New England Patriots kicker Chad Ryland has had a rough go of it lately. And he picked arguably the worst time to do so early on Christmas Eve.
As New England shuffled its way to a 26-23 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday night, Ryland had two important opportunities to pad the Patriots’ lead. He first missed a field goal, stacking the pressure. Then, after New England scored a touchdown, Ryland wasn’t even close on a chip shot extra point.
That’s an understatement because Ryland actually kicked the ball through the left post flag. And whatever mic was attached made the most ominous, almost explosive sound as the ball passed through:
i can’t breathe dawg
LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO https://t.co/JJ9ba9zL31 pic.twitter.com/w31aa78jBT
— Coach Rome (@Rome_Beast) December 25, 2023
Oh my goodness! I’m not sure I’ve ever heard wind and a football combine to make that kind of noise!
Fortunately for Ryland, he’d recover quite well. With time winding down in regulation, he nailed a 56-yard game-winning kick. It’s just that, you know, no one’s going to forget the sound that mic’d-up flag helped make:
Chad Ryland from 56 yards!
📺: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/uY6Dg380OO pic.twitter.com/EXqQQlg7HV— NFL (@NFL) December 25, 2023
This was how Twitter reacted to Ryland's missed kick
Was not paying attention to the game, heard this and looked up at the tv like: https://t.co/T0KwHyGa1k pic.twitter.com/KfNKIurwEo
— Racial Dolezal (@SirCoach) December 25, 2023
“CHAD RYLAND FOR THE FIELD GOAL” https://t.co/EVIa77cIza pic.twitter.com/XU6555eVPA
— 𝕂𝕁 (@VegasBabyKJ) December 25, 2023
A camera panning over to Stone Cold walking out of the tunnel would’ve been perfect https://t.co/vw9kEvVdNF
— Gabe itch (@MikeHoxshort) December 25, 2023
I’ve watched what feels like thousands of NFL games. You’d think after all this time you would’ve seen it all… but every year something ridiculous like this happens.
What in the world…? https://t.co/c8XjjWj03B
— Maxwell 🌎 (@Maxwellium) December 25, 2023
When that one musket shot started the Revolutionary War: https://t.co/YLcRBWYo4b
— mike (@mikemcdoobie) December 25, 2023
Bro the season has been bad enough for Chad Ryland, they didn’t need to go and put 57 microphones on this one upright. It’s like Bellhorn’s foul pole homer times 10. pic.twitter.com/iofQqbzlSf
— Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) December 25, 2023
Dang didn’t know Oppenheimer was kicking for the Pats now https://t.co/YxQ59lNpzX
— Avery Schaefer (@avery_schaefer8) December 25, 2023
This sounds like when you’re in HS and you turn the bass up wayyyy too high in your car https://t.co/i2Gr6rwj1B
— simply, Fletcher (@SaintFDW) December 25, 2023
If you're going to be an all time bad team, make it viral. 🙏🏽😂 https://t.co/wks81eAQ5e
— Travis J. Escobar ⚓ (@TravisEscobar) December 25, 2023
