Carli Lloyd proved this week she is not just a talented soccer player and that she could also have a shot at playing in the NFL one day.

The 37-year-old Sky Blue FC star — who last month helped the United States Women’s National Team win their second straight World Cup title — attended a joint practice between the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday and quickly impressed after nailing a 55-yard field goal.

Lloyd, a die-hard Eagles fan, also kicked several 40-yard field goals on the field in Philadelphia.

“I’m really impressed with all these guys,” Lloyd said in a video she posted. “It’s awesome to be here. Really looking forward to the season.”

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The video showing Llyod’s kicking ability rapidly spread around online and caught the attention of Pro Football Hall of Famer Gil Brandt, who said he believed she could make history as the first female NFL player and deserved at least an “honest tryout.”

“Honestly, I don’t think it will be long before we see a woman break through this NFL barrier,” tweeted Brandt, the former vice president of player personnel for the Dallas Cowboys. “I’d give her an honest tryout if I were, say, the Bears.”

Brandt’s suggestion isn’t a bad idea, considering the Bears displayed terrible kicking in the playoffs last year against Philadelphia. Eddy Pineiro is set to be the team’s kicker for the 2019 season.

During the U.S. Women’s National Team’s World Cup victory parade last month, Lloyd paid tribute to her favorite NFL team by chanting “Fly Eagles Fly.”

Lloyd, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and FIFA Player of the Year, scored three goals in this year’s World Cup. She hinted at possibly retiring after defeating the Netherlands in the final of the tournament in France, so perhaps a future in the NFL could be in store for her.

The midfielder also isn’t the only Eagles fan on the USWNT. Julie Ertz is married to Eagles tight end Zach Ertz. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers almost lost to the Green Bay Packers at home this week, but they managed to win in spectacular fashion instead.

Steelers vs. Packers Game Score, Highlights

Chris Boswell’s career-long 53-yard field goal in the dying seconds of Sunday night’s matchup at Heinz Field gave the Steelers a 31-28 victory over the Packers to improve to 9-2.

One other Pittsburgh offensive player also made a major difference on Sunday, however. Starting at their 30 with only 17 seconds remaining and the score tied 28-28, Antonio Brown somehow maintained both feet inbounds to make a 23-yard catch, then added a 14-yarder to put Boswell in range to win it for the second time in three contests with a last-play kick.

“It was a heck of a catch and obviously a ridiculous throw,’’ said Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. 

Brown finished with ten catches for 169 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday.  Ben Roethlisberger matched the four touchdown passes he threw last week, and finished 33 of 45 for 351 yards. Six of his passes were dropped by receivers, and he also had two interceptions.

Le’Veon Bell also had a fumble to mark three turnovers for Pittsburgh, versus none for Green Bay.

The Packers (5-6) have struggled since they lost star quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a shoulder injury. Backup Brett Hundley started his fifth straight game and three three touchdown passes. He completed 17 of 26 for 245 yards and had a passer rating of 134.4. He was sacked four times, two by Cam Heyward, who now has a team-high nine. Meanwhile, Tomlin was speaking to NBC’s Tony Dungy about his confidence in defeating the New England Patriots later this season.

“We should win it all,” said Tomlin. “I think that’s my mentality. I think that’s their mentality.”

The Steelers, who lead the AFC North, next visit the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 4, while the Packers will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 26: Chris Boswell #9 of the Pittsburgh Steelers kicks a 53 yard field goal to give the Pittsburgh Steelers a 31-28 win over the Green Bay Packers at Heinz Field on November 26, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Eddy Piñeiro, a sophomore kicker from the Florida Gators, amazed at practice Tuesday when he drilled an 81-yard field goal to break not just the college record, but also the NFL record.

Florida kicker Eddy Pineiro Makes 81-Yard Field Goal in Practice

The longest field goal in NCAA history is 67 yards, a mark that has been reached four times, most recently by Tom Odle for Fort Hays State in 1988. The college record for longest field goal without a tee and with the more-narrow modern goal-posts is 65 yards by Martin Gramatica of Kansas State in 1998.

The NFL record for the longest field goal, however, is 64 yards, set by the Denver Broncos’ Matt Prater in 2013.

Watch Piñeiro make the incredible kick without a helmet:

Obviously, the Florida star made this field goal without having to deal with a snap, an awkward field position or pressure from giant linemen rushing toward him, but a kick from your own 29-yard line — and not your opponent’s — is still very impressive.

This is not the first time Piñeiro has proved his kicking strength. In 2015, he made a 73-yard field goal, also during practice.

Also slightly less than two years ago, Texas kicker Nick Rose made an 80-yard field goal in practice without any pads.

Pineiro was one of the best kickers in the SEC last season. His 21 successful field goals (out of 25 attempts) tied for third among his counterparts in other teams in the conference. He also went 3-of-3 beyond 50 yards with a long of 54 yards.

Last fall, Pineiro was charged with two misdemeanors for allegedly damaging two scooters but was not arrested.

GAINESVILLE, FL – NOVEMBER 12: Eddy Pineiro #15 of the Florida Gators reacts after kicking a 54-yard field goal during the second half of the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 12, 2016 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)

The NFL passed several new rules for the 2017 season and beyond on Monday and Tuesday at the Annual League Meeting of team owners in Phoenix, two of which are designed to increase player safety.

These rule changes come after Commissioner Roger Goodell announced late last week that the NFL is planning to make changes to quicken the flow and pace of games with less or shorter commercial breaks. On Monday, 31 of the 31 team owners (all except the Miami Dolphins’) voted to approve the Oakland Raiders’ relocation to Las Vegas. 

Firstly, team owners passed a rule that forbids players from jumping over offensive linemen during kicks as a strategy to block field goals or extra points, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Monday.

The Philadelphia Eagles proposed the rule change, which was backed by the NFL Players Association, who cited player safety as a reason for their support.

“The jumping over on the field goal, I think, is just leading to a really dangerous play for everybody,” offensive lineman Eric Winston, the NFLPA’s president, said earlier this offseason, via the Washington Post. “If you jump over the center, the jumper is in a really bad spot. He can land on his head. I think the guys that are getting jumped over are going to end up getting hurt, with those guys landing on them. So I’ll be very interested to see what they’ll do there. I think something probably needs to be done.”

Defenders leaping over an offensive lineman, typically the long snapper, have managed to deliver game-changing blocks with such a move. Seattle Seahawks strong safety Kam Chancellor, for example, has blocked several kicks. Denver’s Justin Simmons changed the result of last season’s game against the New Orleans Saints by jumping over the line and blocking a would-be go-ahead extra point, which was returned for two points to give the Broncos a 25-23 victory.

Also at the end of last season, in December, New England Patriots linebacker Shea McLellin blocked a 34-yard field goal attempt from the Baltimore Ravens’ Justin Tucker in the first quarter. The block marked Tucker’s only missed field goal of the season out of 29 attempts.

Some players may be opposed to the new rule, but safety seems like a more than reasonable justification for instituting the change.

Another rule change NFL owners voted to approve on Tuesday was one stating that egregious hits to the head will now be penalized with automatic ejections. This new rule comes a year after the league ruled that players who committed two personal fouls in the same game would receive automatic ejections.

Here are some of the other NFL rules instituted on Tuesday:

• The Washington Redskins’ proposal to place the ball at the 20-yard-line if the kicker puts it through the uprights on a kickoff failed, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported.
• The owners also approved centralized replay, giving senior VP of officiating Dean Blandino and the New York command center final say on calls in question, NFL Network’s Kimberly Jones reported.
• Touchbacks on kickoffs will once again result in teams starting from the 25-yard line. The rule was renewed by team owners for another year rather than being made permanent.
• Any action to save time after the two-minute warning of either half would be deemed illegal and would now be penalized.

Here are the rest of the rules voted on thus far:

We’ll have to wait until the 2017 season begins whether these new rules actually lead to fewer player concussions or severe injuries.

HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 01: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks with the media during a press conference for Super Bowl 51 at the George R. Brown Convention Center on February 1, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)

Just a few months ago, Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker was heavily dismissed for claiming he could score an 84-yard field goal in the right conditions.

Ravens’ Justin Tucker Makes 75-Yard Field Goal At Pro Bowl Practice

On Wednesday, at practice for Sunday’s Pro Bowl, he made one from just a few yards shy of that mark.

Tucker nailed a 75-yard field goal that hooked inside the left upright at practice in Orlando, Florida. Unsurprisingly elated, the kicker couldn’t help but post a video his accomplishment on Twitter:

There were factors that made the kick slightly simpler for Tucker. First, he is kicking off a tee (so nobody is rushing), and second, the kick came on a strong tailwind (evidenced by the flags atop the goalposts).

Still, the 75-yard boot meant he kicked the ball from his own 35-yard line. That remains impressive, considering the NFL record for the longest field goal is 64 yards.

Tucker made 38 of 39 attempts this season– his only miss coming on a block against the New England Patriots in December. He was also 10-for-10 from 50 yards or more, which tied an NFL record. He also made all 27 extra-point attempts.

His career-long is a 61-yard field goal, and he also made a 69-yarder during training camp last year.

The Pro Bowl will be held in Orland on Sunday night.

Tucker is also an accomplished opera singer. He once received a standing ovation after performing with the Concert Artists of Baltimore.

BALTIMORE, MD – DECEMBER 4: Kicker Justin Tucker #9 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after kicking a second quarter field goal against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium on December 4, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Up until this week, the Baltimore Ravens‘ Justin Tucker had been perfect at kicking field goals this season (28 for 28).

Watch: Patriots’ Shea McClellin Hurdles Line, Blocks Justin tucker Field Goal

On his first attempt– a 34-yard kick– late in the first quarter against the New England Patriots on Monday night, Shea McClellin managed to end that streak.

The Patriots linebacker displayed his remarkable athleticism by jumping over the line and blocking the kick, making the crowd at Gillette Stadium go wild. The spectacular block ensured New England stayed ahead 2-0, and the Patriots eventually won the game 30-23.

The Patriots (11-2) have now won four straight games and eight of their last nine as they strive toward their eighth consecutive AFC East title.

“It was a big game for us,” Tom Brady said. “You play at home in December on Monday night against a great defense, it was important for us to come out and play well. We knew it was gonna be a 60-minute game.”

Brady threw for 406 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the fourth NFL quarterback with at least 450 career touchdown passes. He threw only his second interception of the season.

The Ravens (7-6) had won two straight, and now face a challenging route to the playoffs, with two of their final three games on the road. The Patriots will also play two of their last three on the road.

Joe Flacco tried his hardest to keep Baltimore in the contest, finishing 37 of 52 for 324 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. His 37 completions set a franchise record.

New England led 23-3 before the Ravens turned back-to-back Patriots fumbles on special teams into touchdowns.

Flacco was sacked by Rob Ninkovich in the fourth quarter, as the Patriots still led 23-17.

Baltimore entered the game with the NFL’s top-ranked defense, allowing just 296.1 yards per game. However, New England’s defense played strong from the start, holding the Ravens to just three points and 142 yards in the first half.

Baltimore rushed only four times for 7 yards in the first half, and were just 3 for 8 on third downs.

LeGarrette Blount rushed for 72 yards on 18 carries, passing 1,000 yards for the first time since his rookie season with Tampa Bay in 2010. Blount tied Curtis Martin’s record for rushing touchdowns with his 14th score. Martin set that record with the Patriots in both 1995 and 1996.

Brady also threw an ill-advised pass in the end zone on a third-and-goal with 4:46 remaining in the second quarter, and was intercepted by Eric Weddle. 

The Patriots next visit the Denver Broncos on Sunday, while the Ravens will host the Philadelphia Eagles that day in their final home game of the regular season.

BALTIMORE, MD – DECEMBER 4: Kicker Justin Tucker #9 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after kicking a second quarter field goal against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium on December 4, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Roberto Aguayo’s unstable rookie season improved markedly on Monday night.

Buccaneers Edge Panthers 17-14 On Last-Second Field Goal By Roberto Aguayo

Aguayo made up for missing two earlier field goals by converting a 38-yard kick as time expired to lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 17-14 road victory over the Carolina Panthers.

The rookie, the most accurate kicker in NCAA history, had bounced a 33-yard field goal attempt off the right upright and missed wide left from 46 yards that would have given Tampa Bay the lead with 3:38 remaining in the game. He was only 3 of 7 on the season before the game-winning kick.

”Obviously you get a little angry when you miss them,” Agauyo said. ”You can’t dwell on it or you won be ready for the next one.”

Jameis Winston was 18 of 30 for 219 yards and threw a touchdown pass to Mike Evans. Winston also led a 66-yard drive to get the Buccaneers (2-3) into field goal range. A costly 15-yard facemask penalty also hurt the Panthers (1-4) along the way.

Jacquizz Rodgers ran for 101 yards on 30 carries in place of the injured Doug Martin.

Carolina turned the ball over four times, three of which came from quarterback Derek Anderson, who replaced the concussed Cam Newton. 

”We moved the ball when we wanted to and had a lot of good things happen, but we had bad plays at the wrong times,” Anderson said.

The most costly turnover came late in the fourth quarter with the game tied at 14 and the Panthers having a first down at the Tampa Bay 2. Anderson oddly threw into double coverage in the right corner of the end zone and was intercepted by Brent Grimes. 

”If I had it back I would have thrown it away,” Anderson said. ”That was a difference maker.”

Panthers tight end Greg Olsen had a career-high 181 yards receiving on nine catches and Cameron Artis-Payne ran for two touchdowns.

The Panthers, who have won three straight NFC South titles, are now three full games behind the Atlanta Falcons.

”We’ve got a laundry list of things that didn’t go our way,” Olsen said. ”The reality is, in this league, you make your own luck. You make your own fate. You can’t sit around and hope the ball bounced your way. Right now, it’s not, but that’s just the nature of this league. It goes in flows. There’s times where it seems like everything you do is right, the ball bounces your way, but that’s not the case right now for us. We’ve got to make our own luck, because nobody’s feeling sorry for us. That’s just the reality right now.”

The Panthers next visit the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, while the Buccs have a bye week. Tampa Bay will next visit the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 23.

CHARLOTTE, NC – OCTOBER 10: Roberto Aguayo #19 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicks the game-winning field goal as time expires against the Carolina Panthers during the game at Bank of America Stadium on October 10, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Buccaneers won 17-14. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)