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Justin Tucker is the best kicker in the NFL, and he's the Ravens' MVP too

Eric Edholm

There is only one kicker who has missed nary an extra-point nor a field-goal try in the NFL this season. His name is Justin Tucker, he’s the Baltimore Ravens’ MVP this season — and he appears to know how good he is.

Tucker has more than proven his worth and rewarded the Ravens, who franchised him this offseason and gave him a whopper contract (four years, $16.8 million) by kicker standards, and he was at it again Sunday in a 19-14 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker celebrates his field goal. (AP)
Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker celebrates his field goal. (AP)

In the first half alone, Tucker tied an NFL record with three field goals of 50 yards or longer in a single game. He’s the ninth kicker in league history to reach that mark, and the first to do so in a single half since the Cleveland Browns’ Phil Dawson in 2012.

Tucker’s kicks were from 52, 57 and 54 yards. The final one came in the waning seconds of the first half to give the Ravens a 16-3 lead, and it might have been good from 70 yards. Watch Tucker’s reaction to the make.

We love kickers with bravado, and his greatness should be amplified given that we collectively ripped the NFL kickers who combined to miss 12 extra-point tries in Week 11.

Tucker added a 36-yard field goal in the fourth quarter for Baltimore’s lone score in the second half. That’s 34 straight FG makes for Tucker, who all of a sudden finds himself 10 behind tying Adam Vinatieri’s recently established all-time mark of 44 straight.

If you’re Bengals kicker Mike Nugent watching this unfold across the field, how insecure are you feeling right now?

Considering Tucker is a perfect 27-of-27 on field goals and 15-of-15 on extra points this season, he easily is the Ravens’ MVP this season. And considering that the Ravens remain in contention but had only 18 touchdowns entering Sunday, which was the fourth-fewest in the NFL, makes it a no-brainer.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!