Raiders coach Antonio Pierce expressed unwavering confidence in kicker Daniel Carlson despite Carlson’s recent struggles during a narrow 19-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on November 29. Carlson missed three field-goal attempts that day, but the team neither considered replacing him nor held tryouts for other kickers.
Pierce emphasized his trust in Carlson, explaining that he had been prepared to rely on a game-winning field goal late in the game before a fumbled snap on third-and-3 thwarted the opportunity. “He’s made over 10 or 15 straight field goals going into that game,” Pierce said. “We trust him. He’s made some big kicks as a Raider, and that will continue. One game doesn’t define him or us.”
Carlson, who had successfully made 18 consecutive field goals before missing a 56-yard attempt in Kansas City’s cold weather, reflected on the rare off-day. He acknowledged allowing the first miss to affect his subsequent kicks from 55 and 58 yards. “You try to separate each kick, but I didn’t do that,” Carlson admitted. “It’s a learning experience about handling challenging conditions like the cold.”
Carlson has demonstrated resilience throughout his career. In his seven NFL seasons, he has converted 196 of 224 field-goal attempts, including the playoffs. His misses have been relatively rare, with six occurring in just two of his 108 games. He recalled a pivotal moment in 2018 when the Minnesota Vikings released him after he missed three field goals in a single game. Reflecting on his growth since then, Carlson noted that experience has taught him how to manage adversity and focus on future opportunities.
Six weeks after being waived by the Vikings, Carlson joined the Raiders, where he has thrived. He led the NFL in scoring in 2020 and 2021, earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2022, and set a league record for the most 50-yard-plus field goals in a single season.
Looking ahead, Carlson and the Raiders aim to snap their eight-game losing streak as they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.
