Nick Folk's 56-yard field goal for the Jets against the Falcons in Week 13 significantly impacted the future of five NFL teams. This game-winning kick altered the trajectory of the Jets' season and other franchises.
Key points
Nick Folk's field goal was 56 yards long
The Jets finished the 2025 season with a 3-14 record
The Jets tied with the Raiders for the worst record in the NFL
The kick had a butterfly effect on five NFL franchises
During the 2025 NFL season, the New York Jets finished with a very poor 3-14 record, which was tied for the worst in the entire NFL with one other team, the Las Vegas Raiders.
But, they nearly didn't have such a record; they could've had one fewer win had one game gone slightly differently. ESPN's Rich Cimini pointed out this one game, the one play, and the "What if" attached to it.
The moment that had a massive butterfly effect for 5 NFL franchises was Nick Folk's game-winning field goal against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 13. That one kick, a 56-yard field goal, has already had drastic impacts on the future of 5 NFL franchises.
How 1 kick has impacted 5 NFL franchises
1. New York Jets
Q&A
How did Nick Folk's field goal affect the Jets' season?
Nick Folk's field goal contributed to the Jets finishing with a 3-14 record, impacting their future decisions and strategies.
What teams were affected by Nick Folk's kick?
The field goal had drastic impacts on the futures of five NFL franchises, although specific teams are not detailed in the excerpt.
What was the significance of the Jets' 3-14 record in 2025?
The Jets' 3-14 record tied them for the worst in the NFL, influencing their offseason decisions and player evaluations.
What was the context of the game where Folk made the field goal?
The field goal was made during a Week 13 game against the Atlanta Falcons, serving as a pivotal moment for multiple NFL teams.
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The Jets are obviously one of the teams that saw the biggest change as a result of this made kick. Had Folk missed this last-second, game-winning field goal, they would've finished with a 2-15 record, the worst in the league.
And as Cimini took care to point out, had such a result happened, "Chances are, you'd be reading a lot about No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza's acclimation to the Big Apple."
The Jets would've owned the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft had Folk not made that kick, and very likely would've taken Fernando Mendoza instead of David Bailey. That alone is a big difference from reality, but it gets a lot wilder from there.
2. Las Vegas Raiders
If the Jets lose that game, the Raiders are in a much, much worse spot as a franchise. They wouldn't have Mendoza, and there would be a lot of question marks about their future.
Klint Kubiak might still be the head coach, and they might've still made a lot of the offseason additions they did, but there would be a large hole at the QB position long-term. This Folk FG saved the Raiders a lot of questions for a while.
Another one of the most impacted teams from this is the franchise that, in reality, lost this matchup. They lost 27-24 to the Jets in one of the more consequential games of the entire regular season.
What stands out from this loss for the Falcons is that, had they won this game, they would've made the playoffs with a record just barely good enough to get in.
They actually finished 8-9, tied with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers, but due to tiebreakers, the Falcons didn't make it in over either team.
But had they beaten the Jets, they would've been in the playoffs, and who knows what happens from there if they do host a playoff game, likely against the Los Angeles Rams.
4. Carolina Panthers
If Folk missed that field goal and the Jets lost, the Panthers wouldn't have made the playoffs. While they ended up losing to the Rams, they were still able to see Bryce Young in a playoff game and experience a home playoff game.
It was a successful season for Carolina, which would've felt a whole lot different had they missed the playoffs. Fortunately for them, Folk hit the 56-yarder to beat the Falcons.
Another team to be impacted by this Folk FG was the Rams. While they wouldn't lose out on the first overall pick like the Raiders, or have their playoff fate changed like the Falcons or Panthers, there is a big impact from this Folk game-winner.
The Rams owned the Falcons' first-round pick, which wound up at No. 13 overall. Had the Jets lost to Atlanta, that first-rounder would've been at 19th overall instead.
That's a six-pick difference, and one that might've helped make the Ty Simpson pick seem less egregious. But another note would be they'd have to play in Atlanta instead of Carolina.
While the Falcons weren't some elite team, they did beat the Rams in Week 17, and could've carried that momentum into the postseason.
Butterfly effect of Nick Folk's field goal
There is a lot that changed in NFL history from this one made 56-yard game-winning field goal. Playoff spots, NFL Draft slots, and likely so much more would've been changed had the Jets lost this game after a Folk missed field goal.
There are always plays that have a massive ripple effect on the league every year, but this one field goal truly threw the league for a loop with massive consequences for the short and long-term future of the league.
