The Carolina Panthers finished Thursday’s game against the Chicago Bears just like they started it, with the worst record in the NFL. And the team’s final offensive possession was a perfect illustration of why.
Carolina trailed 16-13 but had gotten the ball across midfield. Quarterback Bryce Young threw an incomplete pass on second-and-10 and with 1:44 remaining, the Panthers elected to take their first time-out. The extra time didn’t do the Panthers any good, as Young threw an incomplete pass on third down. That brought up a fourth-and-10. Carolina’s Frank Reich sent out Eddy Piñeiro and the field goal unit to try to tie the game — from 59 yards out.
Piñeiro’s kick was well short and also ultimately landed wide left.
On 4th-and-10, Panthers head coach Frank Reich opts for… a 59-yard field goal try.
Eddy Piñeiro is not close.
The Bears get the ball back with a 16-13 lead with 1:35 left. pic.twitter.com/oK9tNsjYqm
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 10, 2023
If there were only a few seconds remaining in the game and the choice was between trying a Hail Mary for the win or a 59-yard kick for the tie, you could probably justify trying the field goal. Even then, though, the data is rough.
For starters, Piñeiro has made three field goals outside of 50 yards this season. He was good from 52 and 56 against the New Orleans Saints and from 56 against the Minnesota Vikings. The 56-yarder was also Piñeiro’s career high. All three field goals were kicked at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Thursday night’s game was at Solider Field in Chicago. The 59-yarder would not only have been a new career-high for Piñeiro, but also tied a stadium record.
Pineiro's career long is 56 and that kick was from 59. It would've tied a stadium record.
Reich basically put his kicker in an impossible situation. https://t.co/OS0Ob7RIq3
— Field Gulls (@FieldGulls) November 10, 2023
Additionally, Piñeiro has a significant amount of history at Soldier Field. He kicked for Chicago in the 2019 season. His career-long at Solider Field is 56 yards.
So, what were the other options?
Option 1 would be to go for it. Your quarterback, Bryce Young, was the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Neither team is in a playoff race as the Panthers were 1-7 going into the game while the Bears were 2-7. It’s also the option that would have given the Panthers the best chance to win in regulation. Given the situation, we’ll call this the best option.
Option 2 would be to punt. From a pure football perspective, this is probably the best play. Burning the time-out before third down does hurt. But if the Panthers could stop the Bears from getting a first down, they’d probably get the ball back with about 45 seconds left and in good field position.
Of course, Carolina didn’t get the ball back after Piñeiro’s miss. Chicago picked up a first down and ran the clock out. But even if the Bears had gone three-and-out after the missed field goal, they would have punted, giving the Panthers the ball back deep in their own territory, with again, roughly 45 seconds left — and pinned deep in their own territory. As a reminder, the field goal was the final play on a possession that went 50 yards over 15 plays in 5:35.
There may not have been a particularly high-percentage option for Carolina here. Still, this was the worst and by a significant margin. Reich disagreed, saying after the game that “I think the pure percentage play is to kick it,” though he did acknowledge that he was second-guessing himself.
Frank Reich explains the curious decision to try a 59-yard field goal. pic.twitter.com/gLLJUIxqVy
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 10, 2023
Reich was not the only one second-guessing himself, as people were wondering what in the world Reich was thinking with this decision.
Reich standing on the sideline banking on Pineiro drilling a 59 yarder or else pic.twitter.com/1jQBxJ8Xwp
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) November 10, 2023
The timeout on 3rd down
Calling 3 deep passes just outside of FG range without 1 run
Trying the 59-yard FG well out of his range
Frank Reich’s got a lot of explaining to do
— JaguarGator9 (@JaguarGator9NFL) November 10, 2023
Frank Reich goes for it on 4th on his own 20
Kicks a 59 Yard FG on 4th & 10 pic.twitter.com/si8OGbZ8QZ
— Betfred Sportsbook (@BetfredSports) November 10, 2023
You're 1-7.
Why not give your rookie QB a chance to make a play on that 4th down?
Instead, Frank Reich opts for a 59-yard field goal attempt.
Way to show confidence in your future franchise QB 👍
Awful coaching.
— Frank Ammirante (@FAmmiranteTFJ) November 10, 2023
Used a timeout for no reason on 3rd and 10, and missed a 59 yard FG on 4th to lose the game. This coaching staff is atrocious.
— Not Dave Canales (@NotDaveCanales) November 10, 2023
