Young Kicker Tries to Explain His Crucial Miss

The stakes were simple and huge: If rookie kicker Tyler Loop makes the 44-yard field at the end of the game, his Baltimore Ravens advance to the playoffs. If not, the opposing Pittsburgh Steelers go instead. He missed it, and the 24-year-old then had to face the cameras about the season-ending misfire:

• "The second it made contact with my foot, I felt it lower," Loop said, per ESPN. "We talk about hitting on the fourth lace of the shoe. It felt a little lower down the foot and hit it thin. ... Unfortunately I just mis-hit the ball."

• Cameras later captured Loop in what appeared to be an emotional moment with coach John Harbaugh, notes Sports Illustrated. Loop told reporters he got nothing but support from his coach, who urged him to "get back in the saddle" and said he would have chances to redeem himself. "That's the special thing about this team, man," said Loop. "Guys love each other and care about each other and that makes it incredible to be a Baltimore Raven. It's just true of our organization. And it stings. It hurts. But those guys having my back means the world to me."
• Cameras also caught star running back Derrick Henry on the sideline voicing the words many Ravens fans undoubtedly were as well: "He missed it?" Later, Henry told reporters: "I feel for Tyler. I just told him to keep his spirits up, deal with it tonight and then tomorrow the sun rises again," per Larry Brown Sports.
• The Steelers, led to their 26-24 win by Aaron Rodgers, play the Houston Texans this weekend in the playoffs.