Seahawks lose in brutal fashion when beleaguered kicker's game-tying field goal comes up just short

Ted S. Warren/AP

• The Seattle Seahawks lost to the Atlanta Falcons, 34-31, on Monday when Seahawks kicker Blair Walsh missed a game-tying field goal with seven seconds left.
• Walsh's attempt looked to be just a foot or two short of the goal posts.
• Walsh has struggled with accuracy recently.

The Atlanta Falcons beat the Seattle Seahawks, 34-31, on Monday when Seahawks kicker Blair Walsh's 52-yard field goal to tie the game came up just short.

The Seahawks put together a late run, scoring a touchdown and two-point conversion to pull within three point with three minutes remaining. They got the ball back after forcing the Falcons to punt, and Russell Wilson drove the Seahawks into field-goal range with seven seconds remaining.

That put the game in the hands of Walsh, who has struggled of late. Walsh famously missed a game-winning field goal against the Seahawks in the 2015 playoffs as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. When he struggled the next season, the Vikings cut him. This year, Walsh has improved, but has hit 77% of his field goals, which ranks second lowest of kickers to make 15 or more field goals this year.

Walsh attempted the kick from 52 yards out, and it appeared to be good - but came up a foot or two short in a heartbreaking moment.

Here's how close the field goal came from (likely) sending the game to overtime. 

ESPN/NFL

Of course, the entire loss cannot be pinned on Walsh. The Seahawks also had two turnovers, with the Falcons' defense scoring two touchdowns to put Atlanta ahead.

Nonetheless, it was a brutal turn of luck for Walsh, who has had at times struggled in big moments.