DETROIT — As soon as Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker hit the ball, he gave up hoping he wouldn't come short like he did on a 65-yard pairing in the pregame warm-up.
But, after the ball bounced high off the crossbar and through the uprights, Tucker bounced down the field, where he was swung by teammates and lifted up in celebration.
Tucker's 66-yard field goal - the longest in NFL history - lifted the vulnerable Ravens to a dramatic 19-17 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
"Thankfully, we got an extra-and-a-half yard that I didn't have three hours ago," said Tucker, who caught the ball with the winning kick in his hand. "I am thankful for."
Tucker's 66-yarder eclipsed Matt Prater's 64-yard field goal in 2013 as the longest in NFL history.
Tucker is more than the record holder for the longest kick and most accurate kicker in NFL history. He is also the most clutch. Tucker improved 16-for-16 in his NFL career on field goals in the final minute of regulation.
"He's the best kicker in history," said Ravens coach John Harbaugh. "When you have a kicker like that, you want to give him that opportunity. It's historic for him to come that way."
It was déj vu for Tucker, whose 61-yard field goal won the Ravens' last game at Ford Field eight years earlier. This was his last career long.
According to the Alias Sports Bureau, there have been only seven forward field goals for more than 60 yards in the last minute in NFL history, and Tucker is the only kicker with many. Both come to Ford Field for Tucker.
"I love Detroit," Tucker said. "I think I'm going to buy a place here."
Tucker made history with the change he made over the past year. On the long kick, Tucker takes a few more steps back than usual and tries to kickoff. It's less about technology and more about power.
When asked how far he holds himself relative to his typical kick, Tucker said, "I honestly have to watch it. I was feeling a little bit like an out-of-body experience for a minute."
Tucker's winning kick was set up by Lamar Jackson to convert fourth and -19 with a 36-yard pass to Sammy Watkins, which was not the original plan. Baltimore had another play, but offensive coordinator Greg Roman changed it when the Lions called a timeout with 26 seconds remaining.
Jackson still wasn't sure it would be enough for his four-time Pro Bowl kicker, who scored 48 straight fourth quarter kicks, the longest active streak in the league.
"I'm looking and seeing how many yards it is. I'm like, 'Dang, it's different right here. I've never seen him in this position,'" Jackson said. "I was hoping to bring him closer. It was like, 'If we get enough air, he's going to make it.'" He came near."
Following Tucker's kick, fans slowly exit Ford Field in despair as this latest loss adds to the laundry list of other dramatic endings in Lions franchise history. Lions quarterback Jared Goff said the team would "stay true" and be flexible going forward because the story could have changed completely if the ball had bounced to the other side of the crossbar.
"Almost as big a gut punch as I've ever been a part of," Goff said. "And, I think I'll start by saying this to this team and this city has clearly been through a lot in recent years and punches like this."
As for the Ravens, they escaped with a win after losing four defensive players to COVID-19 protocols just two days before the game. In all, Baltimore was without 13 players who counted at least $1 million against the cap due to injury or COVID-related issues.
After the game, Harbaugh caught Tucker on the field and told him, "We'll remember this for a lifetime."