Here at Touchdown Wire, we try and emphasis all three phases of the game. Of course, there is a heavy dose on offensive execution, as well as defensive effort. But when something notable happens on special teams, we take notice.
Already today we have a fake punt for a touchdown provided by the Seattle Seahawks, broken down here by our own Doug Farrar.
Now, now it is time to talk about the punt of the year.
Punters do not get a ton of love around these parts, or in football media generally. Pat McAfee has his “for the brand,” well, brand. And you can be sure that he was paying attention when Pittsburgh Steelers punter Pressley Harvin III delivered this absolute missile early against the Baltimore Ravens:
64 yard punt for Pressley Harvin III. Out at the half yard line. Elite boot. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/e8WLhotOht
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) December 5, 2021
Not only was this a rocket off his right foot, but Harvin gets an incredible bounce here, as the football lands inside the one-yard line and makes a 90-degree turn to the right, trickling out of bounds at the half-foot line and pinning the Ravens deep.
It has been an ugly contest in the early going between Pittsburgh and Baltimore, and the fact that a punt is getting the bulk of attention is probably an indication of how this game is unfolding. Still, we tip our hats to excellence when it happens, and this was surely an excellent punt from Harvin.