Vikings rookie robbed of chance to break NFL record vs. Lions

So far this season, rookie kicker Will Reichard has been everything the Minnesota Vikings could have ever hoped for, as he's converted every single one of his field goal and extra-point attempts. But against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Reichard was almost given the opportunity to break an NFL record.

Following the loss to the Lions, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell revealed that he would have sent the rookie kicker out on the final play of the matchup to attempt a 68-yard game-winning field goal had Minnesota's offense not been penalized five yards for illegal formation on the previous play.

Minnesota Vikings rookie Will Reichard doesn't get to be a hero against the Detroit Lions in Week 7

Heading into Sunday, the NFL record for the longest field goal made in a game was 66 yards, which was set back in 2021 by Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens in a contest, coincidentally, against Detroit.

So, thanks to the Vikings drawing a five-yard penalty on the second-to-last play of their loss to the Lions on Sunday, Reichard didn't get a shot at breaking Tucker's record. But the fact that Minnesota was even thinking about letting the rookie attempt a 68-yard field goal means that he will probably have similar opportunities in the future.

When Reichard was actually called upon on Sunday, he came through. He converted three field-goal attempts from 42, 48, and 57 yards away and both of his extra-point tries.

Believe it or not, Reichard's 57-yarder wasn't his furthest field-goal attempt this season. Back during the Vikings' Week 3 win over the Houston Texans, he knocked down a field-goal try from 58 yards away, which is tied for the fourth-longest field goal in the NFL this year.

While some members of Minnesota's roster have proven to be unreliable at times this season, Reichard has proven to arguably be the most reliable player on the Vikings roster during the 2024 campaign.

More Vikings News and Analysis