Butker’s injury could give ’72 Dolphins a reason to celebrate again

Could the absence of a clutch kicker be the reason for the Kansas City Chiefs to see their unbeaten streak in 2024 come to a close?

With the news breaking on Thursday that Harrison Butker is expected to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery and be placed on injured reserve, the Chiefs have not only lost a key offensive weapon, but also one of its biggest contributors when the game is on the line.

Kansas City is 9-0 heading into Sunday’s tilt in Buffalo against the Bills, and seven of those nine wins have been by seven points or less. While Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and other big names may grab the majority of the spotlight for Kansas City, it is Butker that has often come through in big moments for the Chiefs in what has been a magical 2024 so far. 

Such was the case on Sunday when Butker connected on three field goals, including one with 5:59 left in the game that would be prove to be the decisive points in a, 16-14, home win over the Denver Broncos.

Butker is 18-for-20 this season on field goals, and has drilled 89.21% of his kicks since joining the Chiefs in 2017, a percentage that ranks him third-best in NFL history. That’s a consistency factor that can be taken for granted … until it isn’t there all of a sudden.

And that lack of consistency at kicker with the loss of Butker could be a reason that the remaining members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins can celebrate again this season. The 1972 Dolphins are the only NFL team to post an unblemished regular season and win the Super Bowl, and Butker’s injury may well be the reason they can raise a glass to another season without another team joining them in that elite club.

While that celebration may not include a champagne toast as has been rumored, it’s also been made clear that members of that Dolphins team want to keep their place in history as the NFL’s only undefeated squad.

The good news for the Chiefs is that Butker is expected to return in time for the end of the regular season and the postseason as Kansas City attempts to win its third consecutive Super Bowl. 

The good news for the 1972 Dolphins is that the Chiefs will be relying on Spencer Shrader, signed off the practice squad for the New York Jets, to step into Butker’s big shoes against the 8-2 Bills in what is arguably the biggest test for the Chiefs so far this season.

While it’s certainly not expected that Butker’s injury will keep the Chiefs out of the playoffs and on track for another potential appearance in the Super Bowl, his absence certainly could lower the chances for a possibility of the 1972 Dolphins having to make room for another undefeated team to join them.