NFL Kickers Are 167-for-170 Inside 37 Yards
NFL Kickers Are 167-for-170 Inside 37 Yards
NFL kickers have converted 167 of 170 field-goal attempts from inside 37 yards in the cited sample, an extraordinary success rate of approximately 98.2%. Only three attempts were missed.
Trey Smack accounted for two of those misses Sunday, according to the supplied reporting. His performance placed the Packers’ kicker at the center of attention after Green Bay’s loss to the Lions. Reports also said Packers fans called for Smack to be released, while another report examined whether head coach Matt LaFleur would keep him as the team’s starter. Source 1
The central question is whether one poor game should determine Smack’s future. A 1-for-3 performance is difficult to dismiss when short field goals have been nearly automatic across the NFL. However, the league-wide statistic does not explain why each kick was missed. It also does not replace a full evaluation of the kicker, snap, hold, protection, weather, and game situation.
The Numbers
| Category | Figure |
|---|---|
| Field-goal attempts | 170 |
| Made field goals | 167 |
| Missed field goals | 3 |
| Conversion rate | Approximately 98.2% |
| Miss rate | Approximately 1.8% |
“Inside 37 yards” refers to the field-goal distance, not the line of scrimmage. A 36-yard field goal, for example, is measured from the kicking spot to the goalposts.
The statistic is a snapshot of short-range performance in the cited sample. It should not be treated as a full-season league record or a complete measure of NFL kicker quality without additional official confirmation.
Still, it establishes a powerful baseline. Teams generally expect points from this range. A miss stands out because it falls well below the normal outcome.
Why the Misses Matter
Three misses among 170 attempts represent a miss rate of approximately 1.8%. Each unsuccessful kick therefore carries statistical and competitive significance.
A missed short field goal can:
- End a promising scoring drive.
- Remove three expected points.
- Change field position.
- Alter late-game strategy.
- Increase pressure on the kicker.
- Become a defining moment in a close loss.
The impact depends on the score, time remaining, field position, and available opportunities. A first-quarter miss is not automatically as important as a miss late in a one-score game. Nevertheless, the expectation remains clear: kicks from inside 37 yards are usually made.
Trey Smack’s Share of the Misses
Smack accounted for two of the three misses in the cited Sunday sample, or two-thirds of all misses in the 167-for-170 figure.
That distribution is striking, but it does not prove that Smack is the NFL’s least reliable kicker. It does not show his complete season or career performance. It describes his contribution to a specific set of misses.
A proper evaluation would include:
- Smack’s total attempts.
- The distance of every attempt.
- Field-goal and extra-point results.
- Kickoff performance.
- Weather and stadium conditions.
- Snap and hold quality.
- Protection on each attempt.
- Practice performance.
- His previous professional record.
The league-wide baseline makes Smack’s Sunday especially damaging. It does not, by itself, determine whether the Packers should replace him.
Why Short Field Goals Are Usually Reliable
Short field goals offer a favorable combination of distance, trajectory, and margin for error. They generally require less leg strength than longer attempts and reduce the risk that the ball falls short.
The listed distance does not represent the entire distance traveled by the ball. The kick is taken from behind the line of scrimmage, and the 10-yard end zone separates the goal line from the goalposts. The holder’s position and the ball’s height also affect its flight.
Even with those factors, the basic principle remains: a short field goal is one of football’s most dependable scoring plays.
The Snap, Hold, and Blocking Matter
The kicker is only one part of the field-goal operation. Success requires coordination among the kicker, long snapper, holder, offensive line, and coaching staff.
The process depends on:
- A clean, properly timed snap.
- A stable hold.
- Correct ball placement.
- Consistent timing.
- Protection against the rush.
- A precise strike.
- A trajectory that clears the line and reaches the target.
A short-range miss can result from a process problem rather than a lack of kicking ability. A bad snap may force the holder to adjust the ball, while a tilted hold can change the point of contact. Pressure can affect the kicker’s timing or approach.
The coaching staff would typically review the full operation before making a personnel decision. Important questions include whether the snap was clean, whether the hold was correct, whether pressure affected the kick, whether Smack struck the ball cleanly, and whether the miss was wide or short.
Smack’s Sunday Performance Put Him in the Spotlight
The supplied Yahoo Sports summary reports that Smack went 1-for-3 against the Lions. Source 3
A 1-for-3 outing is particularly damaging when the league is converting approximately 98.2% of comparable attempts. It means Smack missed two opportunities in a category where teams generally expect to score.
The performance should be viewed at two levels:
- Game level: Smack reportedly made one of three attempts.
- League level: NFL kickers made 167 of 170 attempts from inside 37 yards.
The first figure describes Smack’s Sunday. The second explains why the performance was so unusual. Neither figure establishes the cause of the misses or what the Packers should do next.
The supplied summaries do not provide enough verified information about the score, kick distances, timing, or official play-by-play to determine precisely how each miss affected the game. Those details are necessary to assess whether the misses ended drives or changed the Packers’ chances to tie or win.
A kicker’s mistakes are highly visible because they occur in isolated plays. Other errors, including penalties, turnovers, missed tackles, and failed third-down conversions, are distributed across the game and may receive less attention. That context does not minimize Smack’s responsibility, but it prevents one player from being assigned the entire result without verified evidence.
Fan Reaction and the Packers’ Decision
Reports said Packers fans called for Smack to be released after the loss to the Lions. Other reactions reportedly called for him to be cut or left in Detroit. Source 5
A separate summary described intense criticism from NFL fans after Smack’s performance contributed to Green Bay’s loss. Source 9
Those comments reflect the emotion of the moment, not an official roster decision. The Packers’ choice should be based on technical review, season-long performance, player availability, and the staff’s assessment of the operation.
A Yahoo Sports report said LaFleur made a decision about Smack’s future as the team’s starter after the 1-for-3 performance. Source 3 The supplied summary does not establish the exact decision, whether the team signed another kicker, or whether any change was temporary or permanent.
The Case for Keeping Smack
One game should not automatically end a player’s tenure. The Packers may consider his previous results, professional attempts, practice performance, technical consistency, response to coaching, and the quality of available replacements.
Continuity can matter because the kicker works with a specific snapper and holder. If the misses were caused by alignment, contact, or timing, the staff may conclude that additional work is preferable to an immediate change.
The Case for Making a Change
The argument for replacing Smack begins with the rarity of the misses. Two unsuccessful attempts from inside 37 yards in one game represent a major departure from the cited 98.2% conversion rate.
The coaching staff could determine that the performance reflects a recurring technical issue, that Smack is not executing consistently, or that the team needs a competition process. A replacement would not guarantee improvement; an alternative kicker could be untested, unavailable, or unfamiliar with the Packers’ operation.
One supplied report said the Packers were considering five outside alternatives after the rookie kicker’s difficult start. Source 7 The supplied summary does not identify those candidates. No specific kicker should be named without verified reporting.
What the Misses Reveal About Kicker Evaluation
Field-goal percentage matters, but a complete evaluation should also include distance-adjusted accuracy, pressure situations, extra points, kickoffs, weather, miss direction, late-game attempts, and snap-and-hold consistency.
A raw percentage can hide differences between routine short kicks and difficult attempts beyond 50 yards. It can also overlook whether a kicker consistently misses left, right, short, or long.
The 167-for-170 statistic makes Smack’s outing unusual. It does not independently identify the cause of the misses or prove that changing kickers will improve the Packers’ results.
Conclusion
NFL kickers have made 167 of 170 field-goal attempts from inside 37 yards in the cited sample, a conversion rate of approximately 98.2%. Only three attempts were missed, and Trey Smack accounted for two of them Sunday.
The performance was statistically unusual and created a legitimate personnel question for the Packers. It also generated strong fan criticism after the loss to the Lions. However, the available summaries do not verify the technical cause of the misses or LaFleur’s exact decision about Smack’s future.
Short field goals are nearly automatic across the NFL. That makes multiple misses more damaging, but the next decision should depend on technical review, season-long performance, practice results, and available alternatives—not fan reaction alone.
The league’s near-perfect short-range record explains the outrage. The Packers’ next move will show whether they view Sunday as an isolated collapse or a warning sign.
FAQ
How accurate are NFL kickers from inside 37 yards?
NFL kickers have made 167 of 170 field-goal attempts from inside 37 yards in the cited sample. That equals an approximate conversion rate of 98.2%.
How many of the three misses did Trey Smack have?
Trey Smack accounted for two of the three misses in the cited Sunday sample, according to the supplied reporting. Source 1
Did Trey Smack go 1-for-3 against the Lions?
The supplied Yahoo Sports summary reports that Smack went 1-for-3 against the Lions. The official box score and play-by-play should be confirmed before publication. Source 3
Will Trey Smack remain the Packers’ starting kicker?
A supplied report said LaFleur made a decision about Smack’s future as the starter, but the exact decision requires confirmation from the original report or an official Packers announcement. Source 3
Why are short field goals expected to be successful?
Short field goals require less distance than longer attempts and generally provide a larger margin for error. Success still depends on the snap, hold, protection, timing, weather, and contact with the ball.
Could the Packers replace Trey Smack?
The Packers could replace Smack or add competition if the coaching staff believes the misses reflect a recurring issue. One supplied report referenced five outside alternatives, but the candidates and their availability were not identified in the available summary. Source 7
