The Denver Broncos made the big move in the offseason to get Russell Wilson, So, how or why, with the game on the line against his former team, the Seattle Seahawks Monday, did rookie head coach Nathaniel Hackett decide a 64-yard field-goal attempt was better than trying to make a first down on fourth-and-5?
Rookie head coach decisions will be questioned, especially Tuesday in the Mile High City after Brandon McManus missed what would have been the second-longest field goal in NFL history and Seattle had a 17-16 victory.
Clock management was flubbed throughout the intense contest. Every time Wilson brought the Broncos’ offense to the line of scrimmage it felt like the clock was heading perilously toward 0.
And on the drive that led to the final field-goal attempt, Denver let time burn off the clock before calling a timeout.
If the plan was to go for the field goal all along — and the new Monday Night Football group had no idea McManus was on the field — what were the Broncos trying to do by letting the fuse tick on the clock?
Joe Buck after the game admitted it was “shocking” when they saw McManus on the field. Feels like preparation was questionable all around at the end of the contest.
This wasn’t the thin air in Denver and as strong a leg as McManus has, the kick wasn’t good.
And Wilson joined Baker Mayfield and Joe Flacco as players who lost revenge games in Week 1.
Social media weighed in with fury:
This dude trusted some kicker more than he trusted Russell Wilson, a certain Hall of Famer, a franchise QB the franchise just gave up a bundle to get? “Dumb” doesn’t begin to describe how moronic this decision was/is.
— Michael Wilbon (@RealMikeWilbon) September 13, 2022
You’ve got three timeouts and you take the ball out of Wilson’s hands, the QB tied for the most 4th comebacks in football the last 10 years to try a 64-yard kick…had a full minute to call timeout WITH THREE LEFT and didn’t…Dumb Dumb Stupid Moronic
— Michael Wilbon (@RealMikeWilbon) September 13, 2022
Looking at all fourth-and-5 non-kicking plays in 2021, NFL offenses went 23-for-47 converting — just under 50 percent. You really should trust those odds with three time outs over anything as historically rare as a 64-yard field goal, no matter who your kicker is.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) September 13, 2022
So imagine in the Coach interview if Hackett has said, first game on the road I’m going to leave 3 timeouts in my pocket, not put the game in Russell Wilson’s hands on 4th-5 and try to win it with a 64-yard FG. “You got the job!”
— Kevin Kernan (@AMBS_Kernan) September 13, 2022
Same exact reaction!!! Damn I’m still in shock https://t.co/p8HDsMlbHO
— Eric LeGrand (@EricLeGrand52) September 13, 2022
Trade three players and five draft picks for a QB you’re paying $242.5 million … and still attempt a 64 yard field goal.
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) September 13, 2022
Picking a 64-yard field goal over keeping the ball in your $245M franchise QB hands on 4th and 5 is quite a decision.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) September 13, 2022
Paid Russell Wilson $200 million to check down short of the sticks and then hand it off on 4th and 5 to the kicker for a miracle FG shot. https://t.co/pbsaAEjAbA
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) September 13, 2022
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) September 13, 2022
Why did the Broncos trade for Russell Wilson if they're going to do THAT?
My God.
— Matt Zemek (@MattZemek) September 13, 2022
Why, just whyyyyy @Broncos
— Eric LeGrand (@EricLeGrand52) September 13, 2022
What in the absolute hell is happening here
— Joy Taylor (@JoyTaylorTalks) September 13, 2022
From our win probability calculator, @BryKno ran this:
Pass: 36.1% WP
Field Goal: 7.4% WPComplete insanity.
— Aaron Schatz 🏈 (@FO_ASchatz) September 13, 2022
