The 272nd and final regular season game of the 2025 NFL season was one of the most dramatic and meaningful as the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens battled back and forth to capture the last remaining playoff spot. There were plenty of heroes and goats over the action-packed final minutes before everything came down to Ravens rookie kicker Tyler Loop attempting a 44-yard field goal to decide victory and defeat.
Loop's kick sailed far to the right and propelled the Steelers into the playoffs, capping a tremendous three hours of action and making a sleepy Week 18 all worth it. Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth, using the winner-take-all game as a final tuneup before the postseason, were once again at the top of their craft for the deciding play.
Listen to Tirico do the work of calmly setting up the situation before going to a much different place when Loop's boot missed its target.
But Ravens rookie kicker Tyler Loop missed a kick as time expired to give the Steelers the AFC North division crown.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 5, 2026
Mike Tirico (who set this up very well) and Cris Collinsworth with the NBC call to cap off an unbelievable finish. 🏈🎙️ #NFL #SNF https://t.co/UhhSl4UwO8 pic.twitter.com/FQp7AYbFRU
Then, smartly, Tirico lets the moment sit in silence for almost a full minute as victory and defeat are processed. The whole thing is a masterclass on how it's done.
NBC will hope to air another instant classic with the Los Angeles Chargers-New England Patriots wild-card game this Sunday night. Tirico will be ready.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Mike Tirico Crushed Season-Defining Missed Kick at End of Steelers-Ravens Classic.
