF6R7

— NFL (@NFL) November 27, 2023

Also Read: What Are The Kansas City Chiefs And Philadelphia Eagles’ Head-To-Head Records In The Regular Season And Playoffs?

Butker’s Journey Back from Injury

Butker has also battled adversity. After missing four NFL games with a knee injury, he struggled upon his return, missing two kicks in his first...