The word surprised might not be enough to describe how the NFL media reacted to first year head coach for the Denver Broncos, Nathaniel Hackett, and his decision to run out the clock and attempt the second longest field goal in league’s history, instead of letting his newly arrived quarterback to guide them to a win when they faced fourth down.
What is Nathaniel Hackett critiziced for?
The Broncos had a rough start of the season, fumbling twice inside the one-yard line during their season opener and also the first time that recently traded quarterback Russell Wilson returned to Seattle wearing a different jersey.
Still, in the fourth quarter of this Monday Night Football game, Denver was only trailing by one point, when on a third-and-14, second year running back Javonte Williams caught a nine yard pass that placed the ball on the Seahawks 46-yard line, leaving 1:11 on the clock and a fourth-and-5 situation.
Hackett and the Broncos had all their timeouts available but elected to run out the clock and attempt a 64-yard field goal instead of letting their new franchise quarterback to thrive and gain the first down and boost their chances at having a win on their season opener.
‘Not the wrong decision’ – Russell Wilson on coach opting for 64-yard field goal
But the head coach stood his ground and implied that this was the intended plan all along.
“I thought Javonte made an amazing … why I was expecting to have to go for it, on that down and distance, because we were about third-and-14, third-and-15, I thought Javonte made an incredible play and put us in the field goal range, the mark that we were looking for”, Hackett told reporters.
A decision that was heavily questioned by NFL media, during the post-game press conference and in the Twitterverse.
Russell Wilson backed Nathaniel Hackett’s decision
After Brandon McManus missed the 64-yard field goal at the end of the game, Russell Wilson was interviewed by ESPN and he said that he didn’t think it was a wrong decision by his head coach, Nathaniel Hackett, as he says they got “the best kicker in the game”.
“We got there and unfortunately it didn’t go in. … I believe in coach Hackett, I believe in what we’re doing, I believe in everything”, Wilson added.
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