Entering Week 1, no Baltimore Ravens player had a lower approval rating than Tyler Loop. After missing a 44-yard kick that would have sent the Ravens to the playoffs last season, there would always going to be questions about Loop heading into the season. Unfortunately, he did nothing to ease these concerns in the preseason, missing three kicks. Following his preseason play, the Ravens signed Jake Moody to their practice squad. It's safe to say that kicking was a major concern for Baltimore heading into the season.
Thankfully, not all hope is lost for Loop, who was absolutely dialed during the Ravens' 41-23 Week 1 win over the Indianapolis Colts. The second-year kicker netted all five of his extra points and two field goals, including a career-best 57-yard boot.
Hitting a 57-yarder is an incredibly promising sign for Loop, since he was just 1-for-4 on field goals of 50 or more yards last season. If Loop keeps it up, the questions around his job security and how trustworthy he is will start to dwindle.
Tyler Loop's stellar Week 1 showing could start a redemption tour
Now, to be clear, one really good game and a long-distance kick shouldn't erase all of the understandable concerns about Loop. Likewise, it's worth noting that the Colts play in a dome, and since the Ravens were in control of the game, it was a low-leverage situation.
Personally, I'll have to see Loop come through with more pressure and hit more than one long-distance kick before fully trusting him.
Regardless, Loop's performance on Sunday was undeniably a step in the right direction, and if he continues this strong play, he will soon earn back the trust of Ravens fans. For all of the talk of the need to replace Loop this summer, having him bounce back was always the best-case scenario.
The role of confidence and rhythm in kicking is also notable. Being a kicker requires incredible mental strength. As quickly as you can be a hero, you can be a villain, and Loop has certainly heard all the noise this offseason. This could be in part why he struggled in the preseason.
However, seeing all of his kicks go through the middle is an encouraging sign, and having countless teammates embrace him after his 57-yard kick could further boost his confidence. There's a real possibility that this is a turning point for Loop, and he's ready to put the misses behind him. With how complete a roster the Ravens have and how well they looked on Sunday, Loop being a dependable kicker could mean they have no major flaws.
The proof will still be in the pudding for Loop, but he delivered everything you could've hoped for on Sunday, and hopefully this trend continues.
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