Atlanta Falcons punter Bradley Pinion has punted fewer times entering Week 9 of the 2024 season than he has in any other year of his decade-long career.
Pinion's punt count has decreased 44.4% from his 2023 total through eight games. At this point last year, he had punted 36 times. This year, he's at just 20.
As it stands, Pinion is averaging 2.5 punts per game. There have been two games in which he only punted once.
"I think it's honestly a good thing," Pinion said. "From a fan perspective, fans want to see points, they want to see touchdowns and they want to see offenses and defenses on the field. They don't really care to see a punter or a punt team."
There's a reason Pinion's punt count is down, too: the dynamic kickoff. The NFL's new rule has changed the game when it comes to field position. The average drive starting yard line has advanced from 24.9 in 2023 to 29.3 in 2024, which puts offenses in a better position to score. And as a result, punters across the league are being called upon less. Not just Pinion.
The sample size is still rather small, considering the format was implemented just this year, but the number of punts has decreased 2.7% compared to this time last season. There were 982 punts through Week 8 last year, and there are 955 right now. The league averaged 4.02 punts per game at this point last year and is currently averaging 3.9.
That's not a mad difference, clearly. But when a player has only a handful of times to do his job each game, losing even just one chance is noticeable.
"Not that anybody wants to punt, but anytime you have a punter like Bradley, who is in my opinion one of the best in the league, he's a weapon that can pin a team deep inside their own 20," Falcons long snapper Liam McCullough said. "I think that's a weapon we still have in our back pocket. But having an extra opportunity to go out and score points? We'll take that any chance we get."
Because that has been the other noticeable difference under the new rule. While punts are going down, points are going up. It goes back to the dynamic kickoff and its effect on field position.
A touchback now brings an offense to the 30-yard line rather than the 20. That means, even without a return, two chunk plays or two first downs can place the offense at or past midfield. And that's around where kickers are comfortable attempting field goals. So, points are up because field goals are also up.
"We definitely thought about the scoring impact," said Falcons CEO Rich McKay, who is co-chairman of the NFL Competition Committee. "We definitely thought about field goal impact. Because where you're starting from is just closer, where you're in position to kick field goals. So, Mike Lopez of the league office and the analytics department were pretty clear to us that, 'Hey, the impact of this touchback will be, we think, probably a point and a half or two points per game.'"
With a little more than half the season left, the NFL is right in line with that estimate. In 2023, the league's scoring average was 43.6 points per game (combined team totals). This season, that average has increased by 1.7 and sits at 45.3 points per game through eight weeks.
The number of field goals across the league has slightly increased as well, with a 2% raise in attempts and 3% raise in makes. More so, there has been an increase in attempts and makes from at least 50 yards out, going from 121 attempts in 2023 to 125 attempts in 2024 — a 3.3% increase. Last season, there were 83 makes from 50-plus yards. This year, there have been 92 such makes — a 10% increase. The latter is what's important.
"I don't think it's really a surprise," Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo said. "I think kickers have been able to kick 60, 60-plus for a long time. I think, at this level, every kicker can kick a 60-plus-yard field goal. It's just getting the opportunity at the right time. But also, now, getting more opportunities."
Koo, who's in his seventh season, set a career long this year with a last-second, 58-yard field goal to beat the New Orleans Saints in Week 4.
Looking at the first eight games in the 2023 and 2024 seasons, Koo has attempted more field goals — 17 versus 20 — but made the same amount — 16. His attempts, however, have been from a farther distance. He had only one attempt of at least 50 yards last year compared to seven this year. He averaged 35.3 yards per attempt and 34.6 yards per make last season and is averaging 42.3 and 40.6, respectively, this season.
Though Koo's contribution has remained the same, the Falcons have increased their scoring from last year by 40.6% through eight games, going from 138 to 194 points.
"More points, more exciting football games," Pinion said. "Less punters on the field."
Not all hope is lost for punters, though. Say an offense doesn't get within field-goal range, even with the moved-up touchback. A punter then has to work with a condensed distance, maybe even in the opposing team's territory. That's going to require finesse rather than strength.
Less may be more when it comes to punt strategy.
If so, Pinion's paycheck is secure despite the dynamic kickoff fallout. Quality will always trump quantity for a punter.
"I joke around with the guys," Pinion said. "No matter how many times I punt, I get paid the same."
