Despite a disastrous goal-line offense, the Denver Broncos had a chance to come away with a win in the final seconds of Monday’s Week 1 game against the Seattle Seahawks. Only, they didn’t. The clock management of coach Nathaniel Hackett was widely panned after the game.
After a reception from Javonte Williams, the Broncos faced a fourth-and-five from the Seattle 46-yard line with a minute left. And trailing by a point, Hackett let the entire play clock run before taking a time out with 20 seconds left. It seemed odd. Why not either try to run a quick play or take a timeout with about a minute left? With 20 seconds left, there wouldn’t be a lot of time remaining to get close even if the fourth down try was successful. Nothing about it added up.
But after the time out, Denver sent its special teams unit onto the field. That created a whole different question. A 64-yard field goal rather than trusting Russell Wilson to pick up five yards? Really? The Seahawks were also thrown off and took a late time out. Seattle’s timeout happened late enough that Denver still snapped the ball and kicker Brandon McManus effectively had one free practice kick. It missed.
That did nothing to dissuade Hackett. After the game, the coach made it known that the Broncos had achieved their goal.
Hackett on decision to kick the field goal. Said Williams got to the spot on the third-down play they were looking for to be in range.
Said he didn’t reconsider the call after McManus missed the first one (Seattle TO).
— Nick Kosmider (@NickKosmider) September 13, 2022
If confidence in Hackett wasn’t already low enough in the NFL world, this only made it worse.
I've never heard 64 yards as being in field goal range. It's almost as though Hackett got the math wrong and thought it it was a 55 yarder. Inexplicable. https://t.co/Jbdb2XXAeV
— Jason Woodmansee (@jasonwoodmansee) September 13, 2022
https://twitter.com/AnthonyIrwinLA/status/1569532695511810048
Oh we might have an all-time idiot on our hands here folks. TAP IN!!!! https://t.co/4IFmvBXQQV
— It’s CJ (Hobie’s homie) (@cj5299) September 13, 2022
Good luck Denver LMAO https://t.co/USDU9DfQFp
— Kal-El Atreides (@Superfan_K) September 13, 2022
Nathaniel Hackett doubled down and said he would kick it again if opportunity presented itself.
This man is a danger to society.
— jordan cornette (@jordancornette) September 13, 2022
https://twitter.com/InClementeWthr/status/1569531820106207235
If there had been only a few seconds left and the Broncos were in that spot, you could make a case that trying a Hail Mary would be a better play than a 64-yard kick. McManus has a big leg but 64 yards at sea level and outdoors? That’s a low-percentage option, even for the best kickers in the world. This is especially true when you just saw him miss a practice kick. This is like slicing the driver with every swing on the driving range, then grabbing it on the first tee with a huge lake running down the right side.
But there was plenty of time left, even after the Broncos burned 40 seconds. There was time to get into field goal range and possibly inside of 50 yards, maybe even closer. Hopefully, Hackett was just caught up in the heat of the moment and didn’t have time to analyze what happened. Because if he’s really doubling down on that decision, Denver’s new owners have to be wondering how long of a leash the rookie head coach should get.
[Nick Kosmider on Twitter]
