Hannah.Taylor
EF4
So,
A few weeks ago, Matt Prater kicked a 64 yard field goal in Denver against the Titans. Obviously, Denver is 5,280 feet above sea level.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap20...-prater-breaks-fieldgoal-record-with-64yarder
Watch video >
The Broncos first became a team in 1960.
They played 14 regular season games from 1960-1977.
7 games each season were played at home in the regular season, for a total of 126 regular season home games.
in 1978 the NFL went to a 16 game format. Meaning all teams played 8 home games and 8 away games.
From 1978-2013
The Broncos played 8 regular home games each season for a total of 280 home games.
Grand total of 406 regular season home games from 1960-2013. For the sake of this argument, this won't include post-season play, so no playoff games included.
So, lately I hear a lot of fans saying, the record isn't valid because Prater did it in Denver where the air is thinner and that gives him an advantage over other kickers.
in 1970, Tom Dempsey kicked a then NFL record 63 yard FG in New Orleans. However, Tom Dempsey had a foot with a birth defect, and he did it at/below sea level.
Dempsey also was a straight-on kicker, whereas Matt Prater is a soccer style kicker. Prater doesn't have any birth defects on his feet or toes, so he wears a normal/traditional style of football cleat (like seen on Dempsey's non-kicking/left foot).
Now here is an article that lists everyone who attempted to break the record.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap20...ed-tries-to-break-the-63yard-fieldgoal-record
This is an article that was posted shortly after Matt Prater's 59 YD FG to take the Bears to overtime in 2011 that talks about if kicking field goals in Denver is easier?
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/12/are-field-goals-easier-in-denver/
Only Sebastian Janikowski and Jason Elam have been able to tie the record. David Akers also tied the record but the kick was not in Denver, the kick was in Green Bay. in fact, 3 of the 5 kicks at 63 or 64 yards have been in Denver.
The original 63 yard FG record was by Tom Dempsey in New Orleans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrxTjgFYoU8
Now, according to this article and Dempsey's recollection, the weather was cool and humid on November 8th, 1970 (perhaps one of you weather geniuses can find the weather recordings for that day). Game was outdoors at Tulane Stadium.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?id=5648473
in the comment on the Failed Attempts to Break the Record, I saw some comments here
and then there is a BUNCH of arguing and bickering back and forth.
so, since you weather guru's are all knowledgeable and stuff, I figured I'd ask you guys to dig through this and present the truth.
Question #1: So, if people are saying the kick is easier in Denver, and Denver has played 406 regular season homes games in Mile High and Sports Authority Field @ Mile High, then by the same logic that the kick is in fact "easier" because the air is thinner, then why is it in 406 games, no other kicker has been able to "break" the record?
December 8th, 2013
Prater's kick came at 5,280 feet above sea level
Temperature was 6ºF at the time of the kick (I was there at the game so I know how cold it was)
The ball was also cold and like kicking a brick or a lead weight at that temperature
Barometric Pressure was 29.95" Hg
November 8th, 1970
Dempsey's kick came on a "cool" day in New Orleans at sea level (or close to it) but a humid day.
No idea what the temp was.
Dempsey had a defective foot with a cube/block style shoe on with cloth stuffed in the front of it.
Question #2: Would the relative humidity in Denver on December 8th, 2013 and the colder temperatures increase the density of the air, therefore negating the effects of the thinner air on the ball?
Question #3: If Dempsey's kick in NOLA was so great, why did he never shatter his own record in Denver following that kick?
A few weeks ago, Matt Prater kicked a 64 yard field goal in Denver against the Titans. Obviously, Denver is 5,280 feet above sea level.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap20...-prater-breaks-fieldgoal-record-with-64yarder
Watch video >
The Broncos first became a team in 1960.
They played 14 regular season games from 1960-1977.
7 games each season were played at home in the regular season, for a total of 126 regular season home games.
in 1978 the NFL went to a 16 game format. Meaning all teams played 8 home games and 8 away games.
From 1978-2013
The Broncos played 8 regular home games each season for a total of 280 home games.
Grand total of 406 regular season home games from 1960-2013. For the sake of this argument, this won't include post-season play, so no playoff games included.
So, lately I hear a lot of fans saying, the record isn't valid because Prater did it in Denver where the air is thinner and that gives him an advantage over other kickers.
in 1970, Tom Dempsey kicked a then NFL record 63 yard FG in New Orleans. However, Tom Dempsey had a foot with a birth defect, and he did it at/below sea level.
![tr0205247-1.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fcbschicago.files.wordpress.com%2F2012%2F09%2Ftr0205247-1.jpg&hash=f64d1e8c29a874f0e5f1e9d4109c8356)
Dempsey also was a straight-on kicker, whereas Matt Prater is a soccer style kicker. Prater doesn't have any birth defects on his feet or toes, so he wears a normal/traditional style of football cleat (like seen on Dempsey's non-kicking/left foot).
Now here is an article that lists everyone who attempted to break the record.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap20...ed-tries-to-break-the-63yard-fieldgoal-record
This is an article that was posted shortly after Matt Prater's 59 YD FG to take the Bears to overtime in 2011 that talks about if kicking field goals in Denver is easier?
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/12/are-field-goals-easier-in-denver/
Only Sebastian Janikowski and Jason Elam have been able to tie the record. David Akers also tied the record but the kick was not in Denver, the kick was in Green Bay. in fact, 3 of the 5 kicks at 63 or 64 yards have been in Denver.
The original 63 yard FG record was by Tom Dempsey in New Orleans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrxTjgFYoU8
Now, according to this article and Dempsey's recollection, the weather was cool and humid on November 8th, 1970 (perhaps one of you weather geniuses can find the weather recordings for that day). Game was outdoors at Tulane Stadium.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?id=5648473
in the comment on the Failed Attempts to Break the Record, I saw some comments here
Cold weather increases relative humidity which increases air density which negates the effect of lower air density at high altitude. Therefore kick is legit. Physics ftw![]()
and then there is a BUNCH of arguing and bickering back and forth.
so, since you weather guru's are all knowledgeable and stuff, I figured I'd ask you guys to dig through this and present the truth.
Question #1: So, if people are saying the kick is easier in Denver, and Denver has played 406 regular season homes games in Mile High and Sports Authority Field @ Mile High, then by the same logic that the kick is in fact "easier" because the air is thinner, then why is it in 406 games, no other kicker has been able to "break" the record?
December 8th, 2013
Prater's kick came at 5,280 feet above sea level
Temperature was 6ºF at the time of the kick (I was there at the game so I know how cold it was)
The ball was also cold and like kicking a brick or a lead weight at that temperature
Barometric Pressure was 29.95" Hg
November 8th, 1970
Dempsey's kick came on a "cool" day in New Orleans at sea level (or close to it) but a humid day.
No idea what the temp was.
Dempsey had a defective foot with a cube/block style shoe on with cloth stuffed in the front of it.
Question #2: Would the relative humidity in Denver on December 8th, 2013 and the colder temperatures increase the density of the air, therefore negating the effects of the thinner air on the ball?
Question #3: If Dempsey's kick in NOLA was so great, why did he never shatter his own record in Denver following that kick?