Rex Ryan was the only person more miserable than Detroit fans after Justin Tucker‘s 61-yard field goal buried the Lions on Monday night.
The Ravens kicker booted six field goals total in the contest, scoring every one of Baltimore’s points in an 18-16 win and eliminating the New York Jets from playoff contention in the process.
A postseason bid was a long shot anyway for Ryan’s squad, which has lost four of its last five and has yet to string together consecutive victories this season. But to be officially declared dead on such an improbable play was a sucker punch for the Jets coach.
“I felt like I got kicked in the head,” Ryan told reporters Wednesday, according to NJ.com.
The 61-yard boot, which barely drifted inside the right upright, was a career long for the second-year kicker, who hadn’t made from longer than 56. But as Tucker lined up for the kick with 38 seconds to play, Ryan had a feeling he wouldn’t miss.
“I felt better about Detroit stopping them on fourth down than I did this kid missing from 61, which sounds crazy,” Ryan said. “It’s 61 yards, and he drills it.”
The win gave the Ravens sole possession of the AFC’s sixth seed. They’ll play the Patriots in a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship Game this Sunday.
