Former Saints kicker Wil Lutz blows Week 1 game for Denver Broncos
The New Orleans Saints took a massive risk during this past offseason. They changed kickers. After over half of a decade with Wil Lutz as their boot, they chose rookie Blake Grupe over him. Lutz was dealt to Sean Payton's Denver Broncos. Grupe and Lutz had two vastly different Week 1 performances for their teams. […]
The New Orleans Saints took a massive risk during this past offseason. They changed kickers. After over half of a decade with Wil Lutz as their boot, they chose rookie Blake Grupe over him.
Lutz was dealt to Sean Payton's Denver Broncos. Grupe and Lutz had two vastly different Week 1 performances for their teams.
Grupe went 3/3 on field goals, including a 52-yard kick. He also hit the team's lone extra point try. For Lutz, he missed a field goal and an extra point. The Broncos lost by one point to the Las Vegas Raiders, Derek Carr's former team.
In short, Lutz' struggles were a key reason for Denver's loss.
Payton hand-picked Lutz as his top option for the kicker position at his new gig. Now, it is one game, and nerves were probably a factor for the veteran kicker. Regardless, he will need to be much better.
Meanwhile, the Saints are very happy with their choice of Grupe. He looked cool and collected in his NFL debut. The Saints won by one against the Tennessee Titans.
© Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
